Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

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                           BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY

                                      AND

                      FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA
                                  RIGHTS AGENT

                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                           DATED AS OF APRIL 28, 1995

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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<S>                                                                                                              <C>
Section 1. Certain Definitions....................................................................................1

Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent............................................................................3

Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates............................................................................3

Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates............................................................................5

Section 5. Countersignature and Registration......................................................................5

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

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

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

Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares.......................................................8

Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date..........................................................................9

Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights....................................9

Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares...........................................15

Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.................................15

Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares..............................................................17

Section 15. Rights of Action.....................................................................................18

Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders..........................................................................18

Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder...................................................19

Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent..........................................................................19
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<S>                                                                                                              <C>
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent............................................20

Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent...............................................................................20

Section 21. Change of Rights Agent...............................................................................22

Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates..................................................................23

Section 23. Redemption...........................................................................................23

Section 24. Exchange.............................................................................................24

Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.............................................................................25

Section 26. Notices..............................................................................................25

Section 27. Supplements and Amendments...........................................................................26

Section 28. Successors...........................................................................................26

Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors.................................................26

Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement...........................................................................27

Section 31. Severability.........................................................................................27

Section 32. Governing Law........................................................................................27

Section 33. Counterparts.........................................................................................27

Section 34. Descriptive Headings.................................................................................27
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EXHIBITS

Exhibit A         Form of Certificate of Designation, Rights and Preferences
Exhibit B         Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C         Summary of Rights

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                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         THIS RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of April 28, 1995,
is between Benton Oil and Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and First Interstate Bank of California, a California corporation (the "Rights
Agent").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, on April 28, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Company
authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each Common Share (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the
Company outstanding as of the close of business on May 19, 1995 (the "Record
Date"), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a
share of Series B Preferred Stock of the Company (subject to adjustment as
provided herein) having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form
of Certificate of Designation, Rights and Preferences attached hereto as Exhibit
A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has
further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment
as herein provided) with respect to each Common Share that shall become
outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and
the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), and in certain
circumstances after the Distribution Date;

         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 (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates
(as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial
Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the Common Shares
then outstanding, but shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary (as such
term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common Shares
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person either (i) as the result of an
acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of
Common Shares of the Company outstanding, increases the proportionate number of
Common Shares owned by such Person to 15% or more of the Common Shares of the
Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such
share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional
Common Shares of the Company, then such Person shall be deemed to be an
Acquiring Person, or (ii) if within five Business Days (as such term is
hereinafter defined) after such Person would otherwise have become an Acquiring
Person (but for the operation of this clause (ii)), such Person notifies the
Board of Directors that such Person did so and within two Business Days after
such notification such Person is the Beneficial Owner of less than 15% of the
outstanding Common Shares of the Company.

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

         (c) 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 beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder (or any comparable or
successor law or regulation);

                  (ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), or upon the exercise
of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants
or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed
the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant to
a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted
for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote 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 if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such
security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such
Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to,
and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act
and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or
any comparable or successor report); or

                  (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person 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 to the extent
contemplated by the proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any
securities of the Company.

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

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

         (f) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company. "Common Shares" when
used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital
stock (or voting equity interests, or in certain circumstances, cash, property
or other interests) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if
such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which
ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.

         (g) "Continuing Director" shall mean (i) any member of the Board of
Directors of the Company, while such Person is a member of the Board, who is not
an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a
representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or

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Associate, and was a member of the Board prior to the date of this Agreement, or
(ii) any Person who subsequently becomes a member of the Board, while such
Person is a member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person
or of any such Affiliate or Associate, if such Person's nomination for election
or election to the Board is recommended or approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors.

         (h) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity, and shall
include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

         (i) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series B Preferred Stock,
$.01 par value, of the Company.

         (j) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such;
provided that, if such person is determined not to have become an Acquiring
Person pursuant to Section 1(a)(ii) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition Date
Should be deemed to have occurred.

         (k) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or which is
otherwise controlled by such Person.

         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 Shares)
in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby
accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such
co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.

         SECTION 3. ISSUE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES.

         (a) Until the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition
Date or (ii) the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by
action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement of, or first public
announcement 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 entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan) of or of the first public announcement of the intention of any Person
(other than the Company, any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, any
employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any
entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to
commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in
beneficial ownership by a Person of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
of the Company (including any such date which is on or after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights; the earlier of such dates
being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be
evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(c) hereof) by the certificates
for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which
certificates shall also be deemed to be Rights Certificates) and not by separate
Rights Certificates, and (y) the Rights (and the right to receive Rights

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Certificates) will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of
Common Shares. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company
will prepare and execute, the Rights Agents will countersign, and the Company
will send or cause to be sent (and Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by
first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common
Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Rights Certificate, in
substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing
one Right for each Common Share so held. As of and after the Distribution Date,
the Rights shall be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.

         (b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form of
Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage-prepaid
mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of business on the
Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company.
With respect to certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record
Date, until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, expiration, exchange
or termination of the Rights), the Rights shall be evidenced by such
certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof
together with a copy of the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption, expiration, exchange or termination of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Shares outstanding on the
Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto,
shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common
Shares represented thereby.

         (c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding (including
without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last sentence of
this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date, but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, shall have impressed, printed,
written, stamped or otherwise affixed on to them the following legend:

                  This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
                  to certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between
                  Benton Oil and Gas Company and First Interstate Bank of
                  California, dated April 28, 1995 (the "Rights Agreement"), the
                  terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and
                  a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices
                  of Benton Oil and Gas 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. Benton Oil and Gas Company will
                  mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights
                  Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request
                  therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the
                  Rights Agreement, Rights issued to or held by any Person who
                  becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliates or Associates
                  thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement)
                  may become null and void.

With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, expiration, exchange or termination of
the Rights), the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such
certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender
for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the
Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. In the event that
the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but
prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares
shall be

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deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to
exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no longer
outstanding.

         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 be substantially in
the form of 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 Sections 11 and Section 22
hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever issued, shall be dated as of the
Record Date (or, in the case of Rights issued with respect to Common Shares
issued by the Company after the Record Date, as of the date of issuance of such
Common Shares), and, on their face, shall entitle the holders thereof to
purchase such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as shall be set
forth therein at the price per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share set forth
therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the number and type of securities
purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price shall be
subject to adjustment as provided herein.

         (b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) 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 such 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 a primary
purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate
issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange,
replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this
sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:

                  The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
                  beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring
                  Person or an 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 under the circumstances specified in
                  Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.

The provisions of Section 7(e) hereof shall be operative whether or not the
foregoing legend is contained on any such Rights Certificate.

         SECTION 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION.

         (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President or any
Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and by the Secretary
or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or

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by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a
facsimile thereof. 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 countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have
signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the
Rights Agent, and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and
effect as though the Person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased
to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificate 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
Right 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 office designated for such purpose, 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 Right 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 Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 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
Rights Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered
holder to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as
the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then entitled such
holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Rights Certificate shall make such request in writing
delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the
office 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 Sections
7(e), 14 and 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 by holders of Rights of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.

         (b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate and such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliate or Associate thereof
as the Company shall reasonably request, and, in case of loss, theft or
destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at
the Company's request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all
reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent
and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company shall
execute and deliver a new Rights

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Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery
to the registered owner in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated.

         SECTION 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF
                    RIGHTS AND EXTENSION.

         (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof, the registered
holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby
(except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of
Election to Purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together
with payment of the Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share (or such other number of shares or other securities or property) as to
which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the close of
business on April 28, 2005 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the date on which
the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption
Date"), (iii) the consummation of a transaction contemplated by Section 13(d)
hereof or (iv) the time at which the Rights are exchanged as provided in Section
24 hereof (such earliest time being herein referred to as the "Expiration
Date").

         (b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $60.00, shall be subject
to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and
shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance
with paragraph (c) below.

         (c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of Election to Purchase duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the Purchase Price for the shares (or other securities or property)
to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to
be paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9
hereof in cash, or by certified check or cashier's check payable to the order of
the Company, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon
promptly (i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or
make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for the Preferred
Shares) certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to be purchased, and the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests, or (B) if the Company, in its sole discretion, shall have elected to
deposit the total number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable
upon exercise of the Rights hereto with a depositing agent, requisition from the
depository agent depository receipts representing such number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depository agent), and the Company
hereby directs the depository agent to comply with such request, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid
in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof,
(iii) promptly after receipt of such certificates or depository 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) when appropriate, after receipt, promptly deliver such cash
to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. In the
event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities of the Company,
pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the
Company shall 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.

         (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

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unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such
Right Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions
of Section 14 hereof.

         (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if
there occurs any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a)
hereof, then any Rights that are or were on or after the Distribution Date
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any
Acquiring Person shall become null and void, without any further action, and any
holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no rights whatsoever with respect to
such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise.

         (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 hereof unless the certificate contained in the
appropriate form of Election to Purchase set forth on the reverse side of the
Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise shall have been properly
completed and duly executed by the registered holder thereof and the Company
shall have been provided with 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 to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in
cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by
it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as
expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Rights 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 Rights
Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction
thereof to the Company.

         SECTION 9. RESERVATION AND AVAILABILITY OF PREFERRED SHARES.

         (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved
and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares, or any
authorized and issued Preferred Shares held in its treasury, the number of
Preferred Shares and, after the occurrence of an event specified in Section 11
and 13 hereof, shall so reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Common
Shares (and/or other securities) that will be sufficient to permit the exercise
in full of all outstanding Rights.

         (b) If the Company shall hereafter list the Preferred Shares on a
national securities exchange or on Nasdaq, then so long as the Preferred Shares
(and, after the occurrence of an event specified in Section 11 and 13 hereof,
any other securities) issuable upon the exercise of Rights may be listed on any
national securities exchange or Nasdaq, the Company shall use its best efforts
to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares
(or other securities) reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange
or Nasdaq upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.

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         (c) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares and/or other securities
delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the
certificates for such Preferred Shares or other securities (subject to payment
of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid
and nonassessable.

         (d) The Company further covenants and agrees that it shall 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 or
of any Preferred Shares 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 certificates or depository receipts for the Preferred
Shares in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights
Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver
any certificates for Preferred Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until any
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.

         (e) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, if required by
law, as soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, a registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities 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 Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder)
until the Expiration Date (unless and until the Company shall have received an
opinion of counsel to the effect that the maintenance of such registration
statement in effect is no longer necessary). The Company shall also take such
action as may be appropriate under the securities or "blue sky" laws of the
various states in connection with the exercise of the Rights.

         SECTION 10. PREFERRED SHARES RECORD DATE.

         Each Person in whose name any certificate for Preferred Shares (or
other securities) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes
be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares (or other
securities) 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 any applicable transfer
taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the Preferred Shares (or other securities) transfer
books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the
record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next
succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Shares (or other securities)
transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights
evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate, as such, shall not be
entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred 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 OF SHARES OR NUMBER OF
                     RIGHTS.

         The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred 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.

                                       9

<PAGE>

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

         (ii) Subject to the provisions of Section 24 of this Agreement, in the
event any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, becomes
an Acquiring Person (except pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for all
outstanding Common Shares at a price and on the terms determined prior to the
date of the first acceptance of payment for any of such shares by at least a
majority of the Continuing Directors who are not officers of the Company to be
in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders (other than the Person
or an Affiliate or Associate thereof on whose behalf the offer is being made) (a
"Permitted Offer")), then, promptly thereafter, proper provision shall be made
so that each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall
thereafter have the right to receive for each Right, upon exercise thereof at a
price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of Preferred Shares, such
number of Common Shares 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 Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable, and
(y) dividing that product by 50% of the then current per share market price of
the Company's Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the
date of the occurrence of such event (such number of shares being referred to as
the "number of Adjustment Shares"); provided, however, that if the transaction
that would otherwise give rise to the foregoing adjustment is also subject to
the provisions of Section 13 hereof, then only the provisions of Section 13
hereof shall apply and no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section
11(a)(ii).

         (iii) In lieu of issuing Common Shares in accordance with Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if a majority of the Continuing Directors
determine that such action is necessary or appropriate and not contrary to the
interests of holders of Rights, elect to (and, in the event that the Company has
not exercised the exchange right set forth in Section 24 hereof and there are
not sufficient treasury shares and authorized but unissued Common Shares to
permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii), the Company shall) take all such action as may be necessary
to authorize, issue or pay, upon the exercise of the Rights, cash (including by
way of a reduction of the Purchase Price), property, Common Shares, other
securities or any combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the
value of the Common Shares which otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii), which aggregate value shall be determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by a majority of the Continuing
Directors. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the value of the Common

                                       10

<PAGE>

Shares shall be determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof and the value of any
Preferred Shares or other preferred stock which a majority of the Continuing
Directors determines to be a "common shares equivalent" shall be deemed to have
the same value as the Common Shares. Any such election by the Continuing
Directors must be made and publicly announced within 60 days following the date
on which the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall have occurred.
Following the occurrence of the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, a
majority of the Continuing Directors may suspend the exercisability of the
Rights for a period of up to 60 days following the date on which the event
described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall have occurred to the extent that the
Board of Directors has not determined whether to exercise its rights of election
under this Section 11(a)(iii). 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.

         (b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them
(for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same or more
favorable rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares
("equivalent preferred shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares
or equivalent preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share or per equivalent
preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the
current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in Section
11(d) hereof) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such
record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the
number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total
number of Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be offered
(and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so
to be offered) would purchase at such current market price and the denominator
of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred
shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible
securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such
subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be
in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as
determined reasonably and 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 conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Rights
Agent and the holders of Rights. Preferred Shares and equivalent preferred
shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed
outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be
made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and 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 the making of a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Shares (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 the retained earnings of the
Company) or assets (other than a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or
subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)
hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current per share
market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in Section 11(d) hereof) on
such record date, less the fair market value (as determined reasonably and in
good faith by the

                                       11

<PAGE>

Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes
and binding upon the Rights Agent and the holders of Rights) of the portion of
the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such
subscription rights or warrants distributable in respect of one Preferred Share
and the denominator of which shall be the current per share market price of the
Preferred Shares (as defined in Section 11(d) hereof). 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 again be adjusted to
be the Purchase Price which would then be 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 per share
market price" of the Common Shares on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Shares for the 30
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior
to such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current per share
market price of the Common Shares is determined during a period following the
announcement by the issuer of such Common Shares of (A) a dividend or
distribution on such Common Shares payable in such Common Shares or securities
convertible into such Common Shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Common Shares, and prior to the expiration of 30
Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or
the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and
in each such case, the current per share market price shall be appropriately
adjusted to reflect the current market price per Common Share equivalent. 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 Common Shares 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
Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common Shares are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market
("Nasdaq") or such other quotation system then in use, or, if on any such date
the Common Shares 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 Shares selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.
If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Common Shares, the
fair value of such shares on such date as determined reasonably and in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used and shall be
conclusive for all purposes binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of
Rights. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading
is open for the transaction of business or, if the Common Shares are not listed
or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.

                  (ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in
the same manner as set forth above for Common Shares in clause (i) of this
Section 11(d). If the current per share market price of the Preferred Shares
cannot be determined in the manner provided above, the "current per share market
price" of the Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current
per share market price of the Common Shares (appropriately adjusted to reflect
any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof), multiplied by one hundred.

                                       12

<PAGE>

                  (iii) If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares
are publicly held or so listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall
mean the fair value per share as determined reasonably and 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 conclusive for all purposes
and binding upon the Rights Agent and the holders of Rights.

         (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 1% of 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 Common Share or other share or
one-millionth of a Preferred Share as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first
sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall
be made no later than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the
transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.

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

         (g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares
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) hereof, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of
the calculations made in Section 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price per one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share, that number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share
(calculated to the nearest one-millionth of a Preferred Share) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred 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 substitution for any
adjustment in the number of Preferred Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of
Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share 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 millionth) 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

                                       13

<PAGE>

for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to
be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is
adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been
issued, shall be at least ten 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 Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the
Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express
the Purchase Price per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share and the number of
Preferred Shares 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 one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any, of the
Preferred Shares 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 Preferred Shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.

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

         (m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in
order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, issuance
wholly for cash of any of Preferred Shares at less than the current per share
market price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which
by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares,
dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or issuance of rights,
options or warrants referred to hereinabove in subsection (b) of this Section
11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not
be taxable to such shareholders.

         (n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event that at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Distribution Date, the Company shall (A) declare or pay

                                       14

<PAGE>

any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (B) subdivide,
combine or consolidate the outstanding Common Shares into a greater or lesser
number of Common Shares or (C) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the outstanding Common Shares, then, in any such case,
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11 and Section 7(c) hereof, (i) the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable after such event
upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number
of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share so purchasable immediately prior to
such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which is the
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event, and (ii) each
Common Share outstanding immediately after such event shall have issued with
respect to it that number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding
immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments
provided for in this Section 11(n) shall be made successively whenever such a
dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation
is effected.

         (o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date,
it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take (or
permit to be taken) any action if at such 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.

         SECTION 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF SHARES.

         Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 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
Common Shares and the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a
brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with
Section 26 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the
Company to make such certificate or give such notice shall not affect the
validity of such adjustment or the force or effect of the requirement for such
adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such
certificate and on any adjustment contained therein and shall not be deemed to
have knowledge of such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such
certificate.

         SECTION 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR
EARNING POWER.

         (a) In the event that, following the Shares 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 the
principal purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of the
Company), (y) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and
into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger, or (z) the Company shall sell, mortgage or otherwise
transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell, mortgage or otherwise
transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more
than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to any other Person, then, and in each such case, proper
provision shall be made so that (i) following the Distribution Date, each holder
of a Right (except as otherwise provided herein) 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 and nonassessable Common Shares of the Principal Party
(as hereinafter defined) as shall be equal to the result obtained by (A)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable

                                       15

<PAGE>

(without taking into account any adjustment previously made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) hereof) and (B) dividing that product by 50% of the current per share
market price of the Common Shares of such Principal Party (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable
for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this
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 to such Principal Party; and (iv) such Principal
Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a
sufficient number of its Common Shares in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in
connection with such consummation as may be necessary to assure that the
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may
be, in relation to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of
the Rights.

         (b) "Principal Party" shall mean:

                  (i) in the case of any transaction described in (x) or (y) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the issuer of any
securities into which Common Shares 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 the merger or consolidation (including, if applicable, the
Company, if it is the surviving corporation); and

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

         Provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Shares of
such Person are not at such time and have not been continuously over the
preceding 12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and
such Person is a direct or indirect subsidiary of Affiliate of another Person,
"Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) in case such Person is
a subsidiary, directly or indirectly, or Affiliate of more than one person,
the Common Shares 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
Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value; and (3) in case such
Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or
more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the
rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the chains of
ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if such party were a
"Subsidiary" of both of all of such venturers and the Principal Parties in each
such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same
ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear the total of
such interests.

         (c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
its authorized Common Shares that 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 each Principal Party and each other
Person who may become a Principal Party as a result of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and
(b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after
the date of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets mentioned in
paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party at its own expense shall:

                                       16

<PAGE>

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

         (ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights and the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the securities or "blue
sky" laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate;

         (iii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) the
Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a national
securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements for quotation on
Nasdaq; and

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

         (d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Section
13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in clauses (x) and (y) of
Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons
who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a wholly-owned
Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per Common Share
offered in such transaction is not less than the price per Common Share paid to
all holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant to such
Permitted Offer and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the
remaining holders of Common Shares pursuant to such transaction is the same as
the form of consideration paid pursuant to such Permitted Offer. Upon
consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this subsection (c), all
Rights hereunder shall expire.

         (e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. The Rights
under this Section 13 shall be in addition to the rights to exercise Rights and
adjustments under Section 11(a)(ii) and shall survive any exercise thereunder.

         (f) The Company shall not enter into any transaction of the kind
referred to in clauses (x), (y) and (z) of Section 13(a) hereof if at the time
of such transaction there are any rights, warrants, instruments or securities
outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which, as a result of the
consummation of such transaction, would substantially diminish or otherwise
eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. The Company shall
not consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such
issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement so providing.

         SECTION 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.

         (a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or
to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the

                                       17

<PAGE>

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 the 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, which closing
price shall be determined in the same manner as set forth for Common Shares in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof.

         (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of
Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository receipts,
pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depository
selected by it, provided that such agreement shall provide that the holders of
such depository receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences
to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Shares. In lieu
of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, 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 Preferred Share. For purposes of this Section
14(b), the current market value of one-hundredth of a Preferred Share shall be
one one-hundredth of the closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

         (c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares
(other than, in the case of fractional Preferred Shares, fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of a
Right.

         SECTION 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION.

         All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, excepting the rights
of actions given to the Rights Agent under Section 18 hereof, are vested in the
respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares); and any
registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder
of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the
Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to
enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the Rights
evidenced by such 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 under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations
of, the obligations 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:

                                       18

<PAGE>

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

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

         (c) subject to Sections 6(a) and 7(f) hereof, the Company and the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Shares 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 Shares certificate made by anyone other
than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither
the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.

         SECTION 17. RIGHTS CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A SHAREHOLDER.

         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 Preferred
Shares, Common Shares or any other securities of the Company which may at any
time be issuable upon 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
shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or
withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting shareholders (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
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly.

         (b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection
with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights
Certificate or certificate for Preferred Shares or Common Shares or for other
securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
instruction, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it
to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of
its counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.

                                       19

<PAGE>

         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 or stockholder 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 action on
the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed
to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall
have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may
adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such
Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor
Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.

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

         SECTION 20. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT.

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

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

         (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of the "current per share 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 any one of the Chairman of the Board, the President, any
Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, 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 to the Company and any
other Person only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

         (d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be

                                       20

<PAGE>

required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall
be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

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

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

         (g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
written instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder
from any one of the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President,
the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the
Company, and is authorized 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. 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 with respect to
its duties or obligations under this Agreement and the date on and/or after
which such action shall be taken and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for
any action taken or omitted in accordance with a proposal included in any such
application on or after the date specified therein (which date shall be not less
than five Business Days after the date any such officer actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking or omitting any such action, the Rights
Agent has received written instructions in response to such application
specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

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

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

                                       21

<PAGE>

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

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

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

         SECTION 21. CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT.

         The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be
discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 30 days' notice in writing
mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares and
Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the
Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the
Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, to each transfer
agent of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail,
and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights
Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting,
the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall
fail to make such appointment within a period of 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 the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction or the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of the State of California or of
the State of New York (or of any other state of the United States so long as
such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking institution in the
State of California or the State of New York), in good standing, having a
principal office in the State of California or the State of New York, which is
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stockholder services
powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a
corporation denoted 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 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 Shares and Preferred Shares, and mail a
notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or
removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as
the case may be.

                                       22

<PAGE>

         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 its Board of
Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price per share
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 by the
Company of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the
redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall with respect to
Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or
under any employee plan or arrangement, which plan or arrangement is existing as
of the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of any
other securities issued by the Company prior to the Distribution Date, 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 and sale; provided, however,
that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
in its good faith judgment the Board of Directors of the Company shall have
determined that the issuance of such Rights Certificate would create significant
risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or to the Person to
whom or which such Rights Certificate otherwise would be issued, and (ii) no
such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment otherwise shall have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.

         SECTION 23. REDEMPTION.

         (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the tenth day
following the Shares Acquisition Date, or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem
all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of
$.01 per Right, 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") and the Company
may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares (based on
the current per share market price thereof (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) at the time of redemption) or cash; provided, however, if the
Board of Directors of the Company authorizes redemption of the Rights on or
after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, then there must be
Continuing Directors then in office and such authorization shall require the
concurrence of a majority of such Continuing 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.
Within ten days after the action of the Board of Directors ordering the
redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to
the Rights Agent and to the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing
such notice to the Rights Agent and to all such holders at their last addresses
as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the
Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common
Shares. 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. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may
redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other
than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24 hereof, and
other than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the
Distribution Date.

                                       23

<PAGE>

         SECTION 24. EXCHANGE.

         (a) Subject to the provisions of applicable law, 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 (A) Common Shares at an exchange ratio of
one Common Share 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 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 Shares 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 Shares then
outstanding.

         (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
Section 24, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder
of such Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the
number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The
Company shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided,
however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not
affect the validity of such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at
their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights
Agency. 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 Shares 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 the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of
Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall
take all such actions as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares
for issuance upon exchange of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after
good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall substitute, for each
Common Shares that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a
number of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof such that the current per share
market price of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number or fraction is
equal to the current per share market price of one Common Share as of the date
of issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.

         (d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In
lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common
Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction
of the current market value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this
paragraph (d), the current market value of a whole Common Share shall be the
closing price of a Common Share (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.

                                       24

<PAGE>

         SECTION 25. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS.

         In case the Company shall propose (a) to pay any dividend payable in
stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any other
distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company),
(b) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to
subscribe for or to purchase any additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock
of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (c) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification
involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred Shares), (d) to effect
any consolidation or merger into or with, 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 or more transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any
other Person, or (e) 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, 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, or 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 Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, if any such
date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
covered by clause (a) or (b) above at least 20 days prior to the record date for
determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in
the case of any such other action, at least 20 days prior to the date of the
taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the
holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the
earlier.

         In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) of
this Agreement shall occur, then, in any such case, the Company or the Principal
Party, as the case may be, shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
holder of a Rights Certificate, 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) or
Section 13(a) hereof, as the case may be.

         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 with the Rights
Agent) as follows:
                                    Benton Oil and Gas Company
                                    1145 Eugenia Place
                                    Suite 200
                                    Carpinteria, CA 93013
                                    Attention: President

Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
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 with the Company) as follows:

                                    First Interstate Bank of California
                                    707 Wilshire Boulevard
                                    Los Angeles, California 90017
                                    Attention: Stock Transfer Administrator
                                               Mailsort W11-2

                                       25

<PAGE>

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 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.

         The Company may, by resolution adopted by its Board of Directors, from
time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Right or 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) prior to the
Distribution Date, to change or supplement any provision hereunder in any manner
which the Company may deem necessary or desirable, or (iv) on or after the
Distribution Date, to change or supplement any provision hereunder which the
Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or as Associate of an Acquiring Person). 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, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement
or amendment unless the Rights Agent shall have determined in good faith that
such supplement or amendment would adversely affect its interests under this
Agreement. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of
Rights shall be deemed consistent with the interests of the holders of Common
Shares.

         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.

         For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of
Common Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which
any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last
sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors
of the Company (with, where specifically provided for herein, the concurrence of
the Continuing Directors) shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board (with, where specifically provided for herein, the
concurrence of the Continuing Directors) or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
(with, where specifically provided for herein, the concurrence of the Continuing
Directors) in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the

                                       26
<PAGE>

holders of Rights Certificates and all other parties, and (y) not subject the
Board or the Continuing Directors 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, the Common Shares) any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this
Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, the Common Shares).

         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 in any respect, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; it is hereby
agreed that such provisions are severable and that this Agreement or the Rights
shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid, void or unenforceable
provisions were omitted.

         SECTION 32. GOVERNING LAW.

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

         SECTION 33. COUNTERPARTS.

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

         SECTION 34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS.

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

                                    * * * * *

                                       27

<PAGE>

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

<Table>
<S>                                           <C>
                                              BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
Attest:

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

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

                                              FIRST INTERSTATE BANK

Attest:

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

Title:                                        Title:
      ------------------------------                ------------------------------
</Table>

                                       28

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                     FORM OF
                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION,
                             RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
                         OF THE SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK
                                       OF
                           BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY

<PAGE>

                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION,
                             RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES

                                     OF THE

                            SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK

                                       OF

                           BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY

               =================================================

                         PURSUANT TO SECTION 151 OF THE
                GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

               =================================================

         BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), does
hereby certify that pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of
Directors of the Corporation by Article 4 of the Certificate of Incorporation,
as amended, of the Corporation and in accordance with the provisions of Section
151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, its Board of
Directors, at a meeting duly called and held on April 28, 1995, adopted, the
following resolution creating a series of authorized but unissued Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value, designated as Series B Preferred Stock:

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

         1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series B Preferred Stock," par value $.01 per share, and the
number of shares constituting such series shall be 500,000. Such number of
shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series
B Preferred Stock to a number less than that of the shares then outstanding plus
the number of shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding rights, options or
warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued by the Corporation.

         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 B Preferred

<PAGE>

Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred
Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of Common Stock, par value $.01
per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation, shall be entitled to
receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally
available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day
of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being
referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or
fraction of a share of Series B 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 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 B Preferred Stock. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time after May 19, 1995 (the "Rights
Declaration Date") (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in
each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series B 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 B Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section
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 B Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

                    (C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series B
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 B 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.

<PAGE>

Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the
shares of Series B 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 B Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of
a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more
than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

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

                    (A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof
to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the
Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares
of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series B 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 set forth herein or as required by
law, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the holders of shares
of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a
vote of shareholders of the Corporation.

                    (C) Except as otherwise set forth herein or as required by
law, the holders of Series B 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 the holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any
corporation action.

         4. Certain Restrictions.

                    (A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series B 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 B 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 B Preferred Stock;

<PAGE>

                           (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 B Preferred
Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series B 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 stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series B Preferred Stock,
provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise
acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of
the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock; or

                           (iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series B Preferred Stock or any shares of stock
ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up) with the Series B 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.

         5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series B 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.

         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 Common Stock or of other stock ranking junior (either
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock shall have received, per share, the greater of $100.00 or 100
times (subject to adjustment as hereinafter set forth) the aggregate amount to
be distributed per share of Common 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 B Liquidation Preference").

<PAGE>

                    (B) In the event that upon any liquidation (voluntary or
otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, there are not
sufficient assets remaining to permit payment in full of the Series B
Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of
Preferred Stock, if any, which rank on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series B Preferred Stock, then
such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity
stock in proportion to the amount to which the holders of all such shares are
entitled to receive upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

                    (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, by
reclassification or otherwise, then in each such case the aggregate amount to
which holders of Series B Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to
such event 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.

         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 B
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 declare or pay any dividend
on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision,
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of
Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding
sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series B Preferred
Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator
of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after
such event, and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

         8. Redemption. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall not be
redeemable.

         9. Ranking. The Series B 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
otherwise.

<PAGE>

         10. Fractional Shares. Series B Preferred Stock may be issued in
fractions (including, but not limited to, one hundredths) 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 B Preferred Stock.

         11. Amendment. The Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the
Corporation shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially
alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series B
Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred
Stock, voting separately as a class.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Benton Oil and Gas Company has caused this
Certificate of Designation, Rights and Preferences of the Series B Preferred
Stock to be duly signed by its President and attested to by its Secretary and
has caused its corporate seal to be affixed hereto this 28th day of April, 1995.

                                    BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY

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

                                    A.E. Benton, Chairman of the Board,
                                    President and Chief Executive Officer

Attest:

---------------------------------------
Toni L. Jackson, Secretary

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                          [Form of Rights Certificate]

Certificate No. R-                                                       Rights
                  --------------                         ---------------

                  NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER APRIL 28, 2005 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF
                  REDEMPTION IS GIVEN. 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. [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 AN
                  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 VOID UNDER THE
                  CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS
                  AGREEMENT.] (1)

                               RIGHTS CERTIFICATE

                           BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY

                  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 April 28, 1995
(the "Rights Agreement"), between Benton Oil and Gas Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and First Interstate Bank of California (the
"Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution
Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior the Expiration
Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) at the office of the
Rights Agent, or its successors as Rights Agent, designated for such purpose,
one one-hundredth of a fully-paid non-assessable share of Series B Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company (or other
securities or property, as provided in the Rights Agreement), at a purchase
price of $50.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase
Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the
appropriate Form of Election to Purchase and Certificate duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of
Preferred Shares which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above,
and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of
the close of business on April 28, 1995, based on the Preferred Shares as
constituted at such date.

----------

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

<PAGE>

                  As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and
the number of Preferred Shares (or other securities or property 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.

                  This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and
conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof
and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of
the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder
of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of
the Company and are also available upon written request to the Company.

                  This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights
Certificates, upon surrender at the office 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 Preferred Shares 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, but are not required to, be redeemed by the
Company at a redemption price of $.01 per Right.

                  No fractional Preferred Shares 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 Preferred Share, which may, at the
election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu
thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

                  No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares 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 shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.

<PAGE>

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

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

Dated:
      --------------------------------------

<Table>
<S>                                                           <C>
ATTEST:                                                       BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY

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

Title:                                                        Title:
      --------------------------------------                        --------------------------------------
</Table>

Countersigned:
FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA,
as Rights Agent

By:
   ----------------------------------------
           Authorized Signatory

<PAGE>

                  [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

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

                  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

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

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

<PAGE>

                                   CERTIFICATE

                  The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate
boxes that:

         (1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are 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 in the Rights Agreement); and

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

Dated:
      ------------------------------------

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

                                     NOTICE

                  The signature to the foregoing Assignment 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>

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

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

TO: BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY

                  The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
_____________________________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to
purchase the Preferred Shares (or such other securities of the Company) issuable
upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificate for such
Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) be issued in the name of:

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

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Please print name and address)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Please insert social security or other identifying number)

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

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

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Please print name and address)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Please insert social security or other identifying number)

Dated:
      ---------------------------

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

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

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

<PAGE>

                                   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); and

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

Dated:
      ------------------------------------

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

                                     NOTICE

                  The signature to the foregoing Form of Election to Purchase
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.

                  In the event the Certificate set forth above in the Forms of
Assignment and Election to Purchase is not completed, the Company will deem the
beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an Assignment, will affix a legend
to that effect on any Rights Certificates issued in exchange for his Rights
Certificate.

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

                           BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY

                   SUMMARY OF PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS

                  On April 28, 1995, the Board of Directors of Benton Oil and
Gas Company (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one preferred
share purchase right (the "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock,
$.01 par value, of the Company (the "Common Shares") to shareholders of record
as of the close of business on May 19, 1995 (the "Record Date"). The Board of
Directors of the Company further declared that one Right be distributed with
each Common Share issued after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution
Date (as defined below) or the earlier expiration, exchange, redemption or
termination of the Rights. Except as set forth below, each Right entitles the
registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of
Series B Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company (the "Preferred
Shares") at a price of $50.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the
"Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the
Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as of April 28, 1995 (the
"Rights Agreement"), between the Company and First Interstate Bank of
California, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

                  Initially, the Rights will be attached to the Common Shares
then outstanding, and no separate certificates evidencing the rights ("Rights
Certificates") will be issued. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares,
Rights Certificates will be issued and the Rights will become exercisable upon
the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following the first date (the "Shares
Acquisition Date") of a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated
or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the
right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% of more of the outstanding Common
Shares of the Company or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person
or group becomes an Acquired Person) following the commencement or announcement
of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Shares of
the Company the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership
by a person or group of affiliated or associated persons of 15 % or more of such
outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being referred to as the
"Distribution Date"). However, a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons who acquires the beneficial ownership of 15 % or more of the Common
Shares then outstanding either (i) by reason of share purchases by the Company
reducing the number of Common Shares outstanding (provided such person or group
does not acquire additional Common Shares), or (ii) inadvertently, if such
person or group notifies the Board of Directors of such inadvertent purchase
within five business days and within two business days after such notice divests
itself of enough Common Shares so as to no longer to have the beneficial
ownership of 15% of the outstanding Common Shares, will not be an Acquiring
Person.

<PAGE>

                  Until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced,
with respect to any of the Common Share certificates outstanding on or after the
Record Date, by such Common Share certificates with a copy of this Summary of
Rights attached thereto. The Rights Agreement provides that, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common
Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange, expiration
or termination of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued after the
Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of the Common Shares will contain a
notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption, exchange, expiration or termination of the Rights),
the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding on
or after the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary
of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the
Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date, and such separate Rights
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

                  The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date.
The Rights will expire at the close of business on April 28, 2005, unless
earlier redeemed, exchanged or terminated as provided below.

                  The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Shares, certain
convertible securities or securities having the same or more favorable rights,
privileges and preferences to the Preferred Shares at less than the current
market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders
of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding
regular periodic cash dividends out of earnings or retained earnings or
dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants
(other than those referred to above).

                  In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person (other
than pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding Common
Shares at a price and on terms determined by at least a majority of the
"Continuing Directors" who are not officers of the Company and are not Acquiring
Persons or affiliates or associates thereof to be both adequate and otherwise in
the best interests of the Company and its shareholders (a "Permitted Offer"),
then proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than
Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or affiliates or associates
thereof) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, that number
of Common Shares of the Company having a market value of two times the exercise
price of the Right. In the event that the Company does not have a sufficient
number of Common Shares available, the Company may, among other things, instead
substitute cash, assets or other securities for the Common Shares into which the
Rights would have otherwise been exercisable. A "Continuing Director" is any
member of the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the date of the Rights
Agreement who is not an Acquiring Person or an affiliate, associate or
representative of an Acquiring Person, or any person who subsequently becomes a
member of the Board of Directors of the Company upon recommendation or approval
by a majority of the Continuing Directors who is not an Acquiring Person or
affiliate, associate or representative of an Acquiring Person.

<PAGE>

                  In the event that, after the Shares Acquisition Date, the
Company consolidates or merges with another entity (whether or not the Company
is the surviving corporation) or the Company sells or otherwise transfers 50% or
more of its consolidated assets or earnings power, proper provision will be made
so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by an
Acquiring Person or affiliates or associates thereof) will thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise, that number of Common Shares of either the
Company, in the event that the Company is the surviving corporation of a merger
or consolidation, or of the acquiring company (or, in the event there is more
than one acquiring company, the acquiring company receiving the greatest portion
of the assets or earning power transferred), which at the time of such
transaction would have a market value of two times the exercise price of the
Right (unless the transaction satisfies certain conditions, and is consummated
with a person pursuant to a Permitted Offer, in which case the Rights will
terminate).

                  With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price
will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least
1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other
than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts) and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading date prior to the date
of exercise.

                  At any time prior to the earliest to occur of: (i) the tenth
day following the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per
Right (the "Redemption Price"). Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering redemption of the Rights, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights
will be to receive the Redemption Price.

                  Subject to applicable law, the Board of Directors, at its
option, may, at any time after a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person but
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights
(other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or affiliates or
associates thereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share
per Right, subject to adjustment.

                  The Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights
will not be redeemable and will be, in ranking as to dividend and liquidation
preferences, senior to the Common Shares but junior to any other series of
preferred stock the Company may issue (unless otherwise provided in the terms of
such preferred stock). Each Preferred Share will have a preferential quarterly
dividend in an amount equal to 100 times the dividend declared on each Common
Share but in no event less than $10.00. In the event of liquidation, the holders
of Preferred Shares will be entitled to a preferred liquidation payment equal to
the greater of $100.00 or 100 times the payment made per each Common Share. Each
Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Shares. In
the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common
Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 100 times
the amount and type of consideration received per Common Share. The rights of
the Preferred Shares as to dividends, liquidation and voting, and in the event
of mergers and consolidations, are protected by customary antidilution
provisions. Fractional Preferred Shares will be issuable; however, the Company
may elect to distribute depositary receipts in lieu of such fractional shares.
In lieu of fractional shares (other than fractions that are multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share), an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading date prior to the date
of exercise.

<PAGE>

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

                  The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of
Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights at any
time to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any defective or
inconsistent provisions and may, prior to the Distribution Date, be amended to
change or supplement any other provision in any manner that the Company may deem
necessary or desirable. After the Distribution Date, the terms of the Rights may
be amended (other than to cure ambiguities or to correct or supplement defective
or inconsistent provisions) only so long as the amendment does not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other than the Acquiring
Person).

                  The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will
cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the
Company without conditioning the offer on a substantial number of Rights being
acquired. The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business
combination approved by the Board of Directors of the Company because the Board
of Directors may, at its option, at any time prior to ten days after the Shares
Acquisition Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights
at the Redemption Price.

                  A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on
Form 8-A. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference.<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                                  JUNE 14, 2002

                     LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY "GEOILBENT"

                                   AS BORROWER

                                     - AND -

                         HARVEST NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.

                                    AS LENDER

                                   ----------

                           SUBORDINATED LOAN AGREEMENT
                                  US$2,500,000
                            LONG-TERM CREDIT FACILITY

                                   ----------

<PAGE>
CONTENTS

<Table>
<Caption>
Clause                                               Clause Heading                                      Page
------                                               --------------                                      ----
<S>                                                  <C>                                                 <C>
1.  INTERPRETATION..........................................................................................2

2.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..........................................................................4

3.  THE LOAN................................................................................................6

4.  INTEREST................................................................................................7

5.  REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION..................................................................8

6.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT....................................................................................9

7.  MARKET DISRUPTION.......................................................................................9

8.  CHANGE OF LAW OR CIRCUMSTANCES.........................................................................10

9.  TAXES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS.............................................................................11

10. FEES AND EXPENSES......................................................................................11

11. PAYMENTS AND EVIDENCE OF DEBT..........................................................................12

12. UNDERTAKINGS...........................................................................................12

13. EVENTS OF DEFAULT......................................................................................13

14. INDEMNITIES............................................................................................15

15. AMENDMENT AND WAIVER...................................................................................16

16. ASSIGNMENT.............................................................................................16

17. MISCELLANEOUS..........................................................................................16

18. NOTICES................................................................................................17

19. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION.........................................................................17

SCHEDULE L. FORM OF NOTICE OF DRAWING......................................................................19
</Table>

<PAGE>

THIS AGREEMENT is made on the ___ day of June 2002

BETWEEN:

(1)      HARVEST NATURAL RESOURCES, INC., a company incorporated under the laws
         of the State of Delaware, United States of America and having its
         principal place of business at 15835 Park Ten Place Drive, suite 115,
         Houston, Texas 77084, USA as lender (the "Lender"); and

(2)      LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY "GEOILBENT", a legal entity organized and
         existing under the laws of the Russian Federation with its registered
         address at Russia, Tyumen oblast, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Autonomous District,
         Purovsk region, Purpe Settlement as borrower (the "BORROWER").

WHEREAS:

(i)      the Borrower has entered into a credit agreement with the European Bank
         for Reconstruction and Development ("EBRD") dated November 21, 1996, as
         amended (the "EBRD Credit Agreement"), pursuant to which EBRD has
         agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the EBRD Credit
         Agreement, to lend to the Borrower on a revolving basis an amount not
         to exceed US$55,000,000;

(ii)     the Borrower has entered into a credit agreement with International
         Moscow Bank ("IMB") dated April 9, 1997 (the "IMB CREDIT AGREEMENT"),
         pursuant to which IMB has agreed, subject to the terms and conditions
         of the IMB Credit Agreement, to lend to the Borrower on a revolving
         basis an amount not to exceed US$10,000,000;

(iii)    the Borrower, EBRD and IMB have entered into a security agreement dated
         May 28, 1997 (the "Security Sharing Agreement"), pursuant to which the
         Borrower, subject to the terms and conditions of the Security Sharing
         Agreement, secured the amounts owing under the EBRD Credit Agreement
         and under the IMB Credit Agreement;

(iv)     the Lender, the Borrower, EBRD, IMB, Open Joint Stock Company
         "Purneftegazgeologia" ("PGG") and Open Joint Stock Company "Rosneft -
         Purneftegaz" ("PNG") have entered into the performance, subordination
         and share retention agreement dated April 9, 1997 (the "Shareholders
         Support Agreement"), which was amended on January 3, 2002 to replace
         PGG and PNG with Open Joint Stock Company "MINLEY";

(v)      the Borrower intends to obtain credit facilities in the amount of
         US $2,500,000 and the Lender agrees to extend to the Borrower credit
         facilities in the amount of US$2,500,000; and

(vi)     the Borrower and the Lender acknowledge and agree that the credit
         facilities extended hereunder shall constitute the Subordinated
         Shareholder Loan, as defined in the EBRD Credit Agreement and in the
         IMB Credit Agreement, and the Junior Indebtedness, as defined in the
         Shareholders Support Agreement,

<PAGE>

IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:

1.       INTERPRETATION

1.1      Definitions. Wherever used in this Agreement or the schedules hereto,
         unless the context requires otherwise, terms defined in the Recitals
         shall have the meaning assigned to them in such Recitals, terms defined
         in the EBRD Credit Agreement, the IMB Credit Agreement, the
         Shareholders Support Agreement and the Security Sharing Agreement shall
         have the same meaning in this Agreement and the following terms shall
         have the following meaning:

         "BUSINESS DAY" means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which
         banks and foreign exchange markets are generally open for business in
         Moscow, Russia, and Houston, Texas, the United States of America, and,
         if on that day a payment is to be made under this Agreement, in New
         York City, the United States of America and, if on the date for which
         LIBOR is to be determined under this Agreement, in London, England;

         "EBRD LOAN" means the Loan extended to the Borrower by EBRD under the
         EBRD Credit Agreement;

         "EVENT OF DEFAULT" means any event or circumstance specified as such in
         Clause 13.1 and "POTENTIAL EVENT OF DEFAULT" means any event or
         circumstance which, with the giving of notice and/or the passage of
         time and/or the satisfaction of any applicable condition (or any
         combination of them) may become an Event of Default;

         "FINANCING AGREEMENTS" means the EBRD Credit Agreement, the IMB Credit
         Agreement, the Security Sharing Agreement and the Shareholders Support
         Agreement;

         "IMB LOAN" means the loan extended to the borrower by IMB under the IMB
         Credit Agreement;

         "INTEREST PAYMENT DATE" means the last day of an Interest Period,
         however, any such date shall not be earlier than January 15, 2004;

         "INTEREST PERIOD" means, in relation to the Loan an interest period
         ascertained in accordance with Clause 4;

         "LIBOR" means the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the
         nearest integral multiple of 1/16%) reported on the date two Business
         Days prior to the day on which the Loan was extended in the Money Rates
         section of the Wall Street Journal for U.S. Dollar deposits having a
         term of six months;

         "LOAN" means the aggregate principal amount extended to the Borrower
         under this Agreement;

         "NOTICE OF DRAWING" means a notice substantially in the form set out in
         Schedule 1;

                                       2
<PAGE>

         "REPAYMENT DATE" means January 6, 2004 or the last Business Day of
         each subsequent sixth months period as provided in Clause 13.4 (a);

         "RUSSIAN BANK ACCOUNT" means US Dollars bank account of the Borrower
         No. 40702840400010003823 (605162 USD 4010 02), opened and maintained
         with IMB;

         "SENIOR LENDERS" means EBRD and IMB; and

         "US DOLLARS" and "USS" mean the lawful currency of the United States of
         America.

1.2      Construction. In this Agreement, unless the context requires otherwise,
         any reference to:

         "ASSET" includes any asset, revenue, property or right and includes
         uncalled capital;

         "AUTHORIZATION" includes any approval, consent, license, permit,
         franchise, permission, registration, resolution, direction, declaration
         or exemption;

         "INCLUDING" or "includes" means including or includes without
         limitation;

         "INDEBTEDNESS" includes any obligation for the payment or repayment of
         money, whether present or future, actual or contingent;

         "LAW" and/or "regulation" includes any constitutional provision,
         treaty, convention, law or subordinate legislation;

         "ORDER" includes any judgment, injunction, decree, determination or
         award of any court or arbitration tribunal;

         "PERSON" includes any individual, company, body corporate or
         unincorporated or other juridical person, partnership, firm, joint
         venture or trust or any federation, state or subdivision thereof or any
         government or agency of any of the foregoing;

         "TAX" includes any tax, levy, duty, charge, value added tax, impost,
         fee, deduction or withholding of any nature now or hereafter imposed,
         levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any taxing or other
         authority and includes any interest, penalty or other charge payable or
         claimed in respect thereof, and "taxation" shall be construed
         accordingly; and

         "WINDING-UP" includes any winding-up, liquidation, dissolution or
         comparable process in any jurisdiction.

1.3      Successors and Assigns. The expressions "BORROWER" and "LENDER" shall,
         where the context permits, include their respective successors and
         permitted assigns and any persons deriving title under them.

1.4      Miscellaneous. In this Agreement, unless the context requires
         otherwise:

         (a)      Statutes: references to statutory provisions shall be
                  construed as references to 4, those provisions as amended,
                  modified, re-enacted or replaced from time to time;

                                       3
<PAGE>

         (b)      Construction: words importing the singular include the plural
                  and vice versa and words importing a gender include every
                  gender;

         (c)      Finance Documents: references to this Agreement, the EBRD
                  Credit Agreement, the IMB Credit Agreement, the Security
                  Sharing Agreement or the Shareholders Support Agreement shall
                  be construed as references to such agreement as the same may
                  be amended, supplemented or novated from time to time;

         (d)      Clauses, Etc.: references to Clauses and Schedules are to
                  clauses of and schedules to this Agreement and references to
                  this Agreement include its Schedules; and

         (e)      Headings: clause headings are inserted for reference only and
                  shall be ignored in construing this Agreement.

2.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

2.1      Representations and Warranties. The Borrower represents and warrants to
         the Lender that:

         (a)      No Consent Required: the Borrower is entitled to enter into
                  this Agreement without consent of any other party, except as
                  provided under Clause 6;

         (b)      No Breach of Obligation: the Borrower's entering into this
                  Agreement does not violate any of the Borrower's undertakings,
                  covenants and other obligations under the Financing
                  Agreements;

         (c)      No Effect on Repayment of Loans: the Borrower's entering into
                  this Agreement will have no material adverse effect on the
                  repayment of the EBRD Loan and the IMB Loan;

         (d)      Corporate Existence: the Borrower is duly organized as a
                  limited liability company and validly existing under the laws
                  of the Russian Federation, and has full power, authority and
                  legal right to own its assets and to carry on its business;

         (e)      Capacity: the Borrower has full power, authority and legal
                  right, and all necessary corporate action has been taken in
                  order to authorize the Borrower, to enter into and to exercise
                  its rights and perform its obligations under this Agreement;

         (f)      Documents Valid and Enforceable: this Agreement constitutes
                  legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower
                  enforceable in accordance with their terms;

         (g)      Authorizations: all authorizations required from any
                  governmental or other authority or required to be obtained by
                  the Borrower from any of its participants or creditors or any
                  other person for or in connection with the execution,
                  validity, performance and enforceability of this Agreement
                  have been obtained and are in full force and effect at any
                  time during the term of this Agreement;

         (h)      Obligations Permitted: the execution by the Borrower of this
                  Agreement and/or the performance by the Borrower of any of its
                  obligations and/or the exercise by the Borrower of any of its
                  rights under this Agreement will not:

                                       4
<PAGE>

                  (i)      conflict with or result in a breach of any law,
                           regulation, judgment, order, authorization, agreement
                           or obligation applicable to it; or

                  (ii)     cause any limitation placed on it or the powers of
                           its directors to be exceeded; or

                  (iii)    result in the creation of or oblige the Borrower to
                           create an encumbrance over any of its assets;

         (i)      Litigation: no litigation, arbitration or administrative
                  proceeding or other dispute is currently taking place or
                  pending or threatened against the Borrower or any of its
                  assets which, in any single case or taken together, could have
                  a material adverse effect on the business or financial
                  condition or prospects of the Borrower or on the ability of
                  the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement;

         (j)      No Breach of Law: the Borrower is not in default under any
                  law, regulation, judgment, order, authorization, agreement or
                  obligation applicable to it or any of its assets, the
                  consequences of which default could have a material adverse
                  effect on:

                  (i)      the business or financial condition or prospects of
                           the Borrower; or

                  (ii)     the ability of the Borrower to perform its
                           obligations under this Agreement;

         (k)      Default: no Event of Default or potential Event of Default has
                  occurred and is continuing;

         (l)      Financial Statements: the most recent financial statements of
                  the Borrower for the time being were prepared both in
                  accordance with applicable laws and regulations of Russia and,
                  separately in accordance with generally accepted accounting
                  principles in the United States of America and policies
                  consistently applied and show a true and fair view of the
                  financial position of the Borrower as at the end of, and the
                  results of its operations for, the financial period to which
                  they relate; and there has been no material adverse change in
                  the business or financial condition or prospects of the
                  Borrower since the date of such financial statements;

         (m)      Information: all information supplied by or on behalf of the
                  Borrower to the Lender in connection with the Loan is true and
                  accurate in all respects and all forecasts and projections
                  contained therein were arrived at after due and careful
                  consideration on the part of the Borrower and were, in its
                  considered opinion, fair and reasonable when made; the
                  Borrower is not aware of any fact which has not been disclosed
                  in writing to the Lender which might have a material effect on
                  any such information, forecasts or projections or which might
                  reasonably be expected to affect the willingness of the Lender
                  to lend upon the terms of this Agreement; and

         (n)      No Immunity: the Borrower is generally subject to civil law
                  and to legal proceedings and neither the Borrower nor any of
                  its assets is entitled to any immunity or privilege from any
                  set-off, judgment, execution, attachment or other legal
                  process.

2.2      Continuing Representation and Warranty. The Borrower undertakes with
         the Lender that the representations and warranties set out in Clause
         2.1 will be true and accurate, and the Borrower shall be deemed to
         repeat such representations and warranties on each day throughout the
         continuation of this Agreement.

                                       5
<PAGE>

2.3      Acknowledgement of Reliance. The Borrower acknowledges that the Lender
         has entered into this Agreement in reliance upon the representations
         and warranties contained in this Clause 2 which inter alia present a
         security to the Lender for the due repayment of the Loan.

3.       THE LOAN

3.1      Amount. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the aggregate
         principal amount of the Loan available to the Borrower is US$2,500,000
         (two million five hundred thousand).

3.2      Delivery. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Loan shall
         be extended to the Borrower in a lump sum.

3.3      Purpose. The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Loan for the
         purpose of payment of outstanding taxes payable, salaries payable and
         trade accounts payable.

3.4      Extension of the Loan. The Lender shall extend the Loan to the Russian
         Bank Account on or before the 10th Business Day after signing this
         Agreement, provided that:

         (a)      Notice of Drawing: not later than 4:00 p.m. (Moscow time) on
                  the second Business Day before the date on which the Loan is
                  to be extended (or at such later time as the Lender may
                  approve), the Lender shall have received a duly completed and
                  signed Notice of Drawing (being an original or a fax or a
                  telex);

         (b)      Conditions Precedent: all conditions precedent described in
                  Clause 6 of this Agreement shall have been fulfilled;

         (c)      No Default: no Event of Default or potential Event of Default
                  shall have occurred or would occur as a result of the Loan
                  being extended; and

         (d)      Representations Correct: all representations and warranties
                  made by the Borrower in or in connection with this Agreement
                  shall be true and correct as at the date on which the Loan is
                  to be extended with reference to the facts and circumstances
                  then existing.

3.5      Notice of Drawing. The Notice of Drawing, once given, shall be binding
         on the Borrower. If for any reason the Borrower fails to draw the Loan
         in accordance with the Notice of Drawing, then the Borrower shall on
         demand pay to the Lender such amount as the Lender, acting in good
         faith, may certify to be necessary to compensate it for any loss or
         expense incurred in liquidating or redeploying funds acquired or
         arranged to fund the Loan or in terminating any such arrangement.

                                       6
<PAGE>

4.       INTEREST

4.1      Interest. The Borrower shall pay interest on the Loan in accordance
         with the provisions of this Clause 4.

4.2      Interest Periods. Interest periods applicable to the Loan shall be
         periods of 3 (three) months (each an "Interest Period") provided that:

         (a)      First Interest Period: the first Interest Period in relation
                  to the Loan shall commence on the date of extension of the
                  Loan and shall end on January 6, 2004; and

         (b)      Subsequent Interest Periods: each Interest Period after the
                  first Interest Period shall commence on the last Business Day
                  of the preceding Interest Period and shall end on the last
                  Business Day of the third calendar month calculated from such
                  date.

4.3      Interest Rate. The interest applicable to the Loan shall be at a rate
         equal to:

         (a)      First Interest Rate: for the period from the extension of the
                  Loan until January 6, 2004 the Interest rate shall be equal to
                  LIBOR;

         (b)      Second Interest Rate: for the period from January 7, 2004
                  until December 31, 2004 the Interest rate shall be equal to
                  8%;

         (c)      Third Interest Rate: for the period from January 1, 2005 until
                  the date on which the Loan will be repaid in full the Interest
                  rate shall be equal to 12%.

4.4      Calculation of Interest. The rate of interest applicable to the Loan or
         the relevant part thereof for each Interest Period shall be the rate
         per annum determined by the pursuant to Clause 4.3 for the Interest
         Period. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of the actual number
         of days elapsed, including the first day of the period during which it
         accrues but excluding the last day. Interest shall accrue from day to
         day and shall be paid in arrears on each Interest Payment Date. The
         Lender shall notify the Borrower of each interest rate determined under
         this Clause.

4.5      Payment of Interest. The Borrower shall pay interest on the Loan only
         after receipt of the written consent of the Senior Lenders on such
         payment if and when such consent is required pursuant to the Financing
         Agreements, unless otherwise provided by the Financing Agreements. If
         the consent of the Senior Lenders is not required for such interest
         payment, then the Borrower need not obtain such consent before payment
         of interest on the Loan. If the consent of the Senior Lenders is
         required and the Senior Lenders do not give a written consent, the
         payment of interest on the Loan shall be transferred to the following
         Interest Payment Date. If the payment of interest on the Loan is
         transferred to the following Interest Payment Date, then the Borrower
         must again seek the consent of the Senior Lenders, if so required by
         the Financing Agreements. This Clause 4.5 shall cease to be applicable
         to the extent that the EBRD Loan and the IMB Loan are no longer
         outstanding.

                                       7
<PAGE>

5.       REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION

5.1      Repayment. The Borrower shall repay the Loan in a lump sum on the
         Repayment Date. Any prepayment pursuant to Clause 5.2 shall reduce the
         amount of the remaining Loan to be repaid.

5.2      Prepayment. The Borrower may prepay all or part of the Loan on the last
         Business Day of any Interest Period provided that:

         (a)      Permission: the Senior Lenders have permitted such prepayment
                  if and when such permission is required pursuant to the
                  Financing Agreements, unless otherwise provided in the
                  Financing Agreements; if the Financing Agreements do not
                  require the consent of the Senior Lenders, then the permission
                  of the Senior Lenders is not required; (this Clause 5.2 (a)
                  shall cease to be applicable to the extent that the EBRD Loan
                  and the IMB Loan are no longer outstanding);

         (b)      Notice: the Borrower shall have given to the Lender not less
                  than 30 days' prior written notice specifying the amount to be
                  prepaid and the date of prepayment;

         (c)      Procedure: prepayment shall be effected in compliance with the
                  procedures of the Financing Agreements;

         (d)      Amount: the amount of any partial prepayment shall be at least
                  US$250,000 (two hundred fifty thousand) and an integral
                  multiple of US$50,000 (fifty thousand);

         (e)      Payments Current: all other sums then due and payable under
                  this Agreement shall have been paid; and

         (f)      Commission: at the time of prepayment the Borrower shall pay
                  to the Lender a prepayment fee equal to one half of one
                  percent (0.5%) of the amount prepaid.

5.3      Provisions Applicable to Prepayments. Any notice of prepayment given by
         the Borrower under any provision of this Agreement shall be binding on
         the Borrower. If for any reason the Borrower fails to make a prepayment
         in accordance with such notice, then the Borrower shall on demand pay
         to the Lender such amount as the Lender, acting in good faith, may
         certify to be necessary to compensate it for any loss or expense
         incurred as a consequence of such failure.

                                       8
<PAGE>
6.       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

6.1      General: The Lender shall not be obliged to extend the Loan to the
         Borrower, and the Borrower shall not give a Notice of Drawing, unless
         and until:

         (i)      Corporate Actions: the Borrower has fulfilled all corporate
                  actions and obtained all corporate approvals required for
                  entering into this Agreement, including, but not limited to,
                  approval of the Borrower's general participants meeting of
                  this Agreement as an interested party transaction;

         (ii)     Currency Control: the Borrower has fulfilled all Russian
                  currency control requirements, including, but not limited to
                  filing official documents with respect to this Agreement to
                  IMB as Russian currency control agent; and

         (iii)    Notification: the Borrower has notified the Senior Lenders
                  about the Borrower's intention to draw down on the Loan and
                  the Senior Lenders have consented in writing to the Borrower
                  entering into this Agreement and drawing down the Loan.

6.2      Notice: The Lender shall notify the Borrower when it has received all
         the documents and evidence referred to in Clause 6.1 and has found them
         to be satisfactory in form and substance.

7.       MARKET DISRUPTION

7.1      Market Disruption. If in relation to any Interest Period the Lender
         determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding) that:

         (a)      Interbank Market: by reason of circumstances affecting the
                  London interbank market generally, adequate and fair means do
                  not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for that Interest Period; or

         (b)      Deposits: deposits in US Dollars in the amount required for
                  that Interest Period are not available to the Lender in the
                  London interbank market; or

         (c)      LIBOR: that LIBOR does not adequately reflect the cost to the
                  Lender of obtaining funds for that Interest Period,

         the Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower accordingly, and an
         alternative basis shall be agreed in accordance with Clause 7.2.

7.2      Alternative Basis by Agreement. As soon as practicable after such
         notification, the Borrower and the Lender shall negotiate in good faith
         with a view to agreeing upon an alternative basis for funding the Loan
         and determining the applicable interest rate. If an alternative basis
         is agreed in writing within a period of 30 days after such notification
         or such longer period for negotiation as the parties may agree, the
         alternative basis shall take effect in accordance with its terms.

7.3      Failure to Agree. If an alternative basis is not agreed pursuant to
         Clause 7.2:

                                       9
<PAGE>

         (a)      Loan Undrawn: if the Loan has not previously been extended,
                  the Loan shall be cancelled and the Borrower shall pay all
                  sums accrued or owing under this Agreement at the end of the
                  period for negotiation referred to in Clause 7.2; or

         (b)      Loan Outstanding: if the Loan has previously been extended:

                  (i)      the Borrower shall pay interest on the Loan for the
                           relevant Interest Period at the rate from time to
                           time determined by the Lender to be the aggregate of
                           (1) the respective interest rate as established in
                           Clause 4.3 and (2) the rate per annum representing
                           the cost to the Lender of funding or maintaining the
                           Loan during the relevant Interest Period from such
                           sources and otherwise on such basis as the Lender may
                           reasonably select; and

                  (ii)     the Borrower may, by giving written notice to the
                           Lender, elect to prepay the Loan in full. Such notice
                           shall specify a prepayment date, which is not less
                           than 30 days after the notice is given. The
                           prepayment shall be effected only upon the written
                           consent of the Senior Lenders, unless otherwise
                           provided by the Financing Agreements. On the
                           specified date the Borrower shall prepay the Loan in
                           full together with interest thereon from the
                           beginning of the relevant Interest Period to the date
                           of prepayment calculated in accordance with paragraph
                           (i) above. (Unless and until such notice is given,
                           the parties shall from time to time review whether or
                           not the relevant circumstances referred to in Clause
                           7.1 still apply, with a view to reverting to the
                           application of Clause 4 as soon as practicable.)

8.       CHANGE OF LAW OR CIRCUMSTANCES

8.1      Unlawfulness. If it becomes unlawful or contrary to any requirement of
         any governmental, fiscal, monetary or other authority (whether or not
         having the force of law) for the Lender to give effect to its
         obligations under this Agreement or to fund the Loan or any part
         thereof, the Borrower shall forthwith prepay the Loan in full together
         with all interest accrued thereon and other sums outstanding under this
         Agreement. The prepayment shall be effected only upon the written
         consent of the Senior Lenders, unless otherwise provided by the
         Financing Agreements.

                                       10

<PAGE>

9.       TAXES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS

9.1      No Deductions or Withholdings. All sums payable by the Borrower under
         this Agreement shall be paid in full without set-off or counterclaim or
         any restriction or condition and, except to the extent required by any
         law of the Russian Federation or regulation, free and clear of any
         deduction or withholding on account of tax or otherwise. If the
         Borrower or any other person is required by any law or regulation to
         make any such deduction or withholding, the Borrower shall, together
         with the relevant payment, pay such additional amount as will ensure
         that the Lender receives and is entitled to retain, free and clear of
         any such deduction or withholding, the full amount which it would have
         received if no such deduction or withholding had been required.

9.2      Tax Treaties. The Lender shall notify the Borrower of any tax treaty
         exemptions from withholding tax that may be available to the Lender in
         connection with any sum payable under this Agreement and submit to the
         Borrower the necessary documents for purposes of confirming such
         exemption.

9.3      Receipts. The Borrower shall, within the required time period, pay or
         cause to be paid over to the relevant taxation or other authority the
         full amount of any deduction or withholding as referred to in Clause
         9.1, and shall promptly forward to the Lender copies of official
         receipts or other evidence satisfactory to the Lender showing that such
         payment has been made.

9.4      Notification. If at any time the Borrower becomes aware that any
         deduction or withholding as referred to in Clause 9.1 is or will be
         required or that the basis for calculation thereof has been or will be
         changed, it shall promptly notify the Lender and supply details of such
         requirement or change.

10.      FEES AND EXPENSES

10.1     Enforcement Costs. The Borrower shall within 30 days after written
         demand pay or reimburse to the Lender all reasonable costs, charges and
         expenses (including legal and other fees on a full indemnity basis and
         all other out-of-pocket expenses and any applicable value added tax or
         similar tax) incurred by the Lender:

         (a)      Rights and Remedies: in exercising any of its rights or powers
                  under this Agreement or in suing for or seeking to recover any
                  sums due or otherwise preserving or enforcing its rights,
                  powers and remedies under this Agreement, except claims in
                  which the Lender's gross negligence, wilful misconduct or
                  breach of this Agreement is proven; and

         (b)      Defense of Claims: in defending any claims brought against it
                  in respect of this Agreement.

10.2     Consent of the Senior Lenders. Any sum provided for in this Clause 10
         shall be paid by the Borrower only upon receipt of a written consent
         of the Senior Lenders on the respective payment, if and when such
         consent is required pursuant to the Financing Agreements, unless
         otherwise provided in the Financing Agreements. If the consent of the
         Senior Lenders is not required for such payment, then the Borrower need
         not obtain such consent before payment. If the consent of the Senior
         Lenders is required and the Senior Lenders do not give a written
         consent, the payment of the respective sum shall be effected as soon as
         either the Senior Lenders give a written consent on payment of this sum
         or the consent of the Senior Lenders is no longer

                                       11
<PAGE>

         required, then the payment shall be effected immediately. This Clause
         10.2 shall cease to be applicable to the extent that the EBRP Loan and
         the IMB Loan are no longer outstanding.

11.      PAYMENTS AND EVIDENCE OF DEBT

11.1     Delivery. The Lender shall transfer the Loan to the Russian Bank
         Account.

11.2     Payments by Borrower. All payments by the Borrower under this Agreement
         shall be made to the Lender, in US Dollars not later than 15:00 (Moscow
         time) on the relevant due Business Day in same day funds to the account
         designated by the Lender.

11.3     Allocation of Receipts. If any amount received by the Lender in respect
         of sums due from the Borrower hereunder is less than the full amount
         due, the Lender shall have the right to allocate the amount received
         towards principal, interest, expenses and/or other sums owing under
         this Agreement as it considers appropriate.

11.4     Business Days. If any sum would otherwise become due for payment
         hereunder on a day which is not a Business Day, that sum shall become
         due on the next following Business Day, except that if any payment
         would then become due in another calendar month such payment shall
         become due on the immediately preceding Business Day. Interest shall be
         adjusted accordingly.

11.5     Evidence of Debt. The Lender shall maintain accounts recording the
         amounts from time to time owing by the Borrower hereunder. In any legal
         proceeding and otherwise for the purposes of this Agreement the entries
         made in such accounts shall, in the absence of manifest error, be
         conclusive and binding on the Borrower as to the existence and amount
         of the obligations of the Borrower recorded therein.

11.6     Certificate Conclusive and Binding. Where any provision of this
         Agreement provides that the Lender may certify or determine an amount
         or rate payable by the Borrower, a certificate by the Lender as to such
         amount or rate shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower in the
         absence of manifest error.

12.      UNDERTAKINGS

12.1     General Undertakings. The Borrower undertakes to the Lender that so
         long as any sum is or may become payable under this Agreement the
         Borrower will, unless the Lender otherwise agrees in writing:

         (a)      Notification: promptly inform the Lender of:

                  (i)      the occurrence of any Event of Default or potential
                           Event of Default;

                  (ii)     any significant litigation, arbitration or
                           administrative proceeding or other dispute;

                  (iii)    any other event or circumstance which could have a
                           material adverse effect on the business or financial
                           condition or prospects of the Borrower or on the
                           ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations
                           under this Agreement;

                                       12
<PAGE>

         (b)      Loan Proceeds: use the proceeds of the Loan exclusively for
                  the purposes specified in Clause 3.3.

13.      EVENTS OF DEFAULT

13.1     Events of Default. The following events and circumstances shall be an
         Event of Default:

         (a)      Failure to Pay: the Borrower fails to pay any sum payable
                  under this Agreement within three Business Days of the date on
                  which it is due and otherwise in accordance with the
                  provisions hereof, except as provided in Clause 13.4;

         (b)      Event of Default under other Agreements: an event of default
                  under the EBRD Credit Agreement and the IMB Credit Agreement
                  occurred;

         (c)      Performance of Other Obligations: the Borrower fails duly to
                  perform or comply with any of its obligations or undertakings
                  under this Agreement and in the case only of a failure which
                  in the reasonable opinion of the Lender is capable of remedy
                  and which is not a failure to pay money, the Borrower does not
                  remedy that failure to the Lender's satisfaction within 14
                  days (or such longer period as the Lender may approve), after
                  receipt of written notice from the Lender requiring it to do
                  so;

         (d)      Representations and Warranties: any representation or warranty
                  made or deemed to be made by the Borrower in or in connection
                  with this Agreement proves to have been incorrect or
                  misleading in any material respect;

         (e)      Insolvency Proceedings: the Borrower applies for or consents
                  to the appointment of any external manager, liquidator,
                  receiver, trustee or administrator for all or a substantial
                  part of its assets, or any external manager, liquidator,
                  receiver, trustee or administrator is appointed for the
                  Borrower; or the Borrower institutes (by petition,
                  application, answer, consent or otherwise) any proceeding for
                  the winding-up, insolvency, bankruptcy, administration,
                  reorganization, or reconstruction of the Borrower or any such
                  proceeding shall be instituted against the Borrower and shall
                  remain undismissed, undischarged or unstayed for a period of
                  60 days;

         (f)      Analogous Proceedings: any event occurs in any jurisdiction
                  which in the reasonable opinion of the Lender has an effect
                  analogous to any of the events described in paragraph (e)
                  above;

         (g)      Borrower's Business: the Borrower ceases to carry on the
                  business of development, ownership and operation of an oil and
                  gas business;

         (h)      Expropriation: any governmental or other authority (whether de
                  jure or de facto) nationalizes, compulsorily acquires,
                  expropriates or seizes all or any substantial part of the
                  business or assets of the Borrower;

         (i)      Enforceability of Obligations:

                                       13
<PAGE>

                  (i)      any law, regulation or order, or any change in any
                           law or regulation, does or purports to vary, suspend,
                           terminate or excuse performance by the Borrower of
                           any of its obligations under this Agreement;

                  (ii)     this Agreement or any provision hereof ceases for any
                           reason to be in full force and effect or becomes
                           unenforceable;

                  (iii)    the Borrower disputes the validity or enforceability
                           of or purports to terminate or repudiates this
                           Agreement;

                  (iv)     it becomes unlawful or impossible for the Borrower to
                           perform any of its obligations under this Agreement
                           or for the Lender to exercise all or any of its
                           rights, powers and remedies hereunder or thereunder;

         (j)      Material Adverse Change: any situation occurs which gives
                  grounds to believe that the ability of the Borrower to perform
                  its obligations under this Agreement has been or will be
                  materially and adversely affected;

13.2     Declarations. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing the
         Lender may, by written notice to the Borrower:

         (a)      Acceleration: declare the Loan, accrued interest and all other
                  sums payable hereunder to be, whereupon they shall become:

                  (i)      immediately due and payable without further demand,
                           notice or other legal formality of any kind; or

                  (ii)     payable immediately upon demand, which may be made by
                           the Lender at any time thereafter; and/or

         (b)      Termination: if the Loan has not been extended, declare the
                  Loan terminated, whereupon the obligations of the Lender shall
                  immediately cease.

13.3     Senior Lenders Consent. Any accelerated repayment under Clause 13.2 may
         be effected only upon a prior consent of the Senior Lenders if and when
         such consent is required under the Financing Agreements, unless
         otherwise provided by the Financing Agreements. This Clause 13.3 shall
         cease to be applicable to the extent that the EBRD Loan and the IMB
         Loan are no longer outstanding.

13.4     Senior Lenders Refusal. If the Event, described in Clause 13.1 (a)
         occurred because of the Senior Lenders' refusal to give a written
         consent to the Borrower on repayment of the respective sum, if such
         consent of the Senior Lenders was required pursuant to the Financing
         Agreements, such event shall not be regarded as an Event of Default and
         the following consequences will apply:

         (a)      The Loan: if the Borrower fails to repay the Loan, the
                  Repayment Date shall be postponed for an additional six
                  months;

         (b)      Interest: if the Borrower fails to repay interest on the Loan,
                  the payment of the respective interest shall be transferred to
                  the nearest Interest Payment Date; and

                                       14
<PAGE>

         (c)      Other Sum: if the Borrower fails to repay any other sum under
                  this Agreement, the payment of such sum shall be effected as
                  soon as either the Senior Lenders give a written consent on
                  repayment of this sum or the consent of the Senior Lenders is
                  no longer required, then the payment shall be effected
                  immediately.

13.5     Non-repayment of the Loan. Non-repayment of the Loan or any part of the
         Loan on January 6, 2004 shall not result in any penalties to the
         Borrower.

14.      INDEMNITIES

14.1     General Indemnity. The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender against all
         losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses which the Lender may
         incur as a consequence of any Event of Default or any other breach by
         the Borrower of any of its obligations under this Agreement or
         otherwise in connection with this Agreement (including any loss or
         expense incurred in liquidating or redeploying funds acquired or
         arranged to fund or maintain the Loan or any unpaid sum or in
         terminating any such arrangement or any hedging arrangement in respect
         of this Agreement, and any interest or fees incurred in funding any
         unpaid sum).

14.2     Currency Indemnity. US Dollars shall be the currency of account and of
         payment in respect of sums payable by the Borrower under this
         Agreement. If an amount is received in another currency, the Borrower's
         obligations under this Agreement shall be discharged only to the extent
         that upon receipt of such amount the Lender may purchase US Dollars
         with such other currency in accordance with normal banking procedures
         by applying the Lenders' official exchange rate on the date of
         conversion. If the amount in US Dollars, which may be so purchased,
         after deducting any costs of exchange and any other related costs, is
         less than the relevant sum payable under this Agreement, the Borrower
         shall indemnify the Lender on demand against the shortfall. This
         indemnity shall be an obligation of the Borrower independent of and in
         addition to its other obligations under this Agreement.

                                       15
<PAGE>

15.      AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

15.1     Amendment. Any amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall only
         be effective if made in writing and signed by the Lender and the
         Borrower, and any waiver of any default under this Agreement shall only
         be effective if made in writing and signed by the Lender. The Borrower
         and the Lender hereby agree to do their best efforts to amend this
         Agreement in the following instances:

         (a)      Invalidity to Repay the Loan: if it becomes obvious in the
                  course of executing this Agreement that the Borrower due to
                  its financial standing will be unable to repay the Loan on the
                  Repayment Date or such repayment will have a material adverse
                  effect on repayment of the EBRD Loan and the IMB Loan, the
                  Borrower and the Lender upon their mutual consent shall amend
                  this Agreement so that the Repayment Date shall be
                  respectively extended;

         (b)      Amendment of the Financing Agreements: if the Financing
                  Agreements shall be amended in such manner that the amended
                  provisions will have some material adverse effect on the
                  provisions of this Agreement, the Borrower and the Lender upon
                  their mutual consent shall respectively amend this Agreement.

15.2     Waiver. Time is of the essence of the Borrower's obligations under this
         Agreement but no failure or delay by the Lender in exercising any
         right, power or remedy hereunder shall impair such right, power or
         remedy or operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
         exercise of any right, power or remedy preclude any further exercise
         thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The
         rights, powers and remedies provided in this Agreement are cumulative
         and do not exclude any other rights, powers and remedies provided by
         law.

16.      ASSIGNMENT

16.1     Assignment. The Lender shall have the unilateral right to assign its
         rights under this Agreement to an affiliated entity without the prior
         consent of the Borrower.

17.      MISCELLANEOUS

17.1     Execution. This Agreement shall be effective as from the date of this
         Agreement. This Agreement shall be executed in four originals, one
         English and one Russian original for each party.

17.2     Language of Agreement. This Agreement shall be executed in English and
         in Russian, with both texts having equal effect, provided, however,
         that in the event of any inconsistencies between the English and the
         Russian texts of the Agreement the English language version shall
         prevail.

                                       16
<PAGE>

18.      NOTICES.

18.1     Delivery. Each notice, demand or other communication to be given or
         made under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by hand, by
         internationally recognized express mail courier or by fax to the
         relevant party at its address or fax number set out below (or such
         other address or fax number as the addressee has by not less than 7
         days' prior written notice specified to the other party):

         To the Lender:     Harvest Natural Resources, Inc.
                            15835 Park Ten Place Drive, Suite 115
                            Houston, Texas, 77084
                            United States of America

                            Fax Number: (281) 579-6702
                            Attention: Chief Financial Officer

         To the Borrower:   Limited Liability Company "Geoilbent"
                            Post Box # 46, Gubkinsky City,
                            Yamal-Nenetz Autonomous
                            Region, 629830, Russian Federation

                            Fax Number: (34536) 51137
                            Attention: General Director

18.2     Deemed Delivery. Any notice, demand or other communication addressed to
         any relevant party in accordance with Clause 17.1 shall be deemed to
         have been delivered:

         (a)      Letter: if given or made by letter, when actually delivered to
                  the relevant address; and

         (b)      Fax: if given or made by fax, when dispatched with a fax
                  transmission report showing that the entire communication was
                  received,

provided that a communication which is received after 5:00 p.m. on a working day
or on a day which is not a full working day in the place of receipt shall be
deemed to be delivered on the next full working day in that place.

18.3     Language. Each notice or other communication under this Agreement shall
         be in Russian or in English, provided, however, that in the event of
         any inconsistencies between the English and the Russian texts of the
         notice or other communication the English language version shall
         prevail.

19.      GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

19.1     Law: This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties
         hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
         laws of the State of Texas, United States of America.

19.2     Jurisdiction. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to
         this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration
         administered by the American

                                       17
<PAGE>

         Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, and
         judgment upon the award rendered by the Arbitrator(s) may be entered in
         any Court having jurisdiction thereof. The number of arbitrators shall
         be one (1). The language of the arbitration shall be the English
         language. The place of arbitration shall be Houston, Texas, United
         States of America.

IN WITNESS whereof this Agreement has been executed by the parties to it on the
date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.

<Table>
<S>                                                                     <C>
                          THE LENDER                                                     THE BORROWER
                          ----------                                                     ------------

                 SIGNED for and on behalf of                                      SIGNED for and on behalf of
               Harvest Natural Resources, Inc.                               Limited Liability Company "Geoilbent"

         --------------------------------                                    --------------------------------
         Name:                                                               Name:
                -------------------------                                           -------------------------
         Title:                                                              Title:
                -------------------------                                           -------------------------

         --------------------------------                                    --------------------------------
         Name:                                                               Name:
                -------------------------                                           -------------------------
         Title:                                                              Title:
                -------------------------                                           -------------------------
</Table>

                                       18
<PAGE>

                      SCHEDULE 1. FORM OF NOTICE OF DRAWING

From:    LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY "GEOILBENT"

To:      HARVEST NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.

                                                                       [DATE]

Dear Sirs,

US$2,500,000 CREDIT FACILITY: LOAN AGREEMENT DATED JUNE   , 2002

We refer to the above Loan Agreement, and hereby give notice that we wish to
draw the Loan on ________  in the amount of US$2,500,000 (two million five
hundred thousand).

The Loan should be disbursed in accordance with Clause 11.1 of the Loan
Agreement.

We confirm that:

         (a)      the representations and warranties set out in the Loan
                  Agreement repeated with reference to the facts and
                  circumstances existing on the date of this notice, remain true
                  and correct;

         (b)      no Event of Default or potential Event of Default has occurred
                  which remains unwaived or unremedied or would result from the
                  extension of the Loan; and

         (c)      the proceeds of the Loan shall be used exclusively for the
                  purpose specified in Clause 3.3 of the Loan Agreement.

Terms defined in the Loan Agreement have the same meaning when used in this
notice.

For and on behalf of
Limited Liability Company "Geoilbent"

------------------------------------
Name:
      ------------------------------
Title:
       -----------------------------

------------------------------------
Name:
      ------------------------------

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

                                       19

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