Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(b)
                             WARRANTECH CORPORATION
                                150 WESTPARK WAY
                               EULESS, TEXAS 76040

                                   Dated: as of August 22, 2001

         RE:      NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS TO PURCHASE 2,000,000 SHARES AT $2
                  PER SHARE

To:      American International Group, Inc., Optionee
         70 Pine Street
         New York, NY 10207

         Pursuant to the terms of that certain Settlement Agreement and Release
of Claims, dated August 22, 2001, by and between Warrantech Corporation,
American International Group, Inc. ("Optionee"), and others, and by
authorization of the Board of Directors of Warrantech Corporation (the
"Company"), on August 17, 2001, the Company has been authorized to grant you
certain options to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, par value
$.007 per share (the "Common Stock"), upon the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth. Capitalized terms used but not defined in the body of this letter
shall have the respective meanings set forth on Appendix 1 attached hereto and
made a part hereof.

        1.  The Company hereby gives and grants you, subject to all of the
provisions, terms and conditions contained herein, the rights and options to
purchase up to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock of the Company,
and at the price per share, set forth above (the "Options").

        2.  The Options may be exercised by you from time to time as to any or
all of the shares at any time from the date hereof until August 22, 2006.

        3.  Unless otherwise permitted by Section 422 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and approved in advance by the Company,
the Options are not assignable or transferable by the Optionee. However, the
Optionee may assign or transfer the Options in whole or in part to any affiliate
of the Optionee. For purposes of this Section affiliate shall mean any
corporation, partnership, or other entity in which Optionee owns a controlling
interest, or which controls, or is under common control with, Optionee. In the
event of such a transfer or assignment to an affiliate, the Company's consent
shall not be necessary or required. In the event of a permissible assignment or
transfer under this Section, the rights and benefits of the Optionee shall inure
to assignee or transferee.

        4.  The exercise of an Option shall be made by the delivery of a written
notice of intention to exercise the Option (the "Exercise Notice"), specifying
the number of shares then to be purchased under the Option. The Optionee shall,
within ten (10) days after the delivery of the Exercise Notice, make payment in
cash, by certified check or wire transfer of the exercise price for the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Exercise Notice. In
the event that the Optionee fails to remit the required payment within the
specified time, the Exercise Notice shall be deemed void. Payment shall be a
condition of issuance of Common Stock pursuant to exercise of an Option.

        Upon receipt of a duly executed Exercise Notice and payment of the
aggregate exercise price for the shares of Common Stock covered by such Exercise
Notice, the Company shall issue or cause the issuance of, in the name of the
Optionee or the Optionee's legal representative, the shares of Common Stock
purchased by such exercise of such Option. Said issuance shall occur within
seven (7) days of receipt of payment as set forth above. The Company shall bear
and cover all expenses, fees, or other costs associated with the issuance of the
shares of Common Stock and the Company shall not pass on or charge the Optionee,
in any manner, any such expenses, fees, or costs.

<PAGE>

        The Optionee will have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any
shares covered by the Options until the issuance of the shares covered by the
Option. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6 hereof, no adjustment shall be
made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the
issuance of such shares.

        5.      The Company shall at all time reserve and keep available for
    issuance upon the exercise of the Options such number of its authorized but
    unissued shares of Common Stock as will be sufficient to permit the exercise
    in full of all of the shares under the Options. The Company shall not amend
    its certificate of incorporation or bylaws in any way to adversely affect
    your rights under the Options. The Company represents and warrants that this
    agreement and the Options do not conflict with the certificate of
    incorporation or bylaws of the Company. The Company further represents and
    warrants that this agreement and the Options are duly executed and
    delivered. All shares of Common Stock which shall be so issuable, when
    issued upon exercise of the Options shall be duly authorized, validly
    issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all liens, security
    interests, charges and other encumbrances or restrictions.

        6.      The aggregate number of shares subject to this Option and not
    theretofore delivered and the option price therefor will be appropriately
    adjusted if the number of issued shares of the Company is increased or
    reduced by change in par value, combination, split-up, reclassification,
    recapitalization, distribution of a dividend on the shares payable in stock,
    or the like after the date hereof. The foregoing adjustment shall be made so
    that Optionee shall receive, upon exercise of an Option, the number and
    class of securities or property that Optionee would have received in respect
    of the Common Stock issuable to Optionee if the Option had been exercised
    immediately prior to such event or the record date therefor, as applicable,
    and the agreements governing such transaction shall contain proper provision
    to effect that adjustment. The aggregate number of shares subject to this
    Option shall not be adjusted upon the issuance of any shares except as
    aforesaid. In the event of a "Change in Control," this Option shall be
    subject to the agreement of merger or reorganization or other applicable
    agreement. Such agreement may provide, without limitation, for the
    assumption of this Option by the surviving corporation or its parent, or for
    its continuation by the Company (if the Company is a surviving corporation).
    Alternatively, the Company may (i) upon written notice to the Optionee,
    provide that all shares which are the subject of the Option must be
    exercised, to the extent then exercisable, within a specified number of days
    of the date of such notice, at the end of which period the Option shall
    terminate; or (ii) terminate the Option in exchange for a cash payment equal
    to the excess of the fair market value of the shares subject to the Option
    (to the extent then exercisable) over the exercise price thereof.

        7.      The Options may be redeemed to the extent not previously
    exercised in whole or in part at the option of Company, subject to the
    conditions set forth below in this Section, at any time, by notice given
    within thirty (30) days, after the occurrence of a "Redemption Event" at a
    price per share equal to the "Redemption Price."

                (a)     The Company shall provide written notice to you of the
time, manner and place of redemption (the "Redemption Date") of the Redemption
Options and the Redemption Price (a "Redemption Notice") not less than sixty
(60) days prior to the Redemption Date. You may elect to exercise all or any
part of the Redemption Options on or before such Redemption Date pursuant to
Section 4 hereof.

                (b)     Unless there shall have been a failure to pay the
Redemption Price, on the Redemption Date all of your rights in the Redemption
Options will cease, except the right to receive the Redemption Price, without
interest, and the Redemption Options will not, from and after such Redemption
Date, be deemed to be outstanding.

        8.  Neither the Options nor the shares that shall be received upon the
exercise of the Options have been registered or qualified under the Securities
Act or any other applicable state securities laws and the shares obtained
pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be offered or sold only in compliance
with the terms and conditions of the Options, and only if registered or
qualified pursuant to said laws or if an exemption from such registration or
qualification is available.

        9.      You may be required to make an appropriate representation at the
time of any exercise of an Option that it is your intention to acquire the
shares being purchased for investment and not for resale or distribution. In
addition, you may be required to agree in writing not to sell any shares
acquired pursuant to an Option or any other shares of the Company that you may
now or hereafter acquire except in compliance with the Securities Act; provided,
however, that the Company shall be under no obligation to register any
securities obtained pursuant to your exercise of your rights hereunder with the
Commission, except as provided in Section 10 and Section 11 hereof. An
appropriate

<PAGE>

legend restricting the sale of any such shares may be placed upon the
certificates representing such shares and any resale must be in compliance with
the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

        10.     If, at any time more than one hundred and twenty (120) days and
less than three (3) years and one (1) day after the date hereof, you shall
request the Company in writing to effect the registration under the Securities
Act of all of your Registrable Shares (the "Registration Request"), then the
Company shall use its best efforts to effect the registration under the
Securities Act of such Registrable Shares. The Company shall be required to
effect only one (1) such registration on your behalf under this Section 10;
provided, however, that in the event that all of the shares requested by you to
be registered pursuant to the Registration Request are not registered (for
whatever reason), then you will be permitted to request the Company in writing
to effect a registration under the Securities Act as many times as necessary
until all Registrable Shares have been registered. However, notwithstanding the
foregoing obligation, (x) the Company shall not be required to file any
Registration Statement which would require the inclusion of audited financial
statements for a period other than the Company's fiscal year; (y) the Company
shall not be required to file any Registration Statement within one hundred
twenty (120) days after the effective date of any Registration Statement in
which you were entitled to have your Registrable Shares sold pursuant to your
rights under Section 11 hereof and declined to do so, and (z) the Company shall
have the right to defer any registration under this Section 10 for a period of
ninety (90) days if the Board of Directors shall determine that such
registration would interfere with a pending transaction of the Company.

                You shall bear the "Registration Expenses" incurred by the
Company in connection with the Registration Request. In the event any securities
in addition to the Registrable Shares are registered under the Securities Act in
the Registration Statement requested by you in a Registration Request, you shall
be responsible for the Registration Expenses of such registration pro-rata in
accordance with the number of your Registrable Shares included in such
registration.

        11.     Whenever the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement
(other than a Registration Statement covering shares to be sold solely for the
account of other holders of the Company's securities) at any time and from time
to time, it will, prior to such filing, give written notice to you of its
intention to do so; provided, that, to the extent relevant, such notice shall
describe any determination of the managing underwriter pursuant to Section 11(b)
hereof.

                (a)     Upon your written request given within twenty (20) days
after the Company provides such notice (which request shall state the intended
method of disposition of such Registrable Shares), the Company shall use its
best efforts to cause all Registrable Shares which the Company has been
requested by you to be registered under the Securities Act to the extent
necessary to permit their sale or other disposition in accordance with the
intended methods of distribution specified in your request; provided, that the
Company shall have the right to postpone or withdraw any registration effected
pursuant to this Section 11(a) without obligation to you.

                (b)     If the registration for which the Company gives notice
pursuant Section 11 above is an underwritten registered public offering, the
Company shall so advise you as a part of the written notice given pursuant to
said Section 11. In such event, your right to include your Registrable Shares in
such registration pursuant to this Section 11(a) shall be conditioned upon your
participation in such underwriting on the terms set forth herein. You (together
with the Company and all other holders of the Company's securities distributing
their securities through such underwriting) shall enter into an underwriting
agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for
the underwriting by the Company. In the event that (for any reason) the Company
limits the number of Registrable Shares to be included in the registration and
underwriting, the number of Registrable Shares that Optionee has requested for
registration and underwriting shall not be reduced or cut back.

                (c)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be
required, pursuant to this Section 11, to include any Registrable Shares in a
Registration Statement if such Registrable Shares can then be sold pursuant to
Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

        12.     Any registration of Registrable Shares, whether pursuant to
Section 10 or Section 11 hereof, shall be effected in accordance with the
provisions of Annex 2 attached to this Agreement and made a part hereof.

        13.     All notices, requests, demands or other communications hereunder
shall be in writing, shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by
certified mail, return receipt requested, or confirmed facsimile transmission
(or to a changed address of which notice shall have been in a manner herein
provided) as follows:

<PAGE>

         If to the Company:

                  Joel San Antonio, Chairman and
                    Chief Executive Officer
                  Warrantech Corporation
                  150 Westpark Way
                  Euless, Texas 76040

                  Fax No.: (817) 685-5540

         With a copy to:

                                    Ralph A. Siciliano, Esq.
                                    Tannenbaum Helpern
                                    Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP
                                    900 Third Avenue
                                    New York, New York 10022

                                    Fax No. (212) 371-1084

         If to Optionee:

                                    Peter A. Scarpato, Esq.
                                    Vice President & Counsel Off-Risk Management
                                    American International Group, Inc.
                                    70 Pine Street
                                    New York, New York 10270

                                    Fax No. (212) 943-4334

         With a copy to:

                                    Edward P. Krugman, Esq.
                                    Cahill Gordon & Reindel
                                    80 Pine Street
                                    New York, New York 10005

                                    Fax No. (212) 269-5420

        14. This Agreement concerning the Options shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of any successors or assigns of the Company, and, to
the extent herein provided, shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
your legal representatives.

        15. This Agreement concerning the Options may be amended only by written
instrument executed by you and the Company.

        16. This Agreement concerning the Options shall be construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, applicable to contracts
performed within such State, without giving effect to conflicts to law
principles.

        17. This Agreement concerning the Options may be signed in counterparts.

<PAGE>

        If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding and approved
by you, please so confirm by signing and returning the duplicate of this letter
enclosed for that purpose.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         WARRANTECH CORPORATION

                                         By:  s/Joel San Antonio
                                              ------------------
                                              Name:  Joel San Antonio
                                              Title: CEO Warrantech Corporation

                The undersigned hereby confirms that the foregoing is in
accordance with its understanding and is hereby agreed and accepted in its
entirety as of the date of the above letter.

American International Group, Inc., Optionee

By: s/Charles R. Schader
    --------------------
Name: Charles R. Schader
Title: Senior Vice President

<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX 1
                                   Definitions

        1. "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean the occurrence of any "person" (as
defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company, its
parent or subsidiary or employee benefit plan or trust maintained by the
Company, its parent or subsidiary,

                (a)     becoming the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the
shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding at such time on a fully
diluted basis, without the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the
Company, and

                (b)     acquiring majority control of the Board of Directors of
the Company.

        2. "COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        3. "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, or any
successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
issued under such Act, as they each may, from time to time, be in effect.

        4. "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall mean the market price of shares of Common
Stock, determined by the board of directors as follows:

                           (a)      If the shares of Common Stock were traded
                over-the-counter on the date in question but were not classified
                as a national market issue, then the Fair Market Value shall be
                equal to the mean between the last reported representative bid
                and asked prices quoted by the NASDAQ system for such date;

                           (b)      If the shares of Common Stock were traded
                over-the-counter on the date in question but were classified as
                a national market issue, then the Fair Market Value shall be
                equal to the last-transaction price quoted by the NASDAQ system
                for such date;

                           (c)      If the shares of Common Stock were traded on
                a stock exchange on the date in question, then the Fair Market
                Value shall be equal to the closing price reported by the
                applicable composite transactions report for such date; and

                           (d)      If none of the foregoing provisions is
                applicable, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined by
                the board of directors of the Company in good faith on such
                basis as it deems appropriate.

                           (e)      When possible, the determination of Fair
                Market Value by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be
                based on the prices reported in The Wall Street Journal. The
                determination on the Board of Directors of the Company shall be
                conclusive and binding on all persons.

        5. "PROSPECTUS" means the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement, as amended or supplemented by an amendment or prospectus supplement,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

        6. "REDEMPTION EVENT" shall be deemed to occur if the Common Stock has
been trading for any five (5) consecutive trading days at $3.00 or more per
share, determined by taking the average between the bid and the ask of the
Common Stock on each such day as provided in Section 4 of this Annex 1 in
connection with the calculation of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock.

        7. "REDEMPTION OPTIONS" means those Options that the Company requests to
redeem pursuant to a Redemption Notice.

<PAGE>

        8. "REDEMPTION PRICE" is $.001 times the number of Options that the
Company requests to redeem pursuant to a Redemption Notice, plus any dividends
declared but unpaid thereon, subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of
any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization
affecting such shares.

        9. "REGISTRATION EXPENSES" shall mean all expenses incurred by the
Company in complying with Section 10 of this Option, including, without
limitation, all registration and filing fees, exchange listing fees, printing
expenses, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel selected by you to represent
you, state Blue Sky fees and expenses, and the expense of any special audits
incident to or required by any such registration. Registration Expenses shall
not include underwriting discounts, selling commissions and the fees and
expenses.

        10. "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement filed by the
Company with the Commission for a public offering and sale of securities of the
Company (other than a registration statement on Form S-8 or Form S-4, or their
successors, or any other form for a similar limited purpose, or any registration
statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for
securities or assets of another corporation).

        11. "REGISTRABLE SHARES" means

                  (a)      the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon
exercise of the Options; and

                  (b)      any other shares of Common Stock issued in respect of
such shares (because of stock splits, stock dividends, reclassifications,
recapitalizations, or similar events); provided, however, that shares of Common
Stock which are Registrable Shares shall cease to be Registrable Shares upon any
sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

        10.     "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission issued under such Act, as they each may, from time to time, be in
effect.

ANNEX 2

REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

            1. If and whenever the Company is required by the provisions of this
            Agreement to use its best efforts to effect the registration of any
            Registrable Shares under the Securities Act, the Company shall:

                (a)     file with the Commission a Registration Statement with
respect to such Registrable Shares and use its best efforts to cause that
Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable;

                (b)     as expeditiously as possible prepare and file with the
Commission any amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the
prospectus included in the Registration Statement as may be necessary to comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act (including the anti-fraud provisions
thereof) and to keep the Registration Statement effective for eight (8) months
from the effective date or such lesser period until all such Registrable Shares
are sold;

                (c)     as expeditiously as possible furnish to you such
reasonable numbers of copies of the Prospectus, including any preliminary
Prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such
other documents as you may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public
sale or other disposition of the Registrable Shares owned by you;

                (d)     as expeditiously as possible use its best efforts to
register or qualify the Registrable Shares covered by the Registration Statement
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such states as you shall reasonably
request, and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or
desirable to enable you to consummate the public sale or other disposition in
such states of the Registrable Shares owned by you; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required in connection with this Section 1(d) to qualify as
a foreign corporation or execute a general consent to service of process in any
jurisdiction;

                (e)     as expeditiously as possible, cause all such Registrable
Shares to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on
which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

<PAGE>

                (f)     promptly provide a transfer agent and registrar for all
such Registrable Shares not later than the effective date of such Registration
Statement;

                (g)     promptly make available for inspection by you, any
managing underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such
Registration Statement, and any attorney or accountant or other agent retained
by any such underwriter or selected by you, all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and cause the
Company's officers, directors, employees and independent accountants to supply
all information reasonably requested by you, any such, underwriter, attorney,
accountant or agent in connection with such Registration Statement;

                (h)     as expeditiously as possible, notify you, promptly after
it shall receive notice thereof, of the time when such Registration Statement
has become effective or a supplement to any Prospectus forming a part of such
Registration Statement has been filed; and

                (i)     as expeditiously as possible following the effectiveness
of such Registration Statement, notify you of any request by the Commission for
the amending or supplementing of such Registration Statement or Prospectus.

        2. If the Company has delivered a Prospectus to you and after having
done so the Prospectus is amended to comply with the requirements of the
Securities Act, the Company shall promptly notify you and, if requested, you
shall immediately cease making offers of Registrable Shares and return all
Prospectuses to the Company. The Company shall promptly provide you with revised
Prospectuses and, following receipt of the revised Prospectuses, you shall be
free to resume making offers of the Registrable Shares.

        3. In the event that, in the judgment of the Company, it is advisable to
suspend use of a Prospectus included in a Registration Statement due to pending
material developments or other events that have not yet been publicly disclosed
and as to which the Company believes public disclosure would be detrimental to
the Company, the Company shall notify you to such effect, and, upon receipt of
such notice, you shall immediately discontinue any sales of Registrable Shares
pursuant to such Registration Statement until you have received copies of a
supplemented or amended Prospectus or until you are advised in writing by the
Company that the then current Prospectus may be used and has received copies of
any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, the Company shall not exercise its rights under this Section 3
to suspend sales of Registrable Shares for a period in excess of sixty (60) days
in any 365-day period.<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.7

                          [FORM OF RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

                         THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.

                                     and

                   FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK,

                                 Rights Agent

<PAGE>

                               Rights Agreement

                         Dated as of February 6, 1996

                              Table of Contents

<Table>
<Caption>
          Section                                              Page

<S>                                                           <C>

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

             2.  Appointment of Rights Agent . . . . . . . .    5

             3.  Issue of Rights Certificates  . . . . . . .    5

             4.  Form of Rights Certificates . . . . . . . .    7

             5.  Countersignature and Registration . . . . .    8

             6.  Transfer, Split Up, Combination and
                  Exchange of Rights Certificates;
                  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
                  Rights Certificates  . . . . . . . . . . .    9

             7.  Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price;
                  Expiration Date of Rights  . . . . . . . .   10

             8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Rights
                  Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12

             9.  Reservation and Availability of Capital
                  Stock  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12

             10.  Preferred Stock Record Date  . . . . . . .   14

             11.  Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and
                  Kind of Shares or Number of Rights . . . .   14
             12.  Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or
                  Number of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . .   24

             13.  Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer
                  of Assets or Earning Power . . . . . . . .   24

             14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares  .   27

             15.  Rights of Action . . . . . . . . . . . . .   28

             16.  Agreement of Rights Holders  . . . . . . .   29

             17.  Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
                  Stockholder  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   29

             18.  Concerning the Rights Agent  . . . . . . .   30

             19.  Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name
                  of Rights Agent  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   30

             20.  Duties of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . .   31
</Table>

                                       i

<PAGE>

             21.  Change of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . .   33

             22.  Issuance of New Rights Certificates  . . .   34

             23.  Redemption and Termination . . . . . . . .   35

             24.  Notice of Certain Events . . . . . . . . .   37

             25.  Notices  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   38

             26.  Supplements and Amendments . . . . . . . .   38

             27.  Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   39

             28.  Determinations and Actions by the Board,
                  etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   39

             29.  Benefits of this Agreement . . . . . . . .   39

             30.  Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   39

             31.  Governing Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   40

             32.  Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   40

             33.  Descriptive Headings . . . . . . . . . . .   40

             Exhibit A -- Form of Rights Certificate

                                       ii
<PAGE>
                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of February 6, 1996 (the "Agreement"),
between The Williams Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, (the "Rights Agent").

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS, the Company entered into a Rights Agreement, dated as of
January 26, 1986, as amended, with Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as
Rights Agent, which Rights Agreement shall expire on February 6, 1996;

         WHEREAS, on January 21, 1996 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"),
the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Company authorized and declared a
dividend distribution of one Right for each share of common stock, par value $1
per share, of the Company outstanding at the close of business on February 6,
1996 (the "Record Date"), and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as such
number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(p)
hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued between the Record
Date (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's treasury) and
the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in Section 3 hereof) each Right
initially representing the right to purchase one two-hundredth of a share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company having the rights,
powers

<PAGE>

and preferences set forth in the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
(the "Certificate of Incorporation"), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth (the "Rights");

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

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

                  (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding,
but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii)
any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company,
(iv) any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for
or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or (v) any such Person who has
reported or is required to report such ownership (but who is the Beneficial
Owner of less than 20% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding) on Schedule
13G under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report) or on
Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report)
which Schedule 13D does not state any intention to or reserve the right to
control or influence the management or policies of the Company or engage in any
of the actions specified in Item 4 of such Schedule (other than the disposition
of the Common Stock) and, within 10 Business Days of being requested by the
Company to advise it regarding the same, certifies to the Company that such
Person acquired shares of Common Stock in excess of 14.9% inadvertently or
without knowledge 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 15% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding; provided, however, that if the Person requested to so
certify fails to do so within 10 Business Days, then such Person shall become an
Acquiring Person immediately after such 10 Business Day Period.

                  (b) "Adverse Person" shall mean any Person declared to be an
Adverse Person by the Board upon determination that the criteria set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii)(B) apply to such Person.

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

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

                         (i) which such Person or any of such Person's
         Affiliates or Associates,

                                       2
<PAGE>

         directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether such right is
         exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to
         any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing)
         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," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer
         made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
         until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange,
         or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to
         the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C) securities issuable upon
         exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event
         which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person's
         Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to
         Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant
         to Section 11(a)(i) hereof in connection with an adjustment made with
         respect to any Original Rights;

                         (ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
         Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote
         or dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant
         to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange
         Act), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
         understanding, whether or not in writing; provided, however, that a
         Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
         "beneficially own," any security under this subparagraph (ii) as a
         result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such
         security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises
         solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or
         consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
         applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under the
         Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then reportable by such Person on
         Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor
         report); or

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

                                       3
<PAGE>

         voting securities of the Company; provided, however, that nothing in
         this paragraph (d) shall cause a person engaged in business as an
         underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
         "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such person's
         participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the
         expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition.

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

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

                  (g) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value $1
per share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference
to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person
with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity
interest having power to control or direct the management, of such Person.

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

                  (i) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $1 per share, of the Company, and, to
the extent that there are not a sufficient number of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of the
Rights, any other series of Preferred Stock of the Company designated for such
purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

                  (j) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described
in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

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

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

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

                                       4
<PAGE>

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

                  (o) The following terms shall have the meaning specified in
the indicated Section or Sections of this Agreement:

<Table>
<Caption>
          Defined Term                            Section

<S>                                               <C>
          Act                                     8(c)
          Adjustment Shares                       11(a)(ii)
          Agreement                               Recitals
          Board                                   Recitals
          Certificate of Incorporation            Recitals
          Common Stock Equivalents                11(a)(iii)
          Company                                 Recitals, 13(a)
          Current Market Price                    11(d)(ii)
          Current Value                           11(a)(iii)
          Distribution Date                       3(a)
          Equivalent Preferred Stock              11(b)
          Expiration Date                         7(a)
          Final Expiration Date                   7(a)
          Preferred Stock                         Recitals
          Principal Party                         13(b)
          Purchase Price                          4(a), 11(a)(ii),
                                                  13(a)
          Record Date                             Recitals
          Redemption Price                        23(a)
          Rights                                  Recitals
          Rights Agent                            Recitals
          Rights Certificates                     3(a)
          Rights Dividend Declaration Date        Recitals
          Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date          11(a)(iii)
          Spread                                  11(a)(iii)
          Substition Period                       11(a)(iii)
          Summary of Rights                       3(b)
          Trading Days                            11(d)(i)
</Table>

         Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also
be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.

         Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.

                  (a) Until the earliest of (i) the close of business on the
tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day after the Stock
Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the
Record Date), (ii) the close of business on the tenth Business Day (or such
later date as the Board shall determine) after the date that a tender or
exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company, or any Person

                                       5
<PAGE>

organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule
14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon
consummation thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more
of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding or (iii) the close of business on
the tenth Business Day after the Board determines, pursuant to the criteria set
forth in Section 11(a)(ii)(B) hereof, that a Person is an Adverse Person (the
earliest of (i), (ii) and (iii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution
Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph
(b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for the Common Stock registered in
the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common
Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate
certificates, and (y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with
the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to
the Company). As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights
Agent will send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record
holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date,
at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more
right certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Rights
Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held,
subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the
number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section
11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the
Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in
accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing
only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any
fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.

                  (b) With respect to certificates for the Common Stock
outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will
be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered
holders of the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the
associated Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration
Date (as such term is defined in Section 7 hereof), the transfer of any
certificates representing shares of Common Stock in respect of which Rights have
been issued shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with
such shares of Common Stock.

                  (c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common
Stock which are issued (whether originally issued or from the Company's
treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates representing such shares of Common
Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the
following legend:

                                       6
<PAGE>

                    This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder
               hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement
               between The Williams Companies, Inc. (the "Company") and First
               Chicago Trust Company of New York (the "Rights Agent"), dated as
               of February 6, 1996, (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which
               are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which
               is on file at the principal offices of The Williams Companies,
               Inc. 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 Williams
               Companies, Inc. will mail to the holder of this certificate a
               copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of
               mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of a written
               request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in the
               Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who
               is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person, an Adverse Person or any
               Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the
               Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf of such
               Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void.

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

         Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.

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

                                       7
<PAGE>

                  (b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring
Person, an Adverse Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person
or an Adverse Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse
Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after
the Acquiring Person or Adverse Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate)
who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person or
the Adverse Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A)
a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person or the
Adverse Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or
Adverse Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person or Adverse
Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the
transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board has determined is part of a
plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect
avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to
Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or
adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall
contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:

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

         Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.

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

                                       8
<PAGE>

be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the
execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company
to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this
Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.

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

         Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates. (a)
Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof,
at any time after the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at or
prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or
Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another
Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase
a like number of one two-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or, following
a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the
case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitled
such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase. Any
registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights
Certificate or Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the
Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office or offices
of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor
the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the
transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder
shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of
assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have
provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section
4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person
entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may
be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.

         (b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights

                                       9
<PAGE>

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

         Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights. (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise
provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of one two-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or,
following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then
exercisable, at or prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on February
6, 2006 (the "Final Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being
herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").

                  (b) The Purchase Price for each one two- hundredth of a share
of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be
$140.00, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph
(c) below.

                  (c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate
duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised,
of the Purchase Price per one two-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or
other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be
purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax,
the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i)
(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or
make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares)
certificates for the total number of one two-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer
agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected
to deposit the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise
of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary
agent depositary receipts representing such number of one two-hundredths of a
share

                                       10
<PAGE>

of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the
transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the
depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company
the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in
accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or
depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names
as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver
such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced
pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) shall be made in cash or by certified
bank check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company. In
the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities (including
Common Stock) of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant
to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so
that such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for
distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. The Company reserves
the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon
any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole
shares of Preferred Stock would be issued.

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

                  (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any
Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person, an Adverse Person or an
Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person, (ii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person (or of any such Associate
or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person or the Adverse
Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse
Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to
or concurrently with the Acquiring Person or the Adverse Person becoming such
and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person or the Adverse Person to holders of
equity interests in such Acquiring Person or Adverse Person or to any Person
with whom the Acquiring Person or the Adverse Person has any continuing
agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B)
a transfer which the Board has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or
understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this

                                       11
<PAGE>

Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any further action and no
holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such
Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company
shall use all reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section
7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to
any holder of Rights Certificates or any other Person as a result of its failure
to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or an Adverse
Person or any of their respective Affiliates, Associates or transferees
hereunder.

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

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

         Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. (a) The
Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept
available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and
unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities or out of its authorized
and issued shares held in its treasury), the number of shares of Preferred Stock
(and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities) that, as provided in this Agreement, including Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding
Rights.

                  (b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following
the occurrence of a Triggering

                                       12
<PAGE>

Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) issuable and deliverable upon the
exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange, the
Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the
Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on
such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.

                  (c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as
soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the
Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, a registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933 (the "Act"), with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of
which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities and (B) the date
of the expiration of the Rights. The Company will also take such action as may
be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety
(90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this
Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such
registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. In addition,
if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is required
following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the
exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has
been declared effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the
exercise thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law or a registration
statement shall not have been declared effective.

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

                  (e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges
which may be

                                       13
<PAGE>

payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and of
any certificates for a number of one two-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon the
exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any
transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of
Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a
number of one two-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than
that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of
one two-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered
holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any
such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that
no such tax is due.

         Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for a number of one two-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the
exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of
record of such fractional shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or
other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.

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

                  (a)(i) In the event that the Company shall at any time after
the date of this Agreement (A)

                                       14
<PAGE>

declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock,
(B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding
Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its
capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise
provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in
effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date
of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of
shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such
date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right
exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the
Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of
Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had
been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred
Stock transfer books of the Company were open, he or she would have owned upon
such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend,
subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an event occurs which would
require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in
addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

                  (ii) In the event:

                  (A) any Person shall become an Acquiring Person, unless the
         event causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is a
         transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof or is an acquisition of
         shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or an exchange offer
         for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms
         determined by at least a majority of the members of the Board who are
         not officers of the Company and who are not representatives, nominees,
         Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person,
         after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms, to be
         (a) at a price which is fair to stockholders (taking into account all
         factors which such members of the Board deem relevant including,
         without limitation, prices which could reasonably be achieved if the
         Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize
         maximum value) and (b) otherwise in the best interests of the Company
         and its stockholders, or

                  (B) the Board shall declare any Person to be an Adverse
         Person, upon a determination that such Person, alone or together with
         its Affiliates and Associates, has become the Beneficial Owner of an
         amount of Common Stock which the Board determines to be substantial
         (which amount shall in no event be less than 10% of the shares of
         Common Stock then outstanding) and a determination by a majority of the
         Board who are not officers of the Company after

                                       15
<PAGE>

         reasonable inquiry and investigation, including consultation with such
         persons as such directors shall deem appropriate, that (a) such
         Beneficial Ownership by such Person is intended to cause the Company to
         repurchase the Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person or to
         cause pressure on the Company to take action or enter into a
         transaction or series of transactions intended to provide such Person
         with short-term financial gain under circumstances where such directors
         determine that the best long-term interests of the Company and its
         stockholders would not be served by taking such action or entering into
         such transaction or series of transactions at that time or (b) such
         Beneficial Ownership is causing or reasonably likely to cause a
         material adverse impact (including, but not limited to, impairment of
         relationships with customers or impairment of the Company's ability to
         maintain its competitive position) on the business or prospects of the
         Company;

         then, promptly following the occurrence of any event described in
         11(a)(ii)(A) or 11(a)(ii)(B) hereof, proper provision shall be made so
         that each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section
         7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise
         thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
         of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one two-hundredths of a share
         of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock of the
         Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then
         current Purchase Price by the then number of one two-hundredths of a
         share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately
         prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y)
         dividing that product (which, following such first occurrence, shall
         thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and
         for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the current market price
         (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock
         on the date of such first occurrence (such number of shares, the
         "Adjustment Shares").

                  (iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock
which are authorized by the Certificate of Incorporation but not outstanding or
reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are
not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with
the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall (A)
determine the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a
Right (the "Current Value"), and (B) with respect to each Right (subject to
Section 7(e) hereof), make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment
Shares, upon the exercise of a Right and payment of the applicable Purchase
Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or
other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares,
or units of shares, of preferred stock, such as the Preferred Stock, which the
Board has deemed to have essentially the same

                                       16
<PAGE>

value or economic rights as shares of Common Stock (such shares of preferred
stock being referred to as "Common Stock Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of
the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having
an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction
in the Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the
Board based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm
selected by the Board; provided, however, that if the Company shall not have
made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within
thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company's right of redemption
pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to
herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be
obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without
requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent
available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an
aggregate value equal to the Spread. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the
term "Spread" shall mean the excess of (i) the Current Value over (ii) the
Purchase Price. If the Board determines in good faith that it is likely that
sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance
upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above
may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days
after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek
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 action is to be taken pursuant to the
first and/or third sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (1) shall
provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly
to all outstanding Rights, and (2) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights
until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek such
shareholder approval for such authorization of additional shares and/or to
decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first
sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes
of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of each Adjustment Share shall be the
Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii)
Trigger Date and the per share or per unit value of any Common Stock Equivalent
shall be deemed to equal the current market price per share of the Common Stock
on such date.

                  (b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock
entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within
forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) Preferred Stock (or shares
having the same rights,

                                       17
<PAGE>

privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred Stock ("equivalent
preferred stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent
preferred stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of
equivalent preferred stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a
security convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock) less
than the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in
effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding
on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the
aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or
equivalent preferred stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase
at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be the number
of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of
additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred stock to be
offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities
so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may
be paid by delivery of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other
than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith
by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with
the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the
Rights. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the
Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation.
Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed,
and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.

                  (c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the
Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but
including any dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or
subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)
hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current market
price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred
Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good
faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed
with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of

                                       18
<PAGE>

indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
applicable to a share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be
such current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per
share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever
such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so
made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would
have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

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

                                       19
<PAGE>

the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the
Board shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the
principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are
listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or
not so listed or traded, Current Market Price per share shall mean the fair
value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
conclusive for all purposes.

                  (ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the Current
Market Price per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the same manner
as set forth above for the Common Stock in clause (i) of this Section 11(d)
(other than the last sentence thereof). If the Current Market Price per share of
Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the
Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described
in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the Current Market Price per share of
Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 200 (as
such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock
dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock occurring after
the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the Current Market Price per share of
the Common Stock. If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is
publicly held or so listed or traded, Current Market Price per share of the
Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith
by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with
the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. For all purposes of
this Agreement, the Current Market Price of a Unit shall be equal to the Current
Market Price of one share of Preferred Stock divided by 200.

                  (e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of
Common Stock or other share or one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as
the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier
of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates such
adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.

                  (f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised
shall become

                                       20
<PAGE>

entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred Stock,
thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b),
(c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9,
10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like
terms to any such other shares.

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

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

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

                                       21
<PAGE>

Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase
Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights
Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.

                  (j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of one two- hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore
and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one
two-hundredth of a share and the number of one two-hundredths of a share which
were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.

                  (k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then stated value, if any, of the number
of one two- hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and nonassessable such number of one two-hundredths of
a share of Preferred Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.

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

                  (m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this

                                       22
<PAGE>

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

                  (n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary
of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or
(iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one
transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or earning
power aggregating more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons
(other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the
time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any
rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in
effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or
immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the shareholders of the
Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes
of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously
owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.

                  (o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26
hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.

                  (p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after the
Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare
a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine
the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the
number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or
issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each share of Common

                                       23
<PAGE>

Stock following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying
the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately
prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the 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.

                  (q) The failure by the Board to declare a Person to be an
Adverse Person following such Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of 10% or
more of the outstanding Common Stock shall not imply that such Person is not an
Adverse Person or limit the Board's right at any time in the future to declare
such Person to be an Adverse Person.

         Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a
brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to
the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing shares of
Common Stock) in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be
fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein
contained.

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

                  (a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date or
a determination by the Board that a Person has become an Adverse Person,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with
and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not
be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y)
any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or
into, the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such
consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other
Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise
transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer),
in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or
earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning
power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or
Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more
transactions each of which complies with

                                       24
<PAGE>

Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in each such case (except as may be
contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof), proper provision shall be made so that:
(i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then
current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such
number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely
tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is
hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first
refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one two-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior
to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event
has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying
the number of such one two-hundredths of a share for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first
occurrence), and dividing that product (which, following the first occurrence of
a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right
and for all purposes of this Agreement) by (2) 50% of the current market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share of the Common Stock
of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event;
(ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by
virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company
pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed
to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the
provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party
following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party
shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a
sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the
consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may
be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the
exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall
be of no effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.

                  (b) "Principal Party" shall mean

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

                         (ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause
         (z) of the

                                       25
<PAGE>

         first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving
         the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred
         pursuant to such transaction or transactions;

provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12)
month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is
a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is
and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person;
and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more
than one Person, the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.

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

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

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

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

                                       26
<PAGE>

                  (d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in
subparagraphs (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is
consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock
pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of
Common Stock which complies with the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)(A) hereof
(or a wholly owned subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per
share of Common Stock offered in such transaction is not less than the price per
share of Common Stock paid to all holders of shares of Common Stock whose shares
were purchased pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer and (iii) the
form of consideration being offered to the remaining holders of shares of Common
Stock pursuant to such transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid
pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such
transaction contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall
expire.

         Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

                  (a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p)
hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights.
In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders
of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the
current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional
Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for
any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or
admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market,
as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market 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. If on any such date no such
market maker is making a market in the Rights the fair value of the Rights on
such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used.

                                       27
<PAGE>

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

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

                  (d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives his or her right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section
14.

         Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his or her own behalf and for
his or her own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action
or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of,
his or her right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in
the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is
specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate
remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to

                                       28
<PAGE>

specific performance of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against
actual or threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person
subject to this Agreement.

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

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

                  (b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;

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

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

         Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of one
two-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the
Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights
represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the

                                       29
<PAGE>

election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in Section 24 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights,
or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate
shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

         Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.

                  (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises.

                  (b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights
Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.

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

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

                                       30
<PAGE>

deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

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

                  (d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as

                                       31
<PAGE>

to its countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements
and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

                  (e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof
(except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the
validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any
covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate;
nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of
Section 11 or Section 13 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount
of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would
require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment);
nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will,
when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

                  (g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any
Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company,
and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its
duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken
by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer.

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

                  (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself
or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act,

                                       32
<PAGE>

default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss
to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct;
provided, however, reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued
employment thereof.

                  (j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability
in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such
funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.

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

                  (l) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for failure to
perform any duties except as specifically set forth herein and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights
Agent whose duties and obligations are ministerial and shall be determined
solely by the express provisions hereof.

         Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon
thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock
and Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the
Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be
removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint
a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States or of the State of New York (or of any other
state

                                       33
<PAGE>

of the United States so long as such corporation is authorized to do business as
a banking institution in the State of New York), in good standing, which is
authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer or corporate trust powers
and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and
which, at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent, has, or is an affiliate
of a corporation which has, a combined capital and surplus of at least
$100,000,000. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with
the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing
to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice
provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not
affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

         Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or
property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or
sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the
redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to
shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee plan or arrangement, granted or awarded as of the
Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities
hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Board of the Company, issue Rights Certificates
representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance
or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued
if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such
issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to
the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and
(ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof.

                                       34
<PAGE>

         Section 23. Redemption and Termination.

                  (a) The Board of the Company may, at its option, at any time
prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth day following the
Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall have occurred
prior to the Record Date, the close of business on the tenth day following the
Record Date), or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than
all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, as
such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption
price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be
exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event until such
time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has expired. The Company
may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock
(based on the Current Market Price, as defined in Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of
the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration
deemed appropriate by the Board.

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

                  (c) (i) The Board may, at its option, at any time after any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person or the Board determines that any Person has
become an Adverse Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Stock at an
exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be
empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such
Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Stock then
outstanding.

                                       35
<PAGE>

                  (ii) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the
exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (c)(i) of this Section 23 and
without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such
Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights
shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of
such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company
shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that
the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity
of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange
to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange
of the Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial
exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange
shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights
which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held
by each holder of Rights.

                  (iii) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 23(c), the
Company, at its option, may substitute Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred
stock, as such term is defined in paragraph (b) of Section 11 hereof) for Common
Stock exchangeable for rights, at the initial rate of one two-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred stock) for each share of
Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting
rights of the Preferred Stock pursuant to the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, so that the fraction of a share of Preferred Stock delivered in
lieu of each share of Common Stock shall have the same voting rights as one
share of Common Stock.

                  (iv) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common
Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any
exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 23(c), the
Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional
Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.

                  (v) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional
shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, there
shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to
which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable, an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole
share of Common Stock. For the purposes of this paragraph (v) of Section 23(c),
the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing
price of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence
of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
exchange pursuant to this Section 23(c).

                                       36
<PAGE>

         Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.

                  (a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities,
rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred
Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or
merger into or with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in
a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to effect any sale
or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any
sale or other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
of more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than
the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of
which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company
shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in
accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall
specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of
rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation,
merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place
and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the
case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days
prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action
or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock whichever shall be the earlier.

                  (b) In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof shall occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as
practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the
extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of the
occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of
the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all
references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred Stock shall be deemed
thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate, other securities.

                                       37
<PAGE>

         Section 25. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by telecopier
(with receipt confirmed) or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed
(until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

                    The Williams Companies, Inc.
                    One Williams Center
                    Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172
                    Attention:  Corporate Secretary
                    Telecopier:  (918) 588-4503

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

                    First Chicago Trust Company of New York
                    525 Washington Boulevard
                    Mail Suite 4660
                    Jersey City, New Jersey 07310
                    Attention:  Tenders & Exchanges Administration
                    Telecopier:  (201) 222-4291

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

         Section 26. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date,
the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
certificates representing shares of Common Stock. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so
directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders
of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period
hereunder or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner
which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other than an
Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person); provided, this Agreement may not be
supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence,
(A) a time

                                       38
<PAGE>

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. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an
appropriate officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or
amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 26, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment. Prior to the Distribution Date, the
interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests
of the holders of Common Stock.

         Section 27. 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 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board, etc. 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. The Board shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right
and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith,
shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the
holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to
any liability to the holders of the Rights.

         Section 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 Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).

         Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other

                                       39
<PAGE>

authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board determines
in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this
Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the
right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall
not expire until the close of business on the tenth day following the date of
such determination by the Board. Without limiting the foregoing, if any
provision requiring the approval of a majority of a group of directors, which
group constitutes less than the entire Board, is held by any court of competent
jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, such
determination shall then be made by the Board in accordance with applicable law
and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws.

         Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State.

         Section 32. 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 33. 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 and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

Attest:                  The Williams Companies, Inc.

By                       By
    Name:                      Name:
    Title:                     Title:

Attest:                  First Chicago Trust Company
                           of New York

By                       By
    Name:                      Name:
    Title:                     Title:

                                       40
<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit A

[Form of Rights Certificate]

Certificate No. R-                                               ________ Rights

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER February 6, 2006 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY.
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER
RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
ADVERSE PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN ADVERSE
PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN
THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.](1)

Rights Certificate

The Williams Companies, 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 February 6, 1996 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between The Williams Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and First Chicago Trust Company of New York (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase
from the Company at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (Tulsa, Oklahoma time) on
February 6, 2006 at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one two-hundredth of a fully
paid, non-assessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of $140.00 per one
two-hundredth of a share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender
of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related
Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate (and the number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise
thereof) set

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

<PAGE>
forth above, and the Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the number
and Purchase Price as of February 6, 1996 based on the Preferred Stock as
constituted at such date. The Company reserves the right to require prior to the
occurrence of a Triggering Event (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) that a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of
Preferred Stock will be issued.

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

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

         This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the
Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Company.

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

         Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption
price of $0.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the close of
business on (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such time
period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and (ii) the

                                       2
<PAGE>

Final Expiration Date. In addition, the Rights may be exchanged, in whole or in
part, for shares of the Common Stock, or shares of preferred stock of the
Company having essentially the same value or economic rights as such shares.
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing
any such exchange, and without any further action or any notice, the Rights
(other than Rights which are not subject to such exchange) will terminate and
the Rights will only enable holders to receive the shares issuable upon such
exchange.

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

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

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

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

Dated as of              ,

ATTEST:                       The Williams Companies, Inc.

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

Countersigned:

First Chicago Trust Company
  of New York

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

                                       3
<PAGE>

                  [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

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

FOR VALUE RECEIVED
hereby sells, assigns and transfer unto

                  (Please print name and address of transferee)

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

Dated: __________________, ____     ______________________
                                   Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

                       Certificate

         The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:

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

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

Dated: __________________, ____     ______________________
                                   Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

                                     NOTICE

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

                                       4
<PAGE>

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
                      (To be executed if holder desires to
                       exercise Rights represented by the
                              Rights Certificate.)

To: The Williams Companies, Inc.:

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

Please insert social security
or other identifying number

                         (Please print name and address)

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

Please insert social security
or other identifying number

                         (Please print name and address)

Dated: ___________, ____       ___________________________
                              Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

                                  Certificate

         The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:

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

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

Dated: ___________, ____       ___________________________
                              Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

                                     NOTICE

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

                                       5

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00031-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00031-of-00352.parquet"}]]