Document:

<PAGE>   1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                     Between

                                LENDINGTREE INC.

                                       And

                           FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
                                 AS RIGHTS AGENT

                          Dated as of February 22, 2000

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section                                                                                          Page
-------                                                                                          ----
<S>      <C>                                                                                     <C>

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

2.       Appointment of Rights Agent...............................................................11

3.       Issuance of Rights Certificates...........................................................12

4.       Form of Rights Certificates...............................................................15

5.       Countersignature and Registration.........................................................17

6.       Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
         Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates..................................18

7.       Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.............................20

8.       Cancellation and Destruction of Rights
         Certificates..............................................................................25

9.       Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.............................................26

10.      Preferred Stock Record Date.............................................................. 29

11.      Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number
         of Shares................................................................................ 30

12.      Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares............................... 49

13.      Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets, Cash Flow or
         Earning Power............................................................................ 50

14.      Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.................................................. 56

15.      Rights of Action......................................................................... 58

16.      Agreement of Rights Holders.............................................................. 59

17.      Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder....................................... 61

18.      Concerning the Rights Agent.............................................................. 61
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<S>      <C>                                                                                     <C>
19.      Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent................................ 62

20.      Duties of Rights Agent................................................................... 64

21.      Change of Rights Agent................................................................... 68

22.      Issuance of New Rights Certificates...................................................... 70

23.      Redemption and Termination............................................................... 71

24.      Exchange................................................................................. 72

25.      Notice of Certain Events................................................................. 75

26.      Notices.................................................................................. 77

27.      Supplements and Amendments............................................................... 78

28.      Successors............................................................................... 80

29.      Determinations and Action by the Board, etc...............................................80

30.      Benefits of this Agreement................................................................81

31.      Severability..............................................................................81

32.      Governing Law.............................................................................82

33.      Counterparts..............................................................................82

34.      Descriptive Headings......................................................................83
</TABLE>

                                    EXHIBITS

Exhibit A --      Form of Certificate of Designation,
                           Preferences and Rights

Exhibit B --      Form of Rights Certificates

Exhibit C --      Form of Summary of Rights

                                        2

<PAGE>   4

                     AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                  Amendment No. 1 to the Rights Agreement, dated as of September
28, 2000 (the "Amendment"), by and between LendingTree, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and First Union National Bank, a banking
corporation (the "Rights Agent").

                  WHEREAS, on February 22, 2000 the Company and the Rights Agent
entered into a Rights Agreement (the "Agreement");

                  WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 27 of the Agreement, the Company
has determined to modify the terms of the Agreement in certain respects.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual
agreements herein set forth, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto agree that the Agreement shall be and hereby is amended in the
following manner:

         Section 1. Amendment of Certain Definitions. The definition of
"Acquiring Person" in Section 1(a) of the original Agreement is hereby deleted
in its entirety and replaced with the following in lieu thereof:

         ""Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together with
         all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be, following the
         consummation of the Company's initial public offering, the Beneficial
         Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding,
         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, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or
         established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such
         plan, (iv) any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifteen
         percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding as
         a result of a reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock
         outstanding due to the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the
         Company unless and until such Person, after becoming aware that such
         Person has become the Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more
         of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, acquires Beneficial
         Owner-

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         ship of additional shares of Common Stock from sources other than the
         Company representing one percent (1%) or more of the shares of Common
         Stock then outstanding, (v) any Person who owns 15% or more of the then
         outstanding shares of Common Stock upon the consummation of the initial
         public offering of the Common Stock of the Company, unless and until
         such Person shall purchase or otherwise become the Beneficial Owner of
         additional shares of Common Stock constituting 5% or more of the
         shares of Common Stock then outstanding, or (vi) any such Person who
         has reported or is required to report such ownership (but less than
         20%) on Schedule 13G under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
         amended and in effect on the date of the Agreement (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. For
         purposes of determining whether a Person is, or has become, the
         Beneficial Owner of securities so as to become an Acquiring Person, any
         securities purchased or otherwise obtained by such Person or such
         Person's Affiliates and Associates, directly or indirectly, from the
         Company subsequent to the Company's initial public offering, shall be
         excluded and, as such, shall be treated as if such Person was not the
         Beneficial Owner of such securities."

         Section 2. "Agreement" as Amended. The term "Agreement" as used in the
Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the Agreement as amended hereby, and all
references to the Agreement shall be deemed to include this Amendment.

         Section 3. Effectiveness. This Amendment shall be effective as of the
date first written above, and except as set forth herein, the Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect and otherwise shall be unaffected hereby.

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<PAGE>   6

         Section 4. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Amendment to be duly executed and attested as of the date first written above.

                                            LENDINGTREE, INC.

                                            /s/ DOUGLAS R. LEBDA
                                            ----------------------------
                                            Name: Douglas Lebda
                                            Title:   Chief Executive Officer

                                            FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK

                                            /s/ KRISTIN N. KNAPP
                                            ----------------------------------
                                            Name:  Kristin N. Knapp
                                            Title:    Asst. Vice President

                                       3
<PAGE>   7

                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                  RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of February 22, 2000 (the
"Agreement"), between LendingTree Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and First Union National Bank, a banking corporation (the "Rights Agent").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

                  WHEREAS, on February 21, 2000 (the "Rights Dividend
Declaration Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and
declared a dividend distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each
share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common
Stock") outstanding at the close of business on the date of the consummation of
the initial public offering of the Common Stock of the Company (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 hereinafter defined) each Right initially representing the
right to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Preferred Stock") having the rights, powers
and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of Designation,

                                       4
<PAGE>   8

Preferences and Rights attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the "Rights");

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

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

                           (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or
which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be,
following the consummation of the initial public offering, 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, or any Person
or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan, (iv) any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of
fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding as
a result of a reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding due
to the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company unless and until such
Person, after becoming aware that such Person has become the Beneficial Owner of
fifteen percent (15%) or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock,
acquires beneficial ownership of additional shares of Common Stock representing
one percent (1%) or more of

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<PAGE>   9

the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, (v) any Person who owns 15% or more
of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock upon the consummation of the
initial public offering of the Common Stock of the Company, unless and until
such Person shall purchase or otherwise become the Beneficial Owner of
additional shares of Common Stock constituting 5% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding, or (vi) any such Person who has reported or is
required to report such ownership (but less than 20%) on Schedule 13G under the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the date of the
Agreement (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

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<PAGE>   10

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) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933.

                           (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 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, 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, (B) securities
         issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of
         a Triggering

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         Event (as hereinafter defined), 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 (as
         hereinafter defined) or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof
         (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in
         connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;

                                    (ii) which such Person or any of such
         Person's Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the
         right to vote or dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as
         determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations
         under the Exchange Act), 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

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<PAGE>   12

         Act, (B) is not reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the
         Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report) and (C) does not
         constitute a trust, proxy, power of attorney or other device with the
         purpose or effect of allowing two or more persons, acting in concert,
         to avoid being deemed "beneficial owners" of such security or otherwise
         avoid the status of "Acquiring Person" under the terms of this
         Agreement or as part of a plan or scheme to evade the reporting
         requirements under Schedule 13D or Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the
         Exchange Act; 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 (d)) or disposing of any 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

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<PAGE>   13

         a firm commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty days after
         the date of such acquisition, and then only if such securities continue
         to be owned by such Person at such expiration of forty days and
         provided further, however, that any stockholder of the Company, with
         affiliate(s), associate(s) or other person(s) who may be deemed
         representatives of it serving as director(s) of the Company, shall not
         be deemed to beneficially own securities held by other Persons as a
         result of (i) persons affiliated or otherwise associated with such
         stockholder serving as directors or taking any action in connection
         therewith, (ii) discussing the status of its shares with the Company
         or other stockholders of the Company similarly situated or (iii) voting
         or acting in a manner similar to other stockholders similarly situated,
         absent a specific finding by the Board of Directors of an express
         agreement among such stockholders to act in concert with one another
         as stockholders so as to cause, in the good faith judgment of the Board
         of Directors, each such stockholder to be the Beneficial Owner of the
         shares held by the other stockholder(s).

                           (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.

                                       10
<PAGE>   14

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

                           (g) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par
value $0.01 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) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                           (i) "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.

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

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

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

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<PAGE>   15

                           (m) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934.

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

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

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

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

                           (r) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 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.

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

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

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                           (u) "Qualified Offer" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

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

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

                           (x) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth
in the parties clause at the beginning of this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

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

                           (ad) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first
date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall
include, without

                                       13
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limitation, a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) under the
Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has
become such other than pursuant to a Qualified Offer.

                           (ae) "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.

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

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

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

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

                  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

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may from time to time appoint such co-rights agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.

                  Section 3.  Issuance of Rights Certificates.

                           (a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on
the tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth
Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the
close of business on the Record Date), or (ii) the close of business on the
tenth Business Day (or such later date as 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 or entity 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 become an Acquiring Person ,in either instance other
than pursuant to a Qualified Offer (the earlier of (i) and (ii) 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

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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 B 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) The Company will make available, as promptly as
practicable following the Record Date, a copy of a Summary of Rights, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights") to
any holder Rights who may so request from time to time prior to the Expiration
Date (as such term is defined in Section 7(a) hereof). With respect to
certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights will

                                       16
<PAGE>   20

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, 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:

                  This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
         to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between
         LENDINGTREE INC. (the "Company") and the Rights Agent thereunder (the
         "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein
         by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of
         the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
         Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and
         will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail
         to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in
         effect on the date of mailing, without charge, promptly after receipt
         of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in
         the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is,
         was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate
         thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether
         currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent
         holder, may become null and void.

                                       17
<PAGE>   21

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 B hereto and may
have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange 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 one-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price equal

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to the product of four times the average closing price of the Common Stock for
the first five days of trading subsequent to the consummation of the initial
public offering of the Common Stock, per one one-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.

                           (b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section
3(a), Section 11(i) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially
owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or
(iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring
Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of
equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such
Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Company 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

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<PAGE>   23

Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or
adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall
contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:

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

                                       20
<PAGE>   24

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

                           (b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent
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 (other than Rights
Certificates representing Rights that may have been exchanged pursuant to
Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered

                                       21
<PAGE>   25

holder to purchase a like number of one one-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 entitles 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), Section 14 hereof and
Section 24 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

                                       22
<PAGE>   26

imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of
Rights Certificates.

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

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

                           (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, at any time after
the Distribution Date 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
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

                                       23
<PAGE>   27

the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of the
aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one one-hundredths
of a share (or 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) 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the tenth anniversary of the date of
the consummation of the initial public offering of the Common Stock of the
Company, or such later date as may be established by the Board of Directors
prior to the expiration of the Rights (such date, as it may be extended by the
Board, the ("Final Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed or exchanged as provided in Section 23 and Section 24 hereof (the
earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").

                           (b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of
a share of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially
be the amount equal to the product of four times the average daily closing price
of the Common Stock for the first five days of trading subsequent to the
consummation of the initial public offering of the Common Stock, and shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 and Section
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

                                       24
<PAGE>   28

executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of
the Purchase Price per one one-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 one-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 one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for
the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by
the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company 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

                                       25
<PAGE>   29

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 or bank draft payable to the order of
the Company or shares of Common Stock (having a value determined pursuant to
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof). 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

                                       26
<PAGE>   30

beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to
holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e),
shall become null and void without any further action and no holder of such
Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether
under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. 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 its Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder.

                                       27
<PAGE>   31

                           (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 such cancelled

                                       28
<PAGE>   32

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 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

                                       29
<PAGE>   33

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 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 has
been rescinded. 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

                                       30
<PAGE>   34

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 one-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 payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the
Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one one-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 one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case

                                       31
<PAGE>   35

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 one-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 one-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

                                       32
<PAGE>   36

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 the Company shall at any time
         after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the
         Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the
         out standing 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

                                       33
<PAGE>   37

         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, such
         holder 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.

                                       34
<PAGE>   38

                                    (ii) In the event any Person shall, at any
         time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date, 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 of Directors who are not officers of the Company and who are not
         representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring
         Person, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking
         firms, to be (a) at a price which is fair to stockholders and not
         inadequate (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 (a "Qualified
         Offer"),

         then, promptly following the occurrence of such event, proper provision
         shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below
         and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive,
         upon exercise

                                       35
<PAGE>   39

         thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
         of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-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 one-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 Company's Restated
         Certificate of Incorporation, but which are 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 re-

                                       36
<PAGE>   40

         spect 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 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

                                       37
<PAGE>   41

         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

                                       38
<PAGE>   42

         such authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the
         appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first
         sentence and to deter mine 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, 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

                                       39
<PAGE>   43

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 of Directors of the Company,
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

                                       40
<PAGE>   44

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 evidences
of indebtedness, or of 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 of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be
distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of
Preferred Stock, and the

                                       41
<PAGE>   45

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

                                       42
<PAGE>   46

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 National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System
("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares
of Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making
a market in the Common Stock selected by the Board. If on any such date no
market maker is making a

                                       43
<PAGE>   47

market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as deter
mined 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
         100 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events

                                       44
<PAGE>   48

         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
         100.

                           (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

                                       45
<PAGE>   49

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 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
one-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

                                       46
<PAGE>   50

right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest
one-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-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 one-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 one-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

                                       47
<PAGE>   51

adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights
Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to
be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the
Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option
of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the
names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.

                           (j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price or the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore
and

                                       48
<PAGE>   52

thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one
one-hundredth of a share and the number of one one-hundredth 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 one-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
one-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 one-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 one-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

                                       49
<PAGE>   53

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
Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board of
Directors of the Company 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 exchange able 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%

                                       50
<PAGE>   54

of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation,
merger or sale there are any 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)

                                       51
<PAGE>   55

subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the number
of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued
or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of
Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator 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.

                  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) if a Distribution Date has occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to
each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 27 hereof. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment therein contained and

                                       52
<PAGE>   56

shall not be obligated or responsible for calculating any adjustment nor shall
it be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall
have received such a certificate.

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

                           (a) In the event that, following the Stock
Acquisition Date, 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

                                       53
<PAGE>   57

Person or Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in
one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof),
then, and in each such case (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 one-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
one-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

                                       54
<PAGE>   58

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

                                       55
<PAGE>   59

                                    (ii) in the case of any transaction
         described in clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the
         Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets,
         cash flow 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

                                       56
<PAGE>   60

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) take such all such other action as may
         be necessary to enable the Principal Party to issue the securities
         purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, including but not limited to
         the registration or qualification of such securities under all
         requisite securities laws of jurisdictions of the various states and
         the listing of such securities on such exchanges and trading markets as
         may be necessary or appropriate; and

                                    (iii) will deliver to holders of the Rights
         historical financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its

                                       57
<PAGE>   61

         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).

                           (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 is a Qualified Offer as such term is defined in Section
11(a)(ii) 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

                                       58
<PAGE>   62

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, the Company shall pay 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

                                       59
<PAGE>   63

not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights, selected by the Board
of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making
a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.

                           (b) The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-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
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of
Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-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
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b),
the current market value of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred

                                       60
<PAGE>   64

Stock shall be one one-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 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,

                                       61
<PAGE>   65

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

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

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

                           (b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights
Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purposes, duly

                                       62
<PAGE>   66

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

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<PAGE>   67

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 one-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 election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights,
or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate
shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

                  Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.

                           (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time
to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees
and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution

                                       64
<PAGE>   68

of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The
Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent, its directors, officers,
employ ees and agents for, and to hold each of them harmless against, any loss,
liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the
Rights Agent or any other indemnified party in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement or the performance of the Rights Agent's
duties hereunder, 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 or the performance of
the Rights Agent's duties hereunder 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.

                           (c) The indemnity provided in this Section 18 shall
survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of the Agreement.

                                       65
<PAGE>   69

                  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 other 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;
but only if such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor
Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such
successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement,
any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered,
any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor
Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so counter signed; 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.

                                       66
<PAGE>   70

                           (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
counter signed 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 advice or 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 advice or opinion.

                           (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under
this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any
fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring
Person and the

                                       67
<PAGE>   71

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, IF THERE BE ONE, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE
PRESIDENT, THE TREASURER, THE SECRETARY or any Assistant Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full
authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith
by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

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

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

                           (e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any
responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it

                                       68
<PAGE>   72

be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition
contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be
responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11,
Section 13 or Section 24 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount
of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would
require any such adjustment (except with respect 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
reason ably 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, IF THERE BE ONE, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER, THE

                                       69
<PAGE>   73

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

                           (h) The Rights Agent and any 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

                                       70
<PAGE>   74

Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

                           (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of
the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either
itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not
be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such
act, default, neglect or misconduct; provided, however, the Rights Agent was not
grossly negligent 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 Rights Certificate
surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate
attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case
may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to
clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the

                                       71
<PAGE>   75

Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested
exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.

                           (l) The Rights Agent undertakes only the express
duties and obligations imposed on it by this Agreement and no implied duties or
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent.

                           (m) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special,
indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but
not limited to lost profits).

                  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, if such resignation occurs after the Distribution Date, to
the registered 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, if such removal occurs
after the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by
first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or

                                       72
<PAGE>   76

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 legal business entity organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of the State of New York or of
any other state of the United States, in good standing, having an office in the
State of New York, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust or stock transfer or shareholder services powers and which has at the time
of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a legal business entity described in clause
(a) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be
vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had
been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or

                                       73
<PAGE>   77

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, if such appointment occurs after the Distribution Date,
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 of Directors to
reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or
class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the 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

                                       74
<PAGE>   78

Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by
the Board of Directors 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.

                  Section 23.  Redemption and Termination.

                           (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the
tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock
Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date, the close of
business on the tenth Business Day following the Record Date), or (ii) the Final
Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights
at a redemption price of $.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

                                       75
<PAGE>   79

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 of Directors.

                           (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company 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
of Directors 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.

                                       76
<PAGE>   80

                  Section 24.  Exchange.

                           (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring 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 of Directors of the Company 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.

                           (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
subsection (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right
thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the

                                       77
<PAGE>   81

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, how
ever, 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.

                           (c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the
Company, at its option, may substitute Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred
Stock, as such term is defined in paragraph (b) of Section 11 hereof) for Common
Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-hundredth of a
share of Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Stock) for each share of
Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect stock splits, stock dividends
and other similar transactions after the date hereof.

                                       78
<PAGE>   82

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

                           (e) The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common
Stock, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates
with regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole share of Common Stock. For the purposes of this subsection (e),
the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing
price 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 24.

                  Section 25.  Notice of Certain Events.

                           (a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time
after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any
class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the
holders of Pre-

                                       79
<PAGE>   83

ferred 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 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall
specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of
rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation,
merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place
and the date of participation therein by the holders of the

                                       80
<PAGE>   84

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 26 hereof, a notice of the
occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of
the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all
references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred Stock shall be deemed
thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate, other securities.

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

                                       81
<PAGE>   85

                  LendingTree Inc.
                  6701 Carmel Rd. Suite 205
                  Charlotte, North Carolina 28226
                  Attention:  Corporate Secretary

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

                  FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
                  1525 WEST W.T. HARRIS BOULEVARD, 3C3
                  CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28288-1153
                  ATTENTION:  SHAREHOLDER SERVICES GROUP

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

                  Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the
Distribution Date, and subject to the last sentence of this Section 27, the
Company and the Rights

                                       82
<PAGE>   86

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 Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, this Agreement may not be
supplemented or amended to lengthen any time period hereunder, pursuant to
clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may
be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other
time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing
or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon
the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which
states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms
of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no

                                       83
<PAGE>   87

supplement or amendment to this Agreement that changes the rights or duties of
the Rights Agent in a manner adverse to the Rights Agent shall be effective
without the consent of the Rights Agent. 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. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
this Agreement may not be amended at a time when the Rights are not redeemable.

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

                  Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of
Directors, 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 deter mining 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 of Directors of the
Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this
Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the
Board 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

                                       84
<PAGE>   88

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, or
any of the directors on the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.

                  Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior
to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).

                  Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and

                                       85
<PAGE>   89

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 of Directors of the Company
determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from
this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement,
the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and
shall not expire until the close of business on the tenth Business Day following
the date of such determination by the Board of Directors. Without limiting the
foregoing, if any provision requiring a specific group of Directors of the
Company to act is held to by any court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, such determination shall then be
made by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with applicable law
and the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.

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

                                       86
<PAGE>   90

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

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

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

                                LENDINGTREE INC.

                                By:  /s/ DOUGLAS R. LEBDA
                                     --------------------------------
                                Name: Douglas R. Lebda
                                Title: Chief Executive Officer and President

                                First Union National Bank

                                By: /s/ KRISTIN N. KNAPP
                                    ---------------------------------------
                                Name:  Kristin N. Knapp
                                Title:  Asst. Vice President

                                       87
<PAGE>   91

                                                                       Exhibit A

                                     FORM OF
                   CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES AND
                     RIGHTS OF SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING
                                 PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                                LENDINGTREE INC.

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

                  We, Douglas R. Lebda, Chief Executive Officer and President,
and Robert J. Flemma, Jr., General Counsel, Vice-President and Secretary, of
LendingTree Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 103 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

                  That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of
Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the said
Corporation, the said Board of Directors on November 22, 1999, adopted the
following resolution creating, effective upon the filing of the Fourth Amended
and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a series of 1,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:

                  RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board
of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock
of the Corporation be and it hereby is created, and that the designation and
amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating,
optional and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:

                  Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" and the
number of shares constituting such series shall be 1,000,000.

<PAGE>   92

                  Section 2.  Dividends and Distributions.

                  (A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of
any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to
dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of
Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends
payable in cash on the fifteenth day of March, June, September and December in
each year (each such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after
the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent) equal to the greater of (a) $10.00 or (b) subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of
all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in
kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time after February 21, 2000 (the "Rights
Declaration Date") (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b)
of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.

                  (B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph
(A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that,
in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common
Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $10.00 per share on
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable
on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

                                       2
<PAGE>   93

                  (C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of
such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date
of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive a
quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of
which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear
interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the
time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of
Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more
than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

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

                  (A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle
the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock,
or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior
to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

                  (B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of
shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted
to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

                                       3
<PAGE>   94

                           (C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series A
         Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount
         equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such
         contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a
         "default period") which shall extend until such time when all accrued
         and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and
         for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series A
         Junior Participating Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been
         declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default period,
         all holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series A
         Junior Participating Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an
         amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class,
         irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two (2)
         directors.

                           (ii) During any default period, such voting right of
         the holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be
         exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to
         subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of
         stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders,
         provided that neither such voting right nor the right of the holders of
         any other series of Preferred Stock, if any, to increase, in certain
         cases, the authorized number of directors shall be exercised unless the
         holders of ten percent (10%) in number of shares of Preferred Stock
         outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a
         quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by
         the holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting at
         which the holders of Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right
         initially during an existing default period, they shall have the right,
         voting as a class, to elect directors to fill such vacancies, if any,
         in the Board of Directors as may then exist up to two (2) directors or,
         if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two (2)
         directors. If the number which may be so elected at any special meeting
         does not amount to the required number, the holders of the Preferred
         Stock shall have the right to make such increase in the number of
         directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the
         required number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have
         exercised their right to elect directors in any default period and
         during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall
         not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of
         Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any
         equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series A
         Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

                           (iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall,
         during an existing default period, have previously exercised their
         right to elect directors,

                                       4
<PAGE>   95

         the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders
         owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total
         number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of
         series, may request, the calling of a special meeting of the holders of
         Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the
         President, a Vice-President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice
         of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred
         Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this Paragraph (C)(iii) shall be
         given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of
         such notice to him at his last address as the same appears on the books
         of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier
         than 20 days and not later than 60 days after such order or request or
         in default of the calling of such meeting within 60 days after such
         order or request, such meeting may be called on similar notice by any
         stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten
         percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock
         outstanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph
         (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period
         within 60 days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual
         meeting of the stockholders.

                           (iv) In any default period, the holders of Common
         Stock, and other classes of stock of the Corporation if applicable,
         shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of directors
         until the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right
         to elect two (2) directors voting as a class, after the exercise of
         which right (x) the directors so elected by the holders of Preferred
         Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall have been
         elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default period,
         and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as provided
         in Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority
         of the remaining directors theretofore elected by the holders of the
         class of stock which elected the director whose office shall have
         become vacant. References in this Paragraph (C) to directors elected by
         the holders of a particular class of stock shall include directors
         elected by such directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y)
         of the foregoing sentence.

                           (v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default
         period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to
         elect directors shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by
         the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the
         number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the
         certificate of incorporation or by-laws irrespective of any increase
         made pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this

                                       5
<PAGE>   96

         Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in
         any manner provided by law or in the certificate of incorporation or
         by-laws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by the
         provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be
         filled by a majority of the remaining directors.

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

                  Section 4.  Certain Restrictions.

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

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

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

                                    (iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise
         acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity
         (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
         with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, provided that
         the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
         shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of
         the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or

                                       6
<PAGE>   97

         upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Junior
         Participating Preferred Stock; or

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

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

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

                  Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. (A) Upon
any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior
thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
shall have received an amount equal to $100 per share of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the
"Series A Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of the full amount of
the Series A Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made
to the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received
an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to the quotient obtained by
dividing (i) the Series A Liquidation Preference by (ii) 100 (as appropriately
adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock
splits,

                                       7
<PAGE>   98

stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such
number in clause (ii), the "Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of the
full amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in
respect of all outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their
ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the
ratio of the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and
Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.

                  (B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient
assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation
Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred
stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the
holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation
preferences. In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Common Adjustment, then such
remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of Common Stock.

                  (C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the
Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event
shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

                  Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation
shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in
which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock
or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of
stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case
may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or
exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be
adjusted by mul-

                                       8
<PAGE>   99

tiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.

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

                  Section 9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation's
Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets,
unless the terms of any such series shall provide other wise.

                  Section 10. Amendment. At any time when any shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation nor this Certificate of
Designation shall be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority or more of the outstanding shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.

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

                                       9
<PAGE>   100

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed this
Certificate and do affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of perjury
this 22nd day of February, 2000.

                                By:  /s/ DOUGLAS R. LEBDA
                                     -------------------------
                                Name: Douglas R. Lebda
                                Title:  Chief Executive Officer and President

                                By:  /s/ KEITH HALL
                                     ----------------------------------
                                Name: Keith Hall
                                Title:  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
                                Officer and Treasurer

                                       10
<PAGE>   101

                                                                       Exhibit B

Certificate No. R-                                              ________ Rights

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER FEBRUARY 15, 2009 (THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF
THE CONSUMMATION OF THE INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMMON STOCK OF THE
COMPANY), UNLESS EXTENDED PRIOR THERETO BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OR EARLIER IF
REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF
THE COMPANY, AT $.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.

                               Rights Certificate

                                LENDINGTREE 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 22, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"), between
LendingTree Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and First Union
National Bank, a banking corporation (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Company at any time prior to

<PAGE>   102

5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on February 15, 2009 (the tenth anniversary of
the date of the consummation of the initial public offering of the Common Stock)
(unless such date is extended prior thereto by the Board of Directors) at the
office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its
successors as Rights Agent, one one-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 $64.85 (the amount equal to the product
of four times the average closing price of the Common Stock for the first five
days of trading subsequent to the consummation of the initial public offering of
the Common Stock) per one one-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 forth above, and the Purchase Price per
share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of February 23, 2000
(the close of business on the fifth day of trading subsequent to the
consummation of the initial public offering of the Common Stock), 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.

                                       2
<PAGE>   103

                  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 Affiliate or
Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or
Affiliate, 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 Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, such
Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with
respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii)
Event.

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

                                       3
<PAGE>   104

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 Rights Agent.

                  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 one-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 $.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the close
of business on (i) the tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date
(as such time period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and (ii)
the Final Expiration Date. In addition, under certain circumstances following
the Stock

                                       4
<PAGE>   105

Acquisition Date, 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 one-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. The Company, at its election, may require that a number of Rights be
exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would be issued.

                  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

                                       5
<PAGE>   106

submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give consent to or
withhold consent from 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.

                                       6
<PAGE>   107

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

Dated as of _________ __, ____

                                        LENDINGTREE INC.

                                 By:  _______________________________
                                 Name: Douglas R. Lebda
                                 Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President

                                       7
<PAGE>   108

                       Reverse Side of Rights Certificate

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

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

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

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

                  (Please print name and address of transferee)

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

Dated: __________________, _____

                                                -------------------------------
                                                Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

<PAGE>   109

                                   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 or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

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

Dated: _______________, _____
                                                      --------------------------
                                                      Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

<PAGE>   110

                                     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.

<PAGE>   111

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

           (To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights repre-
           sented by the Rights Certificate.)

To: LENDINGTREE 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:

<PAGE>   112

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 or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

<PAGE>   113

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

Dated: ______________, _____
                                                    ----------------------------

                                                    Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

<PAGE>   114

                                     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.

<PAGE>   115

                                                                       Exhibit C

                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE

                                 PREFERRED STOCK

                  On February 21, 2000 the Board of Directors of LendingTree
Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each
outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock to stockholders of record at the
close of business on February 15, 2000 (the date of the consummation of the
initial public offering of the Common Stock) (the "Record Date"). Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting
of one one-hundredth of a share (a "Unit") of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Series A Preferred Stock") at a
Purchase Price of $__ per Unit (the amount equal to the product of four times
the average closing price of the Common Stock for the first five days of trading
subsequent to the consummation of the initial public offering of the Common
Stock), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set
forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and
First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent.

<PAGE>   116

                  Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in the
Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days following
a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
(an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), other than
persons who acquire 15% beneficial ownership of the Company as a result of
repurchases of stock by the Company or certain inadvertent actions by certain
other stockholders, who upon consumation of the initial public offering are
beneficial owners of 15% or more of the Company, unless such persons acquire
additional shares constituting 5% or more of the Company, or (ii) 10 business
days (or such later date as the Board shall determine) following the
commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person
or group becoming an Acquiring Person. Until the Distribution Date, (i) the
Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and will be
transferred with and only with such Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Common
Stock certificates issued after the Record Date will contain a notation
incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for
transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to
require prior to the occurrence of a

                                       2
<PAGE>   117

Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number
of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be
issued.

                  The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on February 15, 2010 (the tenth
anniversary of the date of the consummation of the initial public offering of
the Common Stock), unless such date is extended or the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.

                  As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by
the Board of Directors, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.

                  In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, except
pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the
independent directors determine to be fair and not inadequate to and otherwise
be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, after receiving
advice from one or more investment banking firms (a "Qualified Offer"), each
holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise,
Common Stock (or, in certain

                                       3
<PAGE>   118

circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value
equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing, following the occurrence of the event set forth in this paragraph,
all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and
void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the event
set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the
Company as set forth below.

                  For example, at an exercise price of $80.00 per Right, each
Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following
an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to
purchase $160.00 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above)
for $200.00. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $20.00 at
such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 8 shares
of Common Stock for $80.00.

                  In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than
with an entity which acquired the shares pursuant to a Qualified Offer), (ii)
the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in
which the Company is the surviving corporation and the Common Stock of the
Company is changed or

                                       4
<PAGE>   119

exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets, cash flow or earning
power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which have
previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value
equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this
paragraph and in the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the
"Triggering Events."

                  At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more
of the out standing Common Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than
Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in
part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or one one-hundredth of
a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or series of the Company's
preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right
(subject to adjustment).

                  At any time until ten business days following the Stock
Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $.01 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other
consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors). Immediately upon
the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the
Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the $.01 redemption price.

                                       5
<PAGE>   120

                  Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights
will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may,
depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the
Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the
Company or for common stock of the acquiring company or in the event of the
redemption of the Rights as set forth above.

                  Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended
by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After
the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time
period under the Rights Agreement. The foregoing notwithstanding, no amendment
may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.

                  A form of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to a
Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated January 11, 2000. A copy of the Rights
Agreement is available free of charge from the Rights Agent. This summary
description of the

                                       6
<PAGE>   121

Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

                                       7<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                               F.N.B. CORPORATION

                               2001 INCENTIVE PLAN

The purposes of the 2001 Incentive Plan are to encourage Eligible Individuals to
increase their efforts to make F.N.B. Corporation and each of its Subsidiaries
more successful, to provide an additional inducement for such Eligible
Individuals to continue to provide services to the Corporation or a Subsidiary
as an employee, consultant, non-employee director, or independent contractor, to
reward such Eligible Individuals by providing an opportunity to acquire
incentive awards on favorable terms and to provide a means through which the
Corporation may attract able persons to enter the employment of or engagement
with the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries. Such incentive awards may, in
the discretion of the Board or Committee, consist of Stock (subject to such
restrictions as the Board or Committee may determine or as provided herein),
Performance Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Limited Stock Appreciation Rights,
Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Phantom Stock, or any
combination of the foregoing, all as the Board or Committee, in each case, may
determine.

                                   DEFINITIONS

"Award" means an Incentive Stock Option, a Non-Qualified Stock Option,
Restricted Stock Award, Stock Appreciation Rights, Limited Stock Appreciation
Rights, Performance Units, or Phantom Stock granted hereunder.

"Award Agreement" means an agreement entered into between the Corporation and
the applicable Participant, setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to
the Award then being granted under this Plan, as further described in Section
2.5 of the Plan.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. A reference to any
provision of the Code shall include reference to any successor provision of the
Code.

"Committee" means the Compensation Committee, if any, appointed by the Board. If
no Committee is appointed by the Board, the Board shall function in place of the
Committee.

"Corporation" means F.N.B. Corporation.

"Disabled Participant" means a Participant becoming disabled within the meaning
of Section 422(c)(6) of the Code.

"Eligible Employee" means any employee of the Corporation or one of its
Subsidiaries.

"Eligible Individual" means any Eligible Employee and any consultant,
non-employee director, or independent contractor of the Corporation or one of
its Subsidiaries.

"Fair Market Value" shall mean, as applicable, (i) the average of the bid and
ask prices of the Corporation's Stock on the date in question, as quoted by the
Nasdaq National Market System (or other over-the-counter nationally recognized
quotation service); (ii) if the Corporation's Stock is not traded on the Nasdaq
National Market but is registered on a national securities exchange, the closing
sales price of the Corporation's Stock on such national securities exchange;
(iii) if the Corporation's shares of Common Stock are not traded on a national
securities exchange or through any other nationally recognized quotation
service, the fair market value of the Corporation's Stock as determined by the
Board or the Committee, acting in good faith, under any method consistent with
the Code, or Treasury Regulations thereunder, as

                                       1
<PAGE>   2

the Board or the Committee shall in its discretion select and apply at the time
of the grant of the Award concerned; or (iv) for purposes of Section 3.4 hereof
with respect to Limited Stock Appreciation Rights, the applicable value
determined in accordance with Paragraph (C) of such Section 3.4. Subject to the
foregoing, the Board or the Committee, in fixing the Fair Market Value, shall
have full authority and discretion and be fully protected in doing so.

"Incentive Stock Option" means an option that is intended to qualify as an
"Incentive Stock Option" within the meaning of section 422 of the Code. Any
Option which does not qualify under section 422 of the Code shall be treated as
a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

"Limited Stock Appreciation Right" means a Stock Appreciation Right granted
under Section 3.4.

"Non-Qualified Stock Option" means an option that is not an Incentive Stock
Option.

"Option" means an option to purchase Stock, including Restricted Stock, if the
Committee so determines, subject to the applicable provisions of Article 3,
awarded in accordance with the terms of the Plan and which may be an Incentive
Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

"Participant" means an Eligible Individual who has been selected by the
Committee to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 2.2 of the Plan.

"Performance Unit" means a performance unit subject to the requirements of
Article 4 and awarded in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

"Phantom Stock" means a deferred compensation award subject to the requirements
of Article 6.

"Plan" means the F.N.B. Corporation 2001 Incentive Plan, as the same may be
amended, administered or interpreted from time to time.

"Restricted Stock" means Stock delivered under the Plan subject to the
requirements of Article 5 and such other restrictions as the Committee deems
appropriate or desirable.

"Stock" means the Common Stock of the Corporation.

"Stock Appreciation Right" means a right granted under Article 3 in conjunction
with the grant of an Option that entitles the holder to receive a cash payment
or an award of Stock, at the discretion of the Committee, in an amount equal to
the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on such date of
exercise over the Option Price per share multiplied by the number of shares
covered by the right.

"Subsidiary" means any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations
beginning with the Corporation, if each of the corporations (other than the last
corporation in the unbroken chain) owns stock possessing more than fifty percent
(50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the
other corporations in the chain.

"Termination" means the termination of employment with the Corporation or any of
its Subsidiaries or the cessation of the provision of services to the
Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries by a non-employee director, consultant or
independent contractor.

                                    ARTICLE 2
                               PLAN ADMINISTRATION

SECTION 2.1   ADMINISTRATION. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.
The Committee shall interpret the Plan and prescribe such rules, regulations and
procedures in connection with the operation of the Plan as it shall deem

                                       2

<PAGE>   3

to be necessary and advisable for the administration of the Plan consistent with
the purposes of the Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee shall
have the authority and complete discretion to:

         (i)      Prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to
                  the Plan;

         (ii)     Select Eligible Individuals to receive Awards under the Plan
                  as provided in Section 2.2 of the Plan;

         (iii)    Determine the form and terms of Awards;

         (iv)     Determine the number of shares or other consideration subject
                  to Awards under the Plan as provided in Articles 3, 4, 5 and 6
                  of the Plan;

         (v)      Determine whether Awards will be granted singly, in
                  combination or in tandem with, in replacement of, or as
                  alternatives to, other Awards under the Plan or grants or
                  awards under any other incentive or compensation plan of the
                  Corporation;

         (vi)     Construe and interpret the Plan, any Award Agreement in
                  connection with an Award and any other agreement or document
                  executed pursuant to the Plan;

         (vii)    Correct any defect or omission, or reconcile any inconsistency
                  in the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement;

         (viii)   Determine whether a Participant is a Disabled Participant;

         (ix)     Accelerate or, with the consent of the Participant, defer the
                  vesting of any Award and/or the exercise date of any Award;

         (x)      Determine whether a Participant's Termination from the
                  Corporation or its Subsidiaries is voluntary and with the
                  written consent of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries;

         (xi)     Authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Corporation
                  any instrument required to effectuate the grant of an Award;

         (xii)    With the consent of the Participant reprice, cancel and
                  reissue, or otherwise adjust the terms of an Award previously
                  granted to the Participant;

         (xiii)   Determine when a Participant's period of employment is deemed
                  to be continued during an approved leave of absence, or
                  whether a Participant has engaged in the operation or
                  management of a business that is in competition with the
                  Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries;

         (xiv)    Determine, upon review of relevant information, the Fair
                  Market Value of the Stock; and

         (xv)     Make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable
                  for the administration of the Plan.

The Committee may delegate to officers of the Corporation or any Subsidiary the
authority to perform administrative functions under the Plan subject to any
legal requirements that the Committee as a whole take action with respect to
such function.

The Committee shall keep records of action taken at its meetings. A majority of
the Committee shall constitute a quorum at any meeting, and the acts of a
majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, or
acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee, shall be the acts of
the Committee.

                                       3

<PAGE>   4

SECTION 2.2 ELIGIBILITY. Those Eligible Individuals who share the responsibility
for the management, growth or protection of the business of the Corporation or
any Subsidiary or who, in the opinion of the Committee, provide services
yielding significant benefits to the Corporation or any Subsidiary shall be
eligible to receive Awards as described herein.

Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full and final
authority, in its discretion, to grant Awards as described herein and to
determine the Eligible Individuals to whom Awards shall be granted. In
determining the eligibility of any Eligible Individual, as well as in
determining the Award, the Committee shall consider the position and the
responsibilities of the Eligible Individual being considered, the nature and
value to the Corporation or a Subsidiary of his or her services, his or her
present and/or potential contribution to the success of the Corporation or a
Subsidiary and such other factors as the Committee may deem relevant.

SECTION 2.3 SHARES AVAILABLE UNDER THE PLAN. Subject to adjustment as set forth
in Section 2.6, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be issued or
delivered and as to which Awards, other than Limited Stock Appreciation Rights
or Performance Units, may be granted under the Plan shall be 500,000 shares
plus, beginning in the calendar year following the year in which the Plan is
first adopted, annual amounts equal to 3% of the total issued and outstanding
shares of Stock as of the first day of such calendar year. The maximum number of
shares available under the Plan may be increased for any particular calendar
year at the discretion of the Committee by not more than one and one-half
percent (1-1/2%) of the number of shares of Stock outstanding as of the first
day of such calendar year, provided that the number of shares by which the
aggregate share limitation would otherwise be increased in the next calendar
year shall be decreased by the same number of shares as the applicable limit for
the current calendar year is increased pursuant to this sentence.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.3, in no event shall
more than 3,000,000 shares of Stock be cumulatively available for Awards of
Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Subject to adjustment as set forth in
Section 2.6, the maximum number of shares of Stock with respect to which Awards
may be granted in any calendar year to any Participant under the Plan shall be
100,000 shares.

If any Award, other than Limited Stock Appreciation Rights or Performance Units,
granted under the Plan is canceled by mutual consent or terminates or expires
for any reason without having been exercised in full, or, if and to the extent
that an award of Phantom Stock is paid in cash rather than the issuance of
shares of Stock, the number of shares subject to such Award (or in the case of
Phantom Stock the number of shares of Stock for which payment was made in cash)
shall again be available for purposes of the Plan, except that, to the extent
that Stock Appreciation Rights granted in conjunction with an Option under the
Plan are exercised and the related Option surrendered, the number of shares
available for purposes of the Plan shall be reduced by the number of shares, if
any, of Stock issued or delivered upon exercise of such Stock Appreciation
Rights.

The shares that may be issued or delivered under the Plan may be either
authorized but unissued shares or repurchased shares or partly each.

SECTION 2.4 CORPORATION'S OBLIGATION TO DELIVER STOCK. The obligation of the
Corporation to issue or deliver shares of Stock under the Plan shall be subject
to (i) the effectiveness of a registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, with respect to such shares, if deemed necessary or
appropriate by counsel for the Corporation; (ii) the condition that the shares
shall have been listed (or authorized for listing upon official notice of
issuance) upon each stock exchange on which such shares may then be listed; and
(iii) all other applicable laws, regulations, rules and orders which may then be
in effect.

SECTION 2.5 AWARD AGREEMENT. Each Award granted under the Plan shall be
evidenced by a written Award Agreement, in a form approved by the Committee.
Such Award Agreement shall be subject to and incorporate the express terms and
conditions, if any, required under the Plan or as required by the Committee for
the form of Award granted and such other terms and conditions as the Committee
may specify and shall be executed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President
(if other than the Chief Executive Officer) or any Vice President on behalf of
the Corporation and by the Participant to whom such Award is granted. With the
consent of the Participant to whom such Award is granted, the Board may at any
time and from time to time amend an outstanding Award Agreement in a manner
consistent with

                                       4

<PAGE>   5

the Plan. Without consent of the Participant, the Board of Directors may at any
time and from time to time modify or amend Award Agreements with respect to
Options intended as of the date of grant to be Incentive Stock Options in such
respects as it deems necessary in order that Incentive Stock Options granted
under the Plan shall comply with the appropriate provisions of the Code and
regulations thereunder which are in effect from time to time with respect to
Incentive Stock Options.

SECTION 2.6 ADJUSTMENT AND SUBSTITUTION OF SHARES. If a dividend or other
distribution shall be declared upon the Stock payable in shares of Stock, the
number of shares of Stock then subject to any outstanding Option or by reference
to which the amount of any other Award is determined and the number of shares
which may be issued or delivered under the Plan shall be adjusted by adding
thereto the number of shares which would have been distributable thereon if such
shares had been outstanding on the date fixed for determining the stockholders
entitled to receive such stock dividend or distribution.

If the outstanding shares of Stock shall be changed into or exchangeable for a
different number or kind of shares of Stock or other securities of the
Corporation or another corporation, whether through reorganization,
reclassification, recapitalization, stock split-up, combination of shares,
merger or consolidation, then there shall be substituted for each share of Stock
subject to any then outstanding Award and for each share of Stock, which may be
issued or delivered under the Plan but is not then subject to an outstanding
Award, the number and kind of shares of Stock or other securities into which
each outstanding share of Stock shall be so changed or for which each such share
shall be exchangeable.

In the case of any adjustment or substitution as provided for in this Section
2.6, the aggregate Option Price for all shares subject to each then outstanding
Option prior to such adjustment or substitution shall be the aggregate option
price for all shares of Stock or other securities (including any fraction) to
which such shares shall have been adjusted or which shall have been substituted
for such shares. Any new option price per share shall be carried to at least
three decimal places with the last decimal place rounded upwards to the nearest
whole number.

No adjustment or substitution provided for in this Section 2.6 shall require the
Corporation to issue or sell a fraction of a share or other security.
Accordingly, all fractional shares or other securities that result from any such
adjustment or substitution shall be eliminated and not carried forward to any
subsequent adjustment or substitution.

If any such adjustment or substitution provided for in this Section 2.6 requires
the approval of stockholders in order to enable the Corporation to grant
Incentive Stock Options, then no such adjustment or substitution shall be made
without prior stockholder approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case
of Incentive Stock Options, if the effect of any such adjustment or substitution
would be to cause the Option to fail to continue to qualify as an Incentive
Stock Option or to cause a modification, extension or renewal of such Option
within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code, the Committee may elect that such
adjustment or substitution not be made but rather shall use reasonable efforts
to effect such other adjustment of each then outstanding Option as the Committee
in its sole discretion shall deem equitable and which will not result in any
disqualification, modification, extension or renewal (within the meaning of
Section 424 of the Code) of such Incentive Stock Option.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                      OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

SECTION 3.1 GRANT OF STOCK OPTIONS, STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS, AND LIMITED STOCK
APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Committee shall have authority, in its discretion, to
grant Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options or to grant both
types of Options (but not in tandem). Notwithstanding the above, Incentive Stock
Options may only be granted to employees. The Committee also shall have the
authority, in its discretion, to grant Stock Appreciation Rights in conjunction
with Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options with the effect
provided in Section 3.2(D). Stock Appreciation Rights granted in conjunction
with an Incentive Stock Option may only be granted at the time such Incentive
Stock Option is granted. Stock Appreciation Rights granted in conjunction with a
Non-Qualified Stock Option may be granted either at the time such Non-Qualified
Stock Option is granted or at any time thereafter during the term

                                       5

<PAGE>   6

of such Non-Qualified Stock Option. The Committee shall also have the authority,
in its discretion, to grant Limited Stock Appreciation Rights in accordance with
the provisions of, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in, Section
3.4.

No Participant shall be granted an Option or Options under the Plan
(disregarding canceled, terminated or expired stock options) for an aggregate
number of shares in excess of ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares
that may be issued or delivered under the Plan.

SECTION 3.2 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan shall be subject to
the following terms and conditions:

        (A)    The purchase price at which each Option may be exercised (the
               "Option Price") shall be such price as the Committee, in its
               discretion, shall determine except that, in the case of an
               Incentive Stock Option, the Option Price shall not be less than
               one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of
               Stock covered by the Option on the date of grant (or in the case
               of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Eligible Employee who,
               immediately prior to such grant, owns stock possessing more than
               ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all
               classes of stock of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (a "Ten
               Percent Employee"), shall not be less than 110% of such Fair
               Market Value on the date of grant). For purposes of this Section
               3.2(A), a Participant (i) shall be considered as owning not only
               shares of the Stock owned individually, but also all shares that
               are at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by or for the
               spouse, ancestors, lineal descendants and brothers and sisters
               (whether by the whole or half blood) of such individual and (ii)
               shall be considered as owning proportionately any shares of Stock
               owned, directly or indirectly, by or for any corporation,
               partnership, estate or trust in which such individual shall be a
               stockholder, partner or beneficiary.

        (B)    The Option Price shall be payable in full in any one or more of
               the following ways, as shall be determined by the Committee to be
               applicable to any such Award:

               (i)     in cash; or

               (ii)    in shares of Stock (which are owned by the participant
                       free and clear of all liens and other encumbrances and
                       which are not subject to the restrictions set forth in
                       Article 5) having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the
                       date of exercise of the Option equal to the Option Price
                       for the shares being purchased; or

               (iii)   by requesting that the Corporation withhold such number
                       of shares of Stock then issuable upon exercise of the
                       Option as shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal
                       to the Option Price for the shares being acquired upon
                       exercise of the Option; or

               (iv)    by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the
                       Participant for services rendered; or

               (v)     provided that a public market for the Corporation's stock
                       exists:

                       (a) Through a "same day sale" commitment from the
                           Participant and a broker-dealer that is a member of
                           the National Association of Securities Dealers (an
                           "NASD Dealer") whereby the Participant irrevocably
                           elects to exercise the Option and to sell a portion
                           of the shares so purchased to pay the purchase price
                           (or a larger number of the shares so purchased), and
                           whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon
                           receipt of such shares to forward the purchase price
                           directly to the Corporation (and any excess to the
                           Participant); or

                                       6

<PAGE>   7

                       (b) Through a "margin" commitment from the Participant
                           and an NASD Dealer whereby the Participant
                           irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to
                           pledge the shares so purchased to the NASD Dealer in
                           a margin account as security for a loan from the NASD
                           Dealer in the amount of the purchase price, and
                           whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon
                           receipt of such shares to forward the purchase price
                           directly to the Corporation; or

               (vi)    by promissory note executed by the Participant,
                       evidencing his or her obligation to make future cash
                       payment thereof, secured by an applicable number of
                       shares of Stock or such other security as may be
                       determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in
                       no event may the Committee accept a promissory note for
                       an amount in excess of the difference between the
                       aggregate Option Price and the par value of the shares;
                       or

               (vii)   by any combination of the foregoing.

               If the Option Price is paid in whole or in part in shares of
               Stock, any portion of the Option Price representing a fraction of
               a share shall be paid in cash. The date of exercise of an Option
               shall be determined under procedures established by the
               Committee, and the Option Price shall be payable at such time or
               times as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine. No
               shares shall be issued or delivered upon exercise of an Option
               until full payment of the Option Price has been made, provided
               that, for this purpose, tender of a promissory note shall
               constitute full payment of the principal amount of such
               promissory note. When full payment of the Option Price has been
               made and subject to the restrictions set forth in Article 5, the
               Participant shall be considered for all purposes to be the owner
               of the shares with respect to which payment has been made.
               Payment of the Option Price with shares shall not increase the
               number of shares of Stock which may be issued or delivered under
               the Plan as provided in Section 2.3.

         (C)   An Option may be exercised (i) at such time as the Option vests;
               or (ii) if and to the extent set forth in the applicable Award
               Agreement, prior to the date on which the Option vests provided
               that such Stock obtained shall be subject to the same
               requirements that are applicable to grants of Restricted Stock
               set forth in Article 5. No Incentive Stock Option shall be
               exercisable after the expiration of ten years (five years in the
               case of a Ten Percent Employee) from the date of grant. No
               Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be exercisable after the
               expiration of ten years and six months from the date of grant.
               Subject to this Section 3.2(C), 3.3(F), and 2.5, Options may be
               exercised at such times, in such amounts and subject to such
               restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee, in its
               discretion.

         (D)   Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable to the extent that
               the related Option is exercisable and only by the same person or
               persons who are entitled to exercise the related Option. Stock
               Appreciation Rights shall entitle the Participant to surrender
               the related Option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from
               the Corporation in exchange therefor that number of shares of
               Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the excess
               of the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on such date of
               exercise over the Option Price per share, multiplied by the
               number of shares covered by the Option, or portion thereof, which
               is surrendered. Cash shall be paid in lieu of any fractional
               shares. The Committee shall have the authority, in its
               discretion, to determine that the obligation of the Corporation
               shall be paid in cash or part in cash and part in shares. The
               date of exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be determined
               under procedures established by the Committee, and payment under
               this Section 3.2(D) shall be made by the Corporation as soon as
               practicable after the date of exercise. To the extent that an
               Option as to which Stock Appreciation Rights have been granted in
               conjunction therewith is exercised, the Stock Appreciation Rights
               shall be canceled.

                                       7

<PAGE>   8

         (E)   No Option or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be transferable by a
               Participant other than by will, or if a Participant dies
               intestate, by the laws of descent and distribution of the state
               of domicile of the Participant at the time of death, and all
               Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable during
               the lifetime of a Participant only by the Participant.

         (F)   Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the
               Award Agreement referred to in Section 2.5 or an amendment
               thereto, following the Termination of a Participant for any
               reason, such Participant must exercise any outstanding Option
               within one year from the date of Termination.

SECTION 3.3 RELOAD OPTIONS. Concurrently with the award of any Option under this
Plan or pursuant to an amendment of any outstanding stock option (such option is
hereinafter referred to as the "Underlying Option"), to any Participant in the
Plan, the Committee may grant a reload option (the "Reload Option") to such
Participant pursuant to which the Participant shall be entitled to purchase a
number of shares of Stock as specified below. A Reload Option shall be
exercisable for a number of shares of Stock equal to (i) the number of shares
delivered by the Participant to the Corporation to exercise the Underlying
Option pursuant to Section 3.2(B)(ii), (iii) or (v); and (ii) to the extent
authorized by the Committee, the number of shares used to satisfy any tax
withholding requirement incident to the exercise of the Underlying Option,
subject to the availability of shares of Stock under the Plan at the time of
such exercise. The grant of a Reload Option shall become effective upon the
exercise of an Underlying Option by delivering to the Corporation shares held by
the Participant pursuant to Section 3.2(B)(ii), (iii) or (v). Reload Options are
not intended to qualify as "Incentive Stock Options" under Section 422 of the
Code.

Each Award Agreement in connection with an Option granted under the Plan shall
state whether the Committee has authorized Reload Options with respect to the
Underlying Option covered by such agreement. Upon the exercise of an Underlying
Option, the Reload Option will be evidenced by an amendment to the stock option
agreement governing the Underlying Option.

The option price per share for a Reload Option shall be the Fair Market Value
per share of the Stock on the date the grant of the Reload Option becomes
effective.

Each Reload Option shall be fully exercisable subject to such limitations on
exercisability, if any, as may be imposed by the Committee in its discretion at
the time of the grant of the Underlying Option. The term of each Reload Option
shall be equal to the remaining option term of the Underlying Option.

No Reload Option shall be granted to a Participant when Options are exercised by
such Participant (or by such Participant's estate or personal representative)
pursuant to the terms of the Plan following the Participant's Termination.

Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.3, the provisions of Article 3 of
the Plan applicable to Options shall apply equally to Reload Options.

SECTION 3.4 LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Limited Stock Appreciation Rights
may be granted in connection with all or part of (i) an Incentive Stock Option
granted under this Plan at the time of the grant of such Option; or (ii) a
Non-Qualified Stock Option, at the time such Option is granted or at any time
thereafter during the term of such Option.

Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall entitle the holder of an Option in
connection with which such Limited Stock Appreciation Rights are granted, upon
exercise of the Limited Stock Appreciation Rights, to surrender the Option, or
any applicable portion thereof, and any related Stock Appreciation Rights, to
the extent unexercised, and to receive an amount of cash determined pursuant to
this Section 3.4. Such Option, and any related Stock Appreciation Rights, shall,
to the extent so surrendered, thereupon cease to be exercisable.

Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions and to such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan
as shall from time to time be approved by the Committee.

                                       8

<PAGE>   9

         (A)   Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable, subject
               to Section 3.4(B), during any one or more of the following
               periods:

               (i)        for a period of 60 days beginning on the date on which
                          shares of Stock are first purchased pursuant to a
                          tender offer or exchange offer (other than such an
                          offer by the Corporation), whether or not such offer
                          is approved or opposed by the Corporation and
                          regardless of the number of shares of Stock purchased
                          pursuant to such offer;

               (ii)       for a period of 60 days beginning on the date the
                          Corporation acquires knowledge that any person or
                          group deemed a person under Section 13(d)(3) of the
                          Exchange Act (other than any director of the
                          Corporation on November 1, 1989, any Affiliate or
                          Associate of any such director (with such terms having
                          the respective meanings set forth in Rule 12b-2 under
                          the Exchange Act as in effect on November 1, 1989),
                          any member of the family of any such director, any
                          trust (including the trustees thereof) established by
                          or for the benefit of any such persons, or any
                          charitable foundation, whether a trust or a
                          corporation (including the trustees and directors
                          thereof) established by or for the benefit of any such
                          persons), in a transaction or series of transactions
                          shall become the beneficial owner, directly or
                          indirectly (with beneficial ownership determined as
                          provided in Rule 13d-3, or any successor rule, under
                          the Exchange Act), of securities of the Corporation
                          entitling the person or group to 10% or more of all
                          votes (without consideration of the rights of any
                          class of stock to elect directors by a separate class
                          vote) to which all shareholders of the Corporation
                          would be entitled if the election of Directors were an
                          election held on such date;

               (iii)      for a period of 60 days beginning on the date of
                          filing under the Exchange Act of a Statement on
                          Schedule 13D, or any amendment thereto, by any person
                          or group deemed a person under Section 13(d)(3) of the
                          Exchange Act, disclosing an intention or possible
                          intention to acquire or change control of the
                          Corporation;

               (iv)       for a period of 60 days beginning on the date, during
                          any period of two consecutive years, when individuals
                          who at the beginning of such period constitute the
                          Board of the Corporation cease for any reason to
                          constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the
                          election, or the nomination for election by the
                          shareholders of the Corporation, of each new Director
                          was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
                          Directors then still in office who were Directors at
                          the beginning of such period; and

               (v)        for a period of 60 days beginning on the date of
                          approval by the shareholders of the Corporation of an
                          agreement (a "reorganization agreement") providing for
                          (a) the merger or consolidation of the Corporation
                          with another corporation where the shareholders of the
                          Corporation, immediately prior to the merger or
                          consolidation, do not or will not beneficially own,
                          immediately after the merger or consolidation, shares
                          of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the
                          merger or consolidation entitling such shareholders to
                          50% or more of all votes (without consideration of the
                          rights of any class of stock to elect directors by a
                          separate class vote) to which all shareholders of such
                          corporation would be entitled in the election of
                          Directors or where the members of the Board of the
                          Corporation, immediately prior to the merger or
                          consolidation, do not or will not, immediately after
                          the merger or consolidation, constitute a majority of
                          the Board of the corporation issuing cash or
                          securities in the merger or consolidation or (b) the
                          sale or other disposition of all or substantially all
                          the assets of the Corporation.

         (B)   Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall in no event be
               exercisable unless and until the holder of the Limited Stock
               Appreciation Rights shall have completed at least six months of
               continuous service with

                                       9

<PAGE>   10

               the Corporation or a Subsidiary, or both, immediately following
               the date upon which the Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall
               have been granted.

         (C)   Upon exercise of Limited Stock Appreciation Rights, the holder
               thereof shall be entitled to receive an amount of cash in respect
               of each share of Stock subject to the related Option equal to the
               excess of the Fair Market Value of such share over the Option
               Price of such related Option. For purposes of Section 3.4 with
               respect to Limited Stock Appreciation Rights, Fair Market Value
               shall mean the higher of (i) the highest daily average of the bid
               and ask prices of the Corporation's Stock as quoted by the Nasdaq
               National Market System (or other over-the-counter nationally
               recognized quotation service) or as reported on such national
               securities exchange on which the Corporation's Stock is then
               registered, in each case during the 90-day period ending on the
               date of exercise of the applicable Limited Stock Appreciation
               Right; or (ii)(a) in the event of a tender offer or exchange
               offer for Stock the highest price paid for Stock pursuant to any
               tender offer or exchange offer in effect at any time during the
               90 days ending on the date of exercise of the applicable Limited
               Stock Appreciation Rights; (b) in the event of the acquisition by
               any person or group of beneficial ownership of securities of the
               Corporation entitling the person or group to 10% or more of all
               votes to which all shareholders of the Corporation would be
               entitled in the election of Directors or in the event of the
               filing of a Statement on Schedule 13D, or any amendment thereto,
               disclosing an intention or possible intention by any person or
               group to acquire control of the Corporation, the highest price
               per share paid for Stock shown on the Statement on Schedule 13D,
               or any amendment thereto, filed by the person or group becoming a
               10% beneficial owner or disclosing an intention or possible
               intention to acquire control of the Corporation; or (c) in the
               event of approval by shareholders of the Corporation of a
               reorganization agreement, the fixed or formula price specified in
               the reorganization agreement if such price is determinable as of
               the date of exercise of the Limited Stock Appreciation Rights.
               Any securities or property which are part or all of the
               consideration paid for Stock in a tender offer or exchange offer
               or under an approved reorganization agreement shall be valued at
               the higher of (x) the valuation placed on such securities or
               property by the person making the tender offer or exchange offer
               or by the corporation other than the Corporation issuing
               securities or property in the merger or consolidation or to whom
               the Corporation is selling or otherwise disposing of all or
               substantially all the assets of the Corporation or (y) the
               valuation placed on such securities or property by the Committee.

         (D)   To the extent that Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall be
               exercised, the Option in connection with which such Limited Stock
               Appreciation Rights shall have been granted shall be deemed to
               have been exercised and any related Stock Appreciation Rights
               shall be canceled. To the extent that the Option in connection
               with which Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall have been
               granted or any related Stock Appreciation Rights shall be
               exercised, the Limited Stock Appreciation Rights granted in
               connection with such Option shall be canceled.

                                    ARTICLE 4
                                PERFORMANCE UNITS

SECTION 4.1 PERFORMANCE PERIOD AND OBJECTIVES. The Committee shall determine a
performance period (the "Performance Period") of one or more years and shall
determine the performance objectives for grants of Performance Units.
Performance objectives may vary from Participant to Participant and shall be
based upon such performance criteria or combination of factors as the Committee
may deem appropriate, including, but not limited to, minimum earnings per share,
return on equity or performance by a subsidiary or division of the Corporation
or any of its Subsidiaries. Performance Periods may overlap and Participants may
participate simultaneously with respect to Performance Units for which different
Performance Periods are prescribed.

SECTION 4.2 ELIGIBILITY. At the beginning of a Performance Period, the Committee
shall determine for each Participant or group of Participants eligible for
Performance Units with respect to that Performance Period the range of

                                      10

<PAGE>   11

dollar values, if any, which may be fixed or may vary in accordance with such
performance or other criteria specified by the Committee, which shall be paid to
a Participant as an Award if the relevant measure of Corporation performance for
the Performance Period is met.

SECTION 4.3 SIGNIFICANT EVENT. If during the course of a Performance Period
there shall occur a significant event or events (a "Significant Event") as
determined by the Committee, including, but not limited to, a reorganization of
the Corporation, which the Committee expects to have a substantial effect on a
performance objective during such period, the Committee may revise such
objective.

SECTION 4.4 TERMINATION. If an Eligible Individual terminates service with the
Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries during a Performance Period because of
death, Participant Disability, retirement on or after age 62, or at an earlier
age with the consent of the Corporation, or a Significant Event, as determined
by the Committee, that Eligible Individual shall be entitled to payment in
settlement of each Performance Unit for which the Performance Period was
prescribed (i) based upon the performance objectives satisfied at the end of
such period; and (ii) prorated for the portion of the Performance Period during
which the Eligible Individual was employed or retained by the Corporation or any
of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, the Committee may provide for an earlier
payment in settlement of such Performance Unit in such amount or amounts and
under such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate or desirable
with the consent of the Eligible Individual. If an Eligible Individual
terminates service with the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries during a
Performance Period for any other reason, such Eligible Individual shall not be
entitled to any payment with respect to that Performance Period unless the
Committee shall otherwise determine.

SECTION 4.5 AWARD. Each Performance Unit shall be paid in cash either as a lump
sum payment or in annual installments, as the Committee shall determine, at the
time of grant of the Performance Unit or otherwise, commencing as soon as
practicable after the end of the relevant Performance Period.

                                    ARTICLE 5
                                RESTRICTED STOCK

SECTION 5.1 AWARD. Restricted Stock may be received by an Eligible Individual
either as an Award or as the result of an exercise of an Option or Stock
Appreciation Right, when such award has not vested. Restricted Stock shall be
subject to a restriction period (after which restrictions shall lapse) which
shall mean a period commencing on the date the Award is granted and ending on
such date or upon the achievement of such performance or other criteria as the
Committee shall determine (the "Restriction Period"). The Committee may provide
for the lapse of restrictions in installments where deemed appropriate.

SECTION 5.2 RESTRICTION PERIOD. Except as otherwise provided in this Article 5,
no shares of Restricted Stock received by an Eligible Individual shall be sold,
exchanged, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of during
the Restriction Period; provided, however, that the Restriction Period for any
recipient of Restricted Stock shall expire and all restrictions on shares of
Restricted Stock shall lapse upon death, Disability, retirement on or after age
62 or an earlier age with the consent of the Corporation, or upon a Significant
Event, as determined by the Committee.

SECTION 5.3 TERMINATION. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.2 above, if
an Eligible Individual terminates employment or service with the Corporation or
any of its Subsidiaries for any reason before the expiration of the Restriction
Period, all shares of Restricted Stock still subject to restriction shall,
unless the Committee otherwise determines, be forfeited by the recipient and
shall be reacquired by the Corporation, and in the case of Restricted Stock
purchased through the exercise of an Option, the Corporation shall refund the
purchase price paid on the exercise of the Option. Upon such forfeiture, such
forfeited shares of Restricted Stock shall again become available for award
under the Plan.

                                      11

<PAGE>   12

SECTION 5.4 RESTRICTED STOCK CERTIFICATES. The Committee may require, under such
terms and conditions as it deems appropriate or desirable, that the certificates
for Restricted Stock delivered under the Plan be held in custody by a bank or
other institution, or that the Corporation may itself hold such shares in
custody until the Restriction Period expires or until restrictions thereon
otherwise lapse, and may require, as a condition of any receipt of Restricted
Stock, that the recipient shall have delivered a stock power endorsed in blank
relating to the Restricted Stock.

SECTION 5.5 EXCHANGE OF SHARES. Nothing in this Article 5 shall preclude a
recipient of Restricted Stock from exchanging any shares of Restricted Stock
subject to the restrictions contained herein for any other shares of Stock that
are similarly restricted.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                                  PHANTOM STOCK

SECTION 6.1 AWARD. The Committee shall have authority, in its discretion, to
grant deferred compensation to an Eligible Individual by the award of Phantom
Stock, the value of which is related to the value of the Stock of the Company.

SECTION 6.2 VALUE. An Award of Phantom Stock shall entitle the Participant to
receive from the Corporation cash and/or shares of Stock having an aggregate
fair market value equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on such
date, or upon the occurrence of one or more events, as may be specified in the
Award Agreement for any Phantom Stock.

SECTION 6.3 TERMINATION. If the Participant is Terminated for any reason prior
to the vesting of the Phantom Stock Award, the Participant's rights with respect
to the Phantom Stock will terminate and be forfeited, and neither the
Participant nor his or her heirs, personal representatives, successors or
assigns shall have any future rights with respect to any such Phantom Stock.

                                    ARTICLE 7
                        CERTIFICATES FOR AWARDS OF STOCK

SECTION 7.1 STOCK CERTIFICATES. Subject to Section 5.4 and except as otherwise
provided in this Section 7.1, each Participant entitled to receive shares of
Stock under the Plan shall be issued a certificate for such shares. Such
certificate shall be registered in the name of the Eligible Individual and shall
bear an appropriate legend reciting the terms, conditions and restrictions, if
any, applicable to such shares and shall be subject to appropriate stop-transfer
orders. To the extent that the Plan provides for issuance of stock certificates
to reflect the issuance of shares of Stock, the issuance may be effected on a
non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the
applicable rules of any stock exchange. If the issuance of shares under the Plan
is effected on a non-certificated basis, the issuance of shares to a Participant
shall be reflected by crediting (by means of a book entry) the applicable number
of shares of Stock to an account maintained by the Corporation in the name of
such Participant, which account may be an account maintained by the Corporation
for such Participant under any dividend reinvestment program offered by the
Corporation.

SECTION 7.2 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. The Corporation shall not be
required to issue or deliver any certificates for shares of Stock, or to effect
the issuance of any non-certificated shares as provided in Section 7.1, prior to
(i) the listing of such shares on any stock exchange or quotation system on
which the Stock may then be listed; and (ii) the completion of any registration
or qualification of such shares under any Federal or state law, or any ruling or
regulation of any government body which the Corporation shall, in its sole
discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.

SECTION 7.3 RESTRICTIONS. All certificates for shares of Stock delivered under
the Plan (and all non-certificated shares credited to a Participant's account as
provided in Section 7.1) shall also be subject to such stop-transfer orders and
other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules,
regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the Stock is then listed and
any

                                      12

<PAGE>   13

applicable Federal or state securities laws; and the Committee may cause a
legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate
reference to such restrictions. The foregoing provisions of this Section 7.3
shall not be effective if and to the extent that the shares of Stock delivered
under the Plan are covered by an effective and current registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933, or if and so long as the Committee determines
that application of such provisions is no longer required or desirable. In
making such determination, the Committee may rely upon an opinion of counsel for
the Company.

SECTION 7.4 RIGHTS OF STOCKHOLDERS. Except for the restrictions on Restricted
Stock under Article 5, each Participant who receives an award of Stock shall
have all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to such shares, including
the right to vote the shares and receive dividends and other distributions. No
Eligible Individual awarded an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Limited
Stock Appreciation Right or Phantom Stock shall have any right as a stockholder
with respect to any shares subject to such Award prior to the date of issuance
to him or her of a certificate or certificates for such shares, or if
applicable, the crediting of non-certificated shares to an account maintained by
the Corporation in the name of such Eligible Individual.

                                    ARTICLE 8
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 8.1 EFFECT OF THE PLAN ON THE RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYER. Neither
the adoption of the Plan nor any action of the Board or the Committee pursuant
to the Plan shall be deemed to give any Eligible Individual any right to be
granted an Award under the Plan and nothing in the Plan, in any Award granted
under the Plan or in any Award Agreement shall confer any right to any
Participant to continue in the employment of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
or to continue to be retained to provide services to the Corporation or any
Subsidiary as a non-employee director, consultant or independent contractor or
interfere in any way with the rights of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to
terminate a Participant at any time.

SECTION 8.2 AMENDMENT. The right to alter and amend the Plan at any time and
from time to time and the right to revoke or terminate the Plan or to suspend
the granting of Awards pursuant to the Plan are hereby specifically reserved to
the Board; provided always that no such revocation, termination, alteration or
suspension of any Award shall terminate any outstanding Award theretofore
granted under the Plan, unless there is a liquidation or a dissolution of the
Corporation; and provided further that no such alteration or amendment of the
Plan shall, without prior stockholder approval (i) increase the total number of
shares which may be issued or delivered under the Plan; (ii) make any changes in
the class of Eligible Individuals; (iii) extend the period set forth in the Plan
during which Awards may be granted; or (iv) or make any changes that require
shareholder approval under the rules and regulations of any securities exchange
or market on which the Common Stock is traded. No alteration, amendment,
revocation or termination of the Plan or suspension of any Award shall, without
the written consent of the holder of an Award theretofore granted under the
Plan, adversely affect the rights of such holder with respect to such Award.

SECTION 8.3 EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PLAN. The effective date and date of
adoption of the Plan shall be January 21, 2001 (the "Effective Date"), the date
of adoption of the Plan by the Board, provided that such adoption of the Plan by
the Board is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a
majority of the outstanding shares of Stock at a meeting of such holders duly
called, convened and held within one year of the Effective Date. No Award
granted under the Plan prior to such shareholder approval may be exercised until
after such approval. No Award may be granted under the Plan subsequent to
January 21, 2011.

SECTION 8.4 UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN. The Plan shall be unfunded. The Corporation
shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund nor to make any
other segregation of assets to assume the payment of any benefits under the
Plan. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an
Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such
Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured
creditor of the Corporation; provided, however, that the Committee may authorize
the creation of trusts or make other arrangements to meet the Corporation's
obligations under the Plan to deliver cash, shares or other property pursuant to

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<PAGE>   14

any Award, which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the
"unfunded" status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines.

SECTION 8.5 EMPLOYEE STATUS. For purposes of determining questions of
termination and exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right after a
Participant's Termination, a leave of absence for military or government
service, illness, temporary disability or other reasons approved by a duly
authorized officer of the Company shall not be treated as Termination or
interruption of employment or engagement; provided, however, that, with respect
to an Incentive Stock Option, if such leave of absence exceeds 90 days, such
Option shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option unless the Eligible
Individual's right to reemployment with the Company or a Subsidiary following
such leave of absence is guaranteed by statute or by contract; provided,
however, that no Award may be granted to an employee while he or she is absent
on leave.

SECTION 8.6 TAX WITHHOLDING. Whenever the Corporation proposes or is required to
distribute Stock under the Plan, the Corporation may require the recipient to
remit to the Corporation an amount sufficient to satisfy any Federal, state and
local tax withholding requirements prior to the delivery of any certificate for
such shares or, in the discretion of the Committee, the Corporation may withhold
from the shares to be delivered shares sufficient to satisfy all or a portion of
such tax withholding requirements. Whenever under the Plan payments are to be
made in cash, such payments may be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy any
Federal, state and local tax withholding requirements.

SECTION 8.7 BENEFITS. Amounts received under the Plan are not to be taken into
account for purposes of computing benefits under other plans unless the
Corporation determines to do so.

SECTION 8.8 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The terms of the Plan shall be binding upon
the Corporation and its successors and assigns.

SECTION 8.9 HEADINGS. Captions preceding the sections hereof are inserted solely
as a matter of convenience and in no way define or limit the scope or intent of
any provision hereof.

SECTION 8.10 FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. The Plan and the
grant of Awards shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules
and regulations and to such approval by any government or regulatory agency as
may be required.

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