Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4

                               KINDER MORGAN, INC.
                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                          (Effective January 17, 2001)

                                   SECTION I.
                               PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

         This Plan is an amendment and restatement of the K N Energy, Inc. 1999
Stock Option Plan. The KINDER MORGAN, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 1999 STOCK
OPTION PLAN (the "Plan) is intended to provide a means whereby certain employees
of KINDER MORGAN, INC., a Kansas corporation (the "Company"), and its
subsidiaries may develop a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in
the development and financial success of the Company, and to encourage them to
remain with and devote their best efforts to the business of the Company,
thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its shareholders.
Accordingly, the Company may grant to certain employees ("Optionees") the option
("Option") to purchase shares of the common stock of the Company, par value
$5.00 per share ("Stock"), as hereinafter set forth. Options granted under the
Plan shall be options that do not constitute incentive stock options within the
meaning of Section 422(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code").

                                   SECTION II.
                                 ADMINISTRATION

         The Plan shall be administered by a committee (the "Committee") of, and
appointed by, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), and the
Committee shall be (a) comprised solely of two or more outside directors (within
the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and applicable interpretive authority
thereunder), and (b) constituted so as to permit the Plan to comply with Rule
16b-3, as currently in effect or as hereinafter modified or amended ("Rule
16b-3"), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"1934 Act"). The Committee shall have sole authority to select the Optionees
from among those individuals eligible hereunder and to establish the number of
shares of Stock which may be issued under each Option. In selecting the
Optionees from among individuals eligible hereunder and in establishing the
number of shares of Stock that may be issued under each Option, the Committee
may take into account the nature of the services rendered by such individuals,
their present and potential contributions to the Company's success and such
other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant. The
Committee is authorized to interpret the Plan and may from time to time adopt
such rules and regulations, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, as it
may deem advisable to carry out the Plan. All decisions made by the Committee in
selecting the Optionees, in establishing the number of shares of Stock which may
be issued under each Option and in construing the provisions of the Plan shall
be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its
subsidiaries and other entities in which the Company has an ownership interest,
its shareholders, Optionees and their estates and beneficiaries.

                                  SECTION III.
                                OPTION AGREEMENTS

         (a) Each Option shall be evidenced by a written agreement between the
Company and the Optionee ("Option Agreement") which shall contain such terms and
conditions as may be approved by the Committee, including, but not limited to,
the number of shares of Stock that may be purchased under the Option and the
price per share of Stock purchasable under the Option ("Option Price"). The
terms and conditions of the respective Option Agreements need not be identical.
Specifically, an Option Agreement may provide for the surrender of the right to
purchase shares of Stock under the Option in return for a payment in cash or
shares of Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Stock equal in value to
the excess of the fair market value of the shares of Stock with respect to which
the right to purchase is surrendered over the Option Price therefor ("Stock
Appreciation Rights"), on such terms and conditions as

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the Committee in its sole discretion may prescribe. Moreover, an Option
Agreement may provide for the payment of the Option Price, in whole or in part,
by the delivery of a number of shares of Stock (plus cash if necessary) having a
fair market value equal to such Option Price.

         (b) For all purposes under the Plan, the fair market value of a share
of Stock on a particular date shall be equal to the closing sales price of the
Stock reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on that date; or,
if no prices are reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such
prices of the Stock are so reported. In the event Stock is not publicly traded
at the time a determination of its value is required to be made hereunder, the
determination of its fair market value shall be made by the Committee in such
manner as it deems appropriate.

         (c) Each Option and all rights granted thereunder shall not be
transferable other than (i) by will or the laws of descent and distribution,
(ii) between an Optionee and his or her former spouse, but only if such transfer
is incident to a divorce under Section 1041(a) of the Code, or (iii) with the
consent of the Committee.

                                   SECTION IV.
                             ELIGIBILITY OF OPTIONEE

         The Plan is intended to constitute a "broadly-based plan" for purposes
of the shareholder approval policy of the New York Stock Exchange relating to
stock option plans, and the Plan shall be administered accordingly.

         Options may be granted only to individuals who are employees (including
officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company or an entity in
which the Company has an ownership interest, directly or indirectly, at the time
the Option is granted or who will be future employees within 90 days of any
grant of Options, and, in any event, at least a majority of the full-time
employees in the United States of the Company or any parent or subsidiary
corporation (as defined in Section 424 of the Code) (who are "exempt employees"
under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938) shall be eligible to receive grants
of Options. Options may be granted to the same individual on more than one
occasion.

         At least a majority of the shares of Stock underlying Options awarded
under the Plan, during the three-year period commencing on the date the Plan is
adopted by the Company, shall be made to eligible employees who are neither
officers nor directors of the Company.

                                   SECTION V.
                           SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

         Effective January 17, 2001, the aggregate number of shares of Stock
which may be issued under Options granted under the Plan shall not exceed
10,500,000. Such shares may consist of authorized but unissued shares of Stock
or previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company. Any of such
shares which remain unissued and which are not subject to outstanding Options at
the termination of the Plan shall cease to be subject to the Plan, but, until
termination of the Plan, the Company shall at all times make available a
sufficient number of shares to meet the requirements of the Plan. Should any
Option hereunder expire or terminate prior to its exercise in full, the shares
theretofore subject to such Option may again be subject to an Option granted
under the Plan to the extent permitted under Rule 16b-3. The aggregate number of
shares of Stock which may be issued under the Plan shall be subject to
adjustment in the same manner as provided in Paragraph VIII hereof with respect
to shares of Stock subject to Options then outstanding. Exercise of an Option in
any manner, including an exercise involving a Stock Appreciation Right, shall
result in a decrease in the number of shares of Stock which may thereafter be
available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale to any one individual, by
the number of shares as to which the Option is exercised.

         Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, no more than
1,000,000 shares of Stock

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may be subject to Options granted under the Plan to any one individual during
the term of the Plan. The limitation set forth in the preceding sentence shall
be applied in a manner which will permit compensation generated under the Plan
to constitute "performance-based" compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of
the Code, including, without limitation, counting against such maximum number of
shares of Stock, to the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code and
applicable interpretive authority thereunder, any shares of Stock subject to
Options that are canceled or repriced.

                                   SECTION VI.
                                  OPTION PRICE

         The Option Price of Stock issued under each Option shall be determined
by the Committee, but such Option Price shall not be less than the fair market
value of Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted.

                                  SECTION VII.
                                  TERM OF PLAN

         This Plan was originally effective on October 8, 1999 (the "Effective
Date") and was amended and restated, effective January 20, 2000. This Plan, as
further amended and restated, shall be effective on January 17, 2001, which is
the date on which the Board adopted this amended and restated Plan. Except with
respect to Options then outstanding, if not sooner terminated under the
provisions of Paragraph IX, the Plan shall terminate upon and no further Options
shall be granted after the expiration of ten years from the Effective Date.

                                  SECTION VIII.
                       RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION

         (a) The existence of the Plan and the Options granted hereunder shall
not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the shareholders of the
Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or
other change in the Company's capital structure or its business, any merger or
consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities, the
dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other
disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate
act or proceeding.

         (b) The shares with respect to which Options may be granted are shares
of Stock as presently constituted, but if, and whenever, prior to the expiration
of an Option theretofore granted, the Company shall effect a subdivision or
consolidation of shares of Stock or the payment of a stock dividend on Stock
without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of shares of Stock
with respect to which such Option may thereafter be exercised (i) in the event
of an increase in the number of outstanding shares shall be proportionately
increased, and the Option Price per share shall be proportionately reduced, and
(ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of outstanding shares shall be
proportionately reduced, and the Option Price per share shall be proportionately
increased. Any fractional share resulting from such adjustment shall be rounded
up to the next whole share.

         (c) If the Company recapitalizes, reclassifies its capital stock, or
otherwise changes its capital structure (a "Recapitalization"), the number and
class of shares of Stock covered by an Option theretofore granted shall be
adjusted so that such Option shall thereafter cover the number and class of
shares of stock and securities to which the Optionee would have been entitled
pursuant to the terms of the Recapitalization if, immediately prior to the
Recapitalization, the Optionee had been the holder of record of the number of
shares of Stock then covered by such Option. If (i) any "person," as such term
is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act (other than the Company, any
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of
the Company or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of stock of the Company), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of

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securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities, (ii) during
any period of two consecutive years (not including any period prior to the
Effective Date of this Plan), individuals who at the beginning of such period
constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by
a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a
transaction described in (i), (iii) or (iv) of this Paragraph VIII(c)) whose
election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders
was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still
in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose
election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any
reason other than normal retirement, death or disability to constitute at least
a majority thereof, (iii) the shareholders of the Company approve a merger or
consolidation of the Company with any other person, other than (1) a merger or
consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding or being converted into voting securities for the
surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of
the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (2) a merger in which the
Company is the surviving entity but no "person" (as defined above) acquires more
than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities, or (iv) the shareholders of the Company approve a plan
of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets
(or any transaction having a similar effect) (each such event described in
clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) is referred to herein as a "Corporate
Change"), no later than (A) ten days after the approval by the shareholders of
the Company of such merger or consolidation, plan of complete liquidation, or
sale or disposition of assets or (B) thirty days after a change of control of
the type described in clause (i) or (ii), the Committee, acting in its sole
discretion without the consent or approval of any Optionee, shall act to effect
one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual
Optionees and which may vary among Options held by any individual Optionee: (I)
accelerate the time at which Options then outstanding may be exercised so that
such Options may be exercised in full for a limited period of time on or before
a specified date (before or after such Corporate Change) fixed by the Committee,
after which specified date all unexercised Options and all rights of Optionees
thereunder shall terminate, (II) require the mandatory surrender to the Company
by selected Optionees of some or all of the outstanding Options held by such
Optionees (irrespective of whether such Options are then exercisable under the
provisions of the Plan) as of a date, before or after such Corporate Change,
specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel
such Options and the Company shall pay to each Optionee an amount of cash per
share equal to the excess, if any, of the amount calculated in Subparagraph (d)
below (the "Change of Control Value") of the shares subject to such Option over
the Option Price(s) under such Options for such shares, (III) make such
adjustments to Options then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to
reflect such Corporate Change (provided, however, that the Committee may
determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Options then
outstanding) or (IV) provide that the number and class of shares of Stock
covered by an Option theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Option
shall thereafter cover the number and class of shares of Stock or other
securities or property (including, without limitation, cash) to which the
Optionee would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the agreement of
merger, consolidation or sale of assets and dissolution if, immediately prior to
such merger, consolidation or sale of assets and dissolution, the Optionee had
been the holder of record of the number of shares of Stock then covered by such
Option. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a Corporate Change
occurs and, in connection with or as a result of such Corporate Change, neither
William V. Morgan nor Richard D. Kinder holds or continues to hold the office of
Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Company, all Options granted hereunder shall
immediately become fully exercisable.

         (d) For the purposes of clause (II) in Subparagraph (c) above, the
"Change of Control Value" shall equal the amount determined in clause (i), (ii)
or (iii), whichever is applicable, as follows: (i) the per share price offered
to shareholders of the Company in any such merger, consolidation,
reorganization, sale of assets or dissolution transaction, (ii) the price per
share offered to shareholders of the Company in any tender offer or exchange
offer whereby a Corporate Change takes place, or (iii) if such Corporate Change
occurs other than pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, the fair market value
per share of the shares into

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which such Options being surrendered are exercisable, as determined by the
Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of
cancellation and surrender of such Options. In the event that the consideration
offered to shareholders of the Company in any transaction described in this
Subparagraph (d) or Subparagraph (c) above consists of anything other than cash,
the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the
consolidation offered which is other than cash.

         (e) Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issuance by the
Company of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of
stock of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale,
upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon
conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares
or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not
affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the
number of shares of Stock subject to Options theretofore granted or the Option
Price per share.

                                   SECTION IX.
                            AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION

         The Board in its discretion may terminate the Plan at any time with
respect to any shares for which Options have not theretofore been granted. The
Board shall have the right to alter or amend the Plan or any part thereof from
time to time; provided, that (a) no change in any Option theretofore granted may
be made which would impair the rights of the Optionee without the consent of
such Optionee; (b) the Board may not make any alteration or amendment which
would decrease any authority granted to the Committee hereunder in contravention
of Rule 16b-3; and (c) no such action of the Board shall be taken without
approval of the Company's shareholders if such approval is required to comply
with Rule 16b-3, any rule promulgated by the New York Stock Exchange, or Section
162(m) of the Code or any successor provisions.

                                   SECTION X.
                                 SECURITIES LAWS

         (a) The Company shall not be obligated to issue any Stock pursuant to
any Option granted under the Plan at any time when the offering of the shares
covered by such Option have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933
and such other state and federal laws, rules or regulations as the Company or
the Committee deems applicable and, in the opinion of legal counsel for the
Company, there is no exemption from the registration requirements of such laws,
rules or regulations available for the offering and sale of such shares.

         (b) It is intended that the Plan and any grant of an Option made to a
person subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act meet all of the requirements of
Rule 16b-3. If any provision of the Plan or any such Option would disqualify the
Plan or such Option under, or would otherwise not comply with, Rule 16b-3, such
provision or Option shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to Rule
16b-3.

                                   SECTION XI.
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         (a) Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Company nor any action of
the Board or the Committee shall be deemed to give an employee any right to be
granted an Option or any other rights hereunder except as may be evidenced by an
Option Agreement duly executed on behalf of the Company, and then only to the
extent and on the terms and conditions expressly set forth therein. The Plan
shall be unfunded.

         (b) Nothing contained in the Plan shall (i) confer upon any employee
any right with respect to continuation of employment with the Company or any
subsidiary or (ii) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any
subsidiary to terminate his or her employment at any time.

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         (c) Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the
Company or any subsidiary from taking any corporate action which is deemed by
the Company or such subsidiary to be appropriate or in its best interest,
whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on the Plan or any
Option made under the Plan. No employee, beneficiary or other person shall have
any claim against the Company or any subsidiary as a result of any such action.

         (d) Any Option Agreement or related document may be executed by
facsimile signature. If any officer who shall have signed or whose facsimile
signature shall have been placed upon any such Option Agreement or related
document shall have ceased to be such officer before the related Option is
granted by the Company, such Option may nevertheless be issued by the Company
with the same effect as if such person were such officer at the date of grant.

         (e) This Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Texas.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and as conclusive evidence of the adoption of the
foregoing by the Board of Directors, Kinder Morgan, Inc. has caused these
presents to be duly executed in its name and behalf by its proper officers
thereunto duly authorized as of this 17th day of January, 2001.

                                      KINDER MORGAN, INC.

                                      By: /s/ James E. Street
                                          --------------------------------
                                      Name:  James E. Street
                                      Title: Senior Vice President -- Human
                                             Resources and Administration<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

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

                             RELIANT RESOURCES, INC.

                                       AND

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,

                                  RIGHTS AGENT

                                   ----------

                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                          DATED AS OF JANUARY 15, 2001

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   PAGE
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<S>         <C>                                                                    <C>
Section 1.  Certain Definitions.......................................................1

Section 2.  Appointment of Rights Agent...............................................8

Section 3.  Issue of Rights Certificates..............................................8

Section 4.  Form of Rights Certificates...............................................9

Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration........................................10

Section 6.  Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
            Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.................10

Section 7.  Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price.......................................11

Section 8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates......................13

Section 9.  Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock............................13

Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date..............................................15

Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
            Number of Rights.........................................................15

Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares...............22

Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets, Cash Flow or Earning
            Power....................................................................22

Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares..................................25

Section 15. Rights of Action.........................................................26

Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders..............................................26

Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.......................27

Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent..............................................27

Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent................28

Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent...................................................28
</TABLE>

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   PAGE
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<S>         <C>                                                                    <C>
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent...................................................30

Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates......................................31

Section 23. Redemption and Termination...............................................31

Section 24. Exchange.................................................................32

Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.................................................33

Section 26. Notices..................................................................34

Section 27. Supplements and Amendments...............................................34

Section 28. Successors...............................................................35

Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. ..............35

Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement...............................................35

Section 31. Severability.............................................................36

Section 32. Governing Law............................................................36

Section 33. Counterparts.............................................................36

Section 34. Descriptive Headings.....................................................36
</TABLE>

Exhibit A -- Description of Series A Preferred Stock from Article Four of
             Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Reliant Resources, Inc.

Exhibit B -- Form of Rights Certificate

Exhibit C -- Summary of Rights

                                      -ii-
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                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                 This Rights Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2001 (the
"Agreement"), between Reliant Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York state bank (the "Rights
Agent"),

                                   WITNESSETH:

                 WHEREAS, effective as of January 15, 2001 (the "Rights Dividend
Declaration Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and
declared a dividend of one Right for each share of common stock, par value $.001
per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding at the close of
business on January 15, 2001 (the "Record Date"), and has authorized the
issuance of one Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to
the provisions of Section 11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the
Company issued (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's
treasury) between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date (as
hereinafter defined) and the Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined), and, in
certain circumstances provided for in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution
Date, each Right initially representing the right to purchase one Fractional
Share (as hereinafter defined) of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the "Rights");

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

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

                 "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not
include any Exempt Person; provided, however, that a Person shall not be or
become an Acquiring Person if such Person, together with its Affiliates and
Associates, shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding solely as a result of a reduction in the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding due to the repurchase of Common Stock by the
Company, unless and until such time as such Person or any Affiliate or Associate
of such Person shall purchase or otherwise become the Beneficial Owner of
additional shares of Common Stock constituting 1% or more of the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other Person (or Persons) who is (or
collectively are) the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock constituting 1%
or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall become an Affiliate
or Associate of such Person, unless, in either such case, such Person, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, is not then the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding; and
provided, further, that if the Board of Directors, with the concurrence of a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not, and are not
representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of, such Person or an
Acquiring Person, determines in good faith that a Person that would otherwise be
an "Acquiring Person" has become such inadvertently (including, without
limitation, because (i) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a
percentage of Common Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be

                                       1
<PAGE>   5

an "Acquiring Person" or (ii) such Person was aware of the extent of its
Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the
consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under this Agreement) and without any
intention of changing or influencing control of the Company, and if such Person
as promptly as practicable divested or divests itself of Beneficial Ownership of
a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no
longer be an "Acquiring Person," then such Person shall not be deemed to be or
to have become an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.

                 Notwithstanding anything in this definition of "Acquiring
Person" to the contrary, so long as Reliant Energy, together with all Affiliates
and Associates of such Person, remains the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock, Reliant Energy and any of its Affiliates
or Associates shall not be or become an Acquiring Person unless and until such
Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the
Beneficial Owner of additional shares of Common Stock constituting 1% or more
of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other Person (or Persons)
who is (or collectively are) the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock
constituting 1% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall
become an Affiliate or Associate of such Person unless, such Person, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, is not then the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

                 At any time that the Rights are redeemable, the Board of
Directors may, generally or with respect to any specified Person or Persons,
determine to increase to a specified percentage greater than that set forth
herein or decrease to a specified percentage lower than that set forth herein or
determine a number of shares to be (but in no event less than or equal to the
percentage or number of shares of Common Stock then beneficially owned by such
Person), the level of Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock at which a Person or
such Person or Persons becomes an Acquiring Person.

                 "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.

                 "Affiliate" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in
effect on the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that no Person shall be
deemed an "Affiliate" of Reliant Energy solely by virtue of being an officer or
director of Reliant Energy unless and until such officer or director, as the
case may be, and Reliant Energy (or an Affiliate or Associate of Reliant Energy)
(i) have any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing)
for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable
proxy or consent as described in the proviso to subparagraph (i) of the
definition of "Beneficial Owner") or disposing of any voting securities of the
Company or (ii) are members of any group (as that term is used in Rule 13d-5(b)
of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the
date of this Agreement) with respect to the Company or securities of the
Company.

                 "Associate" shall mean, with reference to any Person, (1) any
corporation, firm, partnership, association, unincorporated organization or
other entity (other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) of which
such Person is an officer or general partner (or officer or general partner of a
general partner) or is, directly or indirectly, the Beneficial Owner of 10% or

                                       -2-
<PAGE>   6

more of any class of equity securities, (2) any trust or other estate in which
such Person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which such Person
serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity and (3) any relative or
spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same home as
such Person.

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

                 (i) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
         Associates, directly or indirectly, is the "beneficial owner" of (as
         determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations
         under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement) or
         otherwise has the right to vote or dispose of, including pursuant to
         any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
         writing); provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
         "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security under
         this subparagraph (i) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or
         understanding to vote such security if such agreement, arrangement or
         understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent
         given in response to a public (i.e., not including a solicitation
         exempted by Rule 14a-2(b)(2) of the General Rules and Regulations under
         the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement) proxy or
         consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
         applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under the
         Exchange Act and (B) is not then reportable by such Person on Schedule
         13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);

                 (ii) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
         Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right or obligation to
         acquire (whether such right or obligation is exercisable or effective
         immediately or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of an
         event) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
         or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
         rights, other rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided,
         however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of,
         or to "beneficially own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender
         or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's
         Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted
         for purchase or exchange, or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of
         Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or
         (C) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the
         occurrence of a Triggering Event which Rights were acquired by such
         Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the
         Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the
         "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) or (p) hereof in
         connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;
         or

                 (iii) that are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
         (A) any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which
         such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any
         agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) for
         the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a
         revocable proxy or consent as described in the proviso to subparagraph
         (i) of this definition) or disposing of any voting securities of the
         Company or (B) any group (as that term is used in Rule 13d-5(b) of the

                                       -3-
<PAGE>   7

         General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on
         the date of this Agreement) of which such Person is a member;

provided, however, that nothing in this definition shall cause a Person engaged
in business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or
to "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such Person's
participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting (including,
without limitation, securities acquired pursuant to stabilizing transactions to
facilitate a public offering in accordance with Regulation M promulgated under
the Exchange Act, or to cover overallotments created in connection with a public
offering) until the expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition.
For purposes of this Agreement, "voting" a security shall include voting,
granting a proxy, acting by consent, making a request or demand relating to
corporate action (including, without limitation, calling a stockholder meeting),
entering into a voting trust or voting agreement or otherwise giving an
authorization (within the meaning of Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, as in
effect on the date of this Agreement) in respect of such security.

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

                 "close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m., New
York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.

                 "Closing Price" of a security for any day shall mean the last
sales price, regular way, on such day or, in case no such sale takes place on
such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, on such
day, in either case as reported in the principal transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, or, if such security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which such
security is listed or admitted to trading, or, if such security is not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange but sales price
information is reported for such security, as reported by Nasdaq or such other
self-regulatory organization or registered securities information processor (as
such terms are used under the Exchange Act) that then reports information
concerning such security, or, if sales price information is not so reported, the
average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market on
such day, as reported by Nasdaq or such other entity, or, if on such day such
security is not quoted by any such entity, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such
security selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on such day no
market maker is making a market in such security, the fair value of such
security on such day as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Company shall be used.

                 "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value $.001 per
share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to
equity interests issued by any Person other than the Company shall mean the
capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity
securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the
management, of such Person.

                                       -4-
<PAGE>   8

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

                 "Company" shall mean the Person named as the "Company" in the
preamble of this Agreement until a successor Person shall have become such or
until a Principal Party shall assume, and thereafter be liable for, all
obligations and duties of the Company hereunder, pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Agreement, and thereafter "Company" shall mean such successor
Person or Principal Party.

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

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

                 "Distribution Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the close of
business on the tenth day (or, if such Stock Acquisition Date results from the
consummation of a Permitted Offer, such later date as may be determined by the
Company's Board of Directors as set forth below at any time when the Rights are
redeemable) after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the close of business on
the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by the Company's
Board of Directors as set forth below before the Distribution Date occurs) after
the date that a tender offer or exchange offer by any Person (other than any
Exempt Person) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule
14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as then in
effect, if upon consummation thereof, such Person would be an Acquiring Person,
other than a tender or exchange offer that is determined before the Distribution
Date occurs to be a Permitted Offer. The Board of Directors of the Company may,
to the extent set forth in the preceding sentence, defer the date set forth in
clause (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence to a specified later date or to an
unspecified later date to be determined by a subsequent action or event (but in
no event to a date later than the close of business on the tenth day after the
first occurrence of a Triggering Event).

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

                 "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

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

                 "Exempt Person" shall mean the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company, and any Person organized, appointed or established by the Company for
or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or for the purpose of funding any such
plan or funding other employee benefits for employees of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company.

                 "Expiration Date" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Final
Expiration Date, (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in
Section 23 hereof, (iii) the time at which the Rights expire pursuant to Section
13(d) hereof and (iv) the time at which all Rights then outstanding and
exercisable are exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof.

                 "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the close of business on
January 15, 2011.

                                       -5-
<PAGE>   9

                 "Flip-In Event" shall mean an event described in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.

                 "Flip-In Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                 "Flip-Over Event" shall mean any event described in clause (x),
(y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof, but excluding any transaction described in
Section 13(d) hereof that causes the Rights to expire.

                 "Fractional Share" with respect to the Preferred Stock shall
mean one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock.

                 "Nasdaq" shall mean the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System.

                 "Original Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the
definition of "Beneficial Owner."

                 "Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender offer or an exchange
offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms
determined, prior to the time the Person making the offer or any Affiliate or
Associate thereof is an Acquiring Person, by at least a majority of the members
of the Board of Directors who are not officers or employees of the Company and
who are not, and are not representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of,
an Acquiring Person or the Person making the offer, after receiving advice from
one or more investment banking firms, to be (a) at a price and on terms that are
fair to stockholders (taking into account all factors that such members of the
Board deem relevant including, without limitation, prices that could reasonably
be achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed
to realize maximum value) and (b) otherwise in the best interests of the Company
and its stockholders.

                 "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated
organization or other entity or any group of Persons acting in concert.

                 "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Preferred
Stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company having the rights, powers and
preferences set forth in Article Four of the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and, to the
extent that there is not a sufficient number of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of the Rights, any other series of
Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company designated for such
purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms of the Series A
Preferred Stock.

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

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

                 "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals
clause at the beginning of this Agreement.

                                       -6-
<PAGE>   10

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

                 "Reliant Energy" shall mean Reliant Energy, Incorporated, a
Texas corporation, and its successors.

                 "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals
clause at the beginning of this Agreement.

                 "Rights Agent" shall mean the Person named as the "Rights
Agent" in the preamble of this Agreement until a successor Rights Agent shall
have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and thereafter
"Rights Agent" shall mean such successor Rights Agent. If at any time there is
more than one Person appointed by the Company as Rights Agent pursuant to the
applicable provisions of this Agreement, "Rights Agent" shall mean and include
each such Person.

                 "Rights Certificates" shall mean the certificates evidencing
the Rights.

                 "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in the recitals clause at the beginning of this Agreement.

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

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

                 "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition and Section 23, shall
include, without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has
become such.

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

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

                 "Summary of Rights" shall mean the Summary of Rights sent
pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof.

                 "Trading Day" with respect to a security shall mean a day on
which the principal national securities exchange on which such security is
listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business, or, if
such security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange but is quoted by Nasdaq, a day on which Nasdaq reports trades, or, if
such security is not so quoted, a Business Day.

                 "Triggering Event" shall mean any Flip-In Event or any
Flip-Over Event.

                                       -7-
<PAGE>   11

                 Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby
appoints the Rights Agent (i) to act as agent for the Company and (ii) to take
certain actions in respect of the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with
Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be the holders of
the Common Stock) (although it is expressly agreed that the Rights Agent shall
not act as agent for such holders) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.

                 Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.

                 (a) Until the Distribution Date, (x) the Rights will be
evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the
certificates for Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the
Common Stock and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of
Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as practicable after
the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured,
postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close
of business on the Distribution Date (other than any Person referred to in the
first sentence of Section 7(e)), at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, one or more Rights Certificates, evidencing one Right
for each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided
herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of
Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof, at the time of
distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary
and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof)
so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are
distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after
the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights
Certificates.

                 (b) Promptly following the Record Date, the Company will send a
copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit C, by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each record
holder of Common Stock 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 Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the
Distribution Date or the earlier surrender for transfer thereof or the
Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock
represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates for
Common Stock, and the registered holders of the Common Stock shall also be the
registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the transfer of any of the
certificates for Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a
copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.

                 (c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common
Stock that are issued (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's
treasury) on or after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances provided
in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates issued for
shares of Common Stock that shall so become outstanding or shall be transferred
or exchanged on or after the Record

                                       -8-
<PAGE>   12

Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date
shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following
legend:

                 This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
         to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Reliant
         Resources, Inc. (the "Company") and The Chase Manhattan Bank (the
         "Rights Agent") dated as of January 15, 2001 as it may from time to
         time be supplemented or amended (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of
         which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which
         is on file at the principal offices of the Company. Under certain
         circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights may be
         redeemed, may be exchanged, may expire or may be evidenced by separate
         certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The
         Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the
         Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge
         promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. UNDER CERTAIN
         CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY
         OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN
         ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS
         ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF,
         WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.

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

                 Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.

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

                 (b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by a Person
described in the first sentence of Section 7(e),

                                       -9-
<PAGE>   13

and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof
upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any such Rights, shall
contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend, modified as applicable to
apply to such Person:

         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 [will] [have] become null and void in
         the circumstances and with the effect specified in Section 7(e) of such
         Agreement.

The provisions of Section 7(e) of this Agreement shall be operative whether or
not the foregoing legend is contained on any such Rights Certificate. The
Company shall give notice to the Rights Agent promptly after it becomes aware of
the existence of any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate thereof.

                 Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.

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

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

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

                 (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e),
Section 13(d), Section 14 and Section 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

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   14

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 Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock (or, following a
Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the
case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then
entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase.
Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates 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 or offices designated by the Rights Agent 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) thereof or of the Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent
shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section 13(d), Section 14 and
Section 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.
The Company may require payment by the holder 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, in case of loss, theft or destruction,
of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to
the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto,
and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights
Certificate if mutilated, the Company will, subject to Section 4(b), Section
7(e), Section 13(d), Section 14 and Section 24, execute and deliver a new Rights
Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery
to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated.

                 Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price.

                 (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of
any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly completed and executed, to the
Rights Agent at the office or offices designated by the Rights Agent for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock (or other securities,
cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights
are then exercisable, at or prior to the Expiration Date.

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

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   15

                 (c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate on
the reverse side thereof duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to
each Right so exercised, of the Purchase Price per Fractional Share of Preferred
Stock (or other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to
be purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer
tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly
(i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or
make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares)
certificates for the total number of Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock to be
purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to
comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company, in its sole discretion,
shall have elected to deposit the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing interests in such number of
Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts
shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the
Company will direct the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii)
requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of
Fractional Shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of
such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered
in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) after receipt
thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such
amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) may be made in cash
or by certified check, cashier's or official bank check or bank draft payable to
the order of the Company or the Rights Agent. In the event that the Company is
obligated to issue other securities (including Common Stock) of the Company, pay
cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) or Section 13(a)
hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other
securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the
Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. The Company reserves the right to require
prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon exercise of Rights, a
number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would
be issued.

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

                 (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
from and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by or transferred to (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate
or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person other than any such Person that became such
pursuant to a Permitted Offer and the Board of Directors in good faith
determines was not involved in and did not cause or facilitate, directly or
indirectly, such Triggering Event, (ii) a direct or indirect transferee of such
Rights from such Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee after such Triggering Event or (iii) a direct or indirect
transferee of such Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with such Triggering Event and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from such Acquiring Person (or such Affiliate or Associate) to

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   16

holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person (or such Affiliate or
Associate) or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person (or such Affiliate
or Associate) has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer that the Board of Directors
of the Company determines is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding that
has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall
become null and void without any further action, no holder of such Rights shall
have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any
provision of this Agreement or otherwise, and such Rights shall not be
transferable. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the
provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but
shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or other Person as
a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring
Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.

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

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

                 Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.

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

                 (b) So long as any shares of Preferred Stock (and, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities)
issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights are listed on any
national securities exchange or quoted on any trading system, the Company shall
use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   17

exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such
exchange, or quoted on such system, upon official notice of issuance upon such
exercise. Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company will use
its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the
securities issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights on one or
more national securities exchanges or to cause the Rights and the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights to be reported by Nasdaq or such other
transaction reporting system then in use.

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

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

                 (e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges
that may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates and of any certificates for a number of Fractional Shares of
Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be)
upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay
any transfer tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of
Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a
number of Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   18

other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than that of,
the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered
for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of Fractional
Shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case
may be) in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of
any Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by
the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has
been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.

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

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

                           (a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time
         after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (A) declare a dividend on
         the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock payable in shares of
         Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding shares of Preferred
         Stock, (C) combine the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock into a
         smaller number of shares or (D) otherwise reclassify the outstanding
         shares of Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in
         connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
         continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in
         this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in
         effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the
         effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification,
         and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock
         or other securities, as the case may be, issuable on such date, shall
         be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised
         after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the
         Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares
         of Preferred Stock or capital stock or other securities, as the case
         may be, which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to
         such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   19

         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 that 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 Sections 23 and 24 of this Agreement,
         in the event any Person shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend
         Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person, unless the event causing
         such Person to become an Acquiring Person is (1) a Flip-Over Event or
         (2) an acquisition of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Permitted
         Offer (provided that this clause (2) shall cease to apply if such
         Acquiring Person thereafter becomes the Beneficial Owner of any
         additional shares of Common Stock other than pursuant to such Permitted
         Offer or a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) or 13(d) hereof),
         then, unless applicable law prohibits the enforcement of the first
         sentence of Section 7(e), (x) the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to
         be the Purchase Price immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
         Flip-In Event multiplied by the number of Fractional Shares of
         Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
         such first occurrence and (y) each holder of a Right (except as
         provided below in Section 11(a)(iii) and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall
         thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price
         equal to the Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this
         Agreement, in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock, such number of shares
         of Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by
         dividing the Purchase Price by 50% of the Current Market Price per
         share of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number
         of shares, the "Adjustment Shares"); provided that the Purchase Price
         and the number of Adjustment Shares shall be further adjusted as
         provided in this Agreement to reflect any events occurring after the
         date of such first occurrence.

                           (iii) In the event that the number of shares of
         Common Stock that are authorized by the Company's certificate of
         incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes
         other than upon exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the
         exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing
         subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall, to the
         extent permitted by applicable law and regulation, (A) determine the
         excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the
         exercise of a Right (computed using the Current Market Price used to
         determine the number of Adjustment Shares) (the "Current Value") over
         (2) the Purchase Price (such excess is herein referred to as the
         "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision
         to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon the exercise of the
         Rights and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a
         reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other equity
         securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares, or
         units of shares, of preferred stock (including, without limitation, the
         Preferred Stock) that the Board of Directors of the Company has
         determined to have the same value as shares of Common Stock (such
         shares of preferred stock are herein referred to as "Common Stock
         Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets or
         (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal
         to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by
         the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a
         nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   20

         Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the Company
         shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to
         clause (B) above within 30 days following the first occurrence of a
         Flip-In Event (the "Flip-In Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be
         obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and
         without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock
         (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares
         and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board
         of Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith that it is
         likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be
         authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the 30-day
         period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not
         more than 90 days after the Flip-In Trigger Date, in order that the
         Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such
         additional shares (such period, as it may be extended, the
         "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company or the Board of
         Directors determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the
         first and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company
         (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action
         shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend
         the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the
         Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional
         shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made
         pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In
         the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public
         announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been
         temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as
         the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section
         11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Stock shall be the Current Market
         Price per share of the Common Stock on the Flip-In Trigger Date and the
         value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same
         value as the Common Stock on such date.

                 (b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock
entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within 45
calendar days after such record date) Preferred Stock (or shares having the same
rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred Stock ("Equivalent
Preferred Stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent
Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of
Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a
security convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock) less
than the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock on such record date,
the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred
Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred
Stock that the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of
Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be
offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such
record date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or
Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into
which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In
case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration, part or
all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration
shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   21

the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the
Rights. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the
Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation.
Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed,
and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if
such record date had not been fixed.

                 (c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other
than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings
of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but
including any dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or
subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)
hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Market
Price per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash,
assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription
rights or warrants applicable to a share of Preferred Stock and the denominator
of which shall be such Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock. Such
adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and
in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.

                 (d)(i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
         computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "Current
         Market Price" per share of Common Stock of a Person on any date shall
         be deemed to be the average of the daily Closing Prices per share of
         such Common Stock for the 30 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior
         to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section
         11(a)(iii) hereof, the "Current Market Price" per share of Common Stock
         on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily Closing
         Prices per share of such Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading
         Days immediately following such date; provided, however, that in the
         event that the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock is
         determined during a period following the announcement of (A) a dividend
         or distribution on such Common Stock other than a regular quarterly
         cash dividend or the dividend of the Rights, or (B) any subdivision,
         combination or reclassification of such Common Stock, and the
         ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date
         for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, shall not have
         occurred prior to the commencement of the requisite 30 Trading Day or
         10 Trading Day period, as set forth above, then, and in each such case,
         the Current Market Price shall be properly adjusted to take into
         account ex-dividend trading. If the Common Stock is not publicly held
         or not so listed or traded, "Current Market Price" per share shall mean
         the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board 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.

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   22

                           (ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
         the "Current Market Price" per share (or Fractional Share) of Preferred
         Stock shall be determined in the same manner as set forth above for the
         Common Stock in clause (i) of this Section 11(d) (other than the last
         sentence thereof). If the Current Market Price per share (or Fractional
         Share) of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided
         above or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or
         traded in a manner described in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the
         "Current Market Price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be
         conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 1000 (as such number may
         be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock
         dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock
         occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the Current
         Market Price per share of the Common Stock. If neither the Common Stock
         nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded,
         Current Market Price per share of the Preferred Stock shall mean the
         fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board 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. For all purposes of this Agreement, the Current Market Price
         of a Fractional Share of Preferred Stock shall be equal to the Current
         Market Price of one share of Preferred Stock divided by 1000.

                 (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% in the Purchase Price; provided,
however, that any adjustments that by reason of this Section 11(e) are not
required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any
subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to
the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock or
other share or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a Fractional Share of Preferred
Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section
11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than
the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which mandates
such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.

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

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

                 (h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i) hereof, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as
a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   23

adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted
Purchase Price, that number of Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock (calculated
to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a Fractional Share) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock covered by a
Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing
the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.

                 (i) The Company may elect, on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price, to adjust the number of Rights in lieu of any
adjustment in the number of Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable
upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the
adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of
Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights
(calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the
Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The
Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of
Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the
time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date
on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the
Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than the
date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon
each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase
Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights
Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.

                 (j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per Fractional Share and the
number of Fractional Shares that were expressed in the initial Rights
Certificates issued hereunder.

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

                                      -20-
<PAGE>   24

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

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

                 (n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time that there is an Acquiring Person, (i) consolidate with any other Person,
(ii) merge with or into or be acquired pursuant to a share exchange by any other
Person, or (iii) sell, lease or transfer (or permit one or more Subsidiaries to
sell, lease or transfer), in one transaction or a series of related
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 or Persons, if (x) at the time of or immediately after such
consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, lease or transfer there are any
rights, warrants or other instruments or securities of the Company or any other
Person outstanding or agreements, arrangements or understandings in effect that
would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights, (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after
such consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, lease or transfer, the
stockholders or other equity owners of the Person who constitutes, or would
constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall
have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of
its Affiliates or Associates, or (z) the identity, form or nature of
organization of the Principal Party (including without limitation the selection
of the Person that will be the Principal Party as a result of the Company's
entering into one or more consolidations, mergers, share exchanges, sales,
leases, transfers or transactions with more than one party) would preclude or
limit the exercise of Rights or otherwise diminish substantially or eliminate
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.

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

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   25

                 (p) Notwithstanding Section 3(c) hereof or any other provision
of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company shall at any
time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution
Date (i) declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
(iii) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of
shares or (iv) otherwise reclassify the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or
merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), the
number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or
issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of
Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction (the "Adjustment
Fraction") the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event. In lieu of such
adjustment in the number of Rights associated with one share of Common Stock,
the Company may elect to adjust the number of Fractional Shares of Preferred
Stock purchasable upon the exercise of one Right and the Purchase Price. If the
Company makes such election, the number of Rights associated with one share of
Common Stock shall remain unchanged, and the number of Fractional Shares of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of one Right and the Purchase Price
shall be proportionately adjusted so that (i) the number of Fractional Shares of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of a Right following such adjustment
shall equal the product of the number of Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock
purchasable upon exercise of a Right immediately prior to such adjustment
multiplied by the Adjustment Fraction and (ii) the Purchase Price following such
adjustment shall equal the product of the Purchase Price immediately prior to
such adjustment multiplied by the Adjustment Fraction.

                 Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section 13
hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a
brief summary thereof to each registered holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to each registered holder of a certificate
representing shares of Common Stock) in accordance with Section 26 hereof. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment therein contained.

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

                 (a) In the event that, from and after the time an Acquiring
Person has become such, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall
consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person, and the Company
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or
merger, (y) any Person shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the
Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such consolidation or merger, or the Company shall be party to a share exchange,
and, in connection with such consolidation or merger

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   26

or share exchange, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall
be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of the Company or any
other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell, lease
or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell, lease or
otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets, cash
flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to
any Person or Persons (other than the Company or any wholly owned Subsidiary of
the Company or any combination thereof in one or more transactions each of which
complies (and all of which together comply) with Section 11(o) hereof), then,
and in each such case (except as may be contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof),
proper provision shall be made so that: (i) the Purchase Price shall be adjusted
to be the Purchase Price immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Triggering Event multiplied by the number of Fractional Shares of Preferred
Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such first
occurrence; (ii) on and after the Distribution Date, each holder of a Right,
except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at the Purchase Price in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock of
the Company, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party
(as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens, encumbrances,
rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result
obtained by dividing the Purchase Price by 50% of the Current Market Price per
share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of
such Flip-Over Event; provided that the Purchase Price and the number of shares
of Common Stock of such Principal Party issuable upon exercise of each Right
shall be further adjusted as provided in this Agreement to reflect any events
occurring after the date of such first occurrence of a Triggering Event or after
the date of such Flip-Over Event, as applicable; (iii) such Principal Party
shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-Over
Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;
(iv) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal
Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof
shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a
Flip-Over Event; (v) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but
not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common
Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be
necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable,
as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (vi) the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the occurrence of
any Flip-Over Event.

                 (b) "Principal Party" shall mean

                 (i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or
         (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), (A) the Person that is the
         issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the
         Company are converted in such merger or consolidation or share
         exchange, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer the
         Common Stock of which has the greatest aggregate market value, or (B)
         if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that survives such
         consolidation or is the other party to the merger and survives such
         merger, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person the
         Common Stock of which has the greatest aggregate market value or (y) if
         the Person that is the other party to the merger does

                                      -23-
<PAGE>   27

         not survive the merger, the Person that does survive the merger
         (including the Company if it survives); and

                 (ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
         the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party
         receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
         transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each
         Person that is a party to such transaction or transactions receives the
         same portion of the assets or earning power so transferred, or if the
         Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
         cannot be determined, the Person the Common Stock of which has the
         greatest aggregate market value;

provided, however, that in any such case, if the Common Stock of such Person is
not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve-month
period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and if (1) such Person
is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which
is and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other
Person; (2) such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than
one Person, the Common Stocks of all of which are and have been so registered,
"Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the
Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value; and (3) 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
or all of such joint 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 to the total of such
interests.

                 (c) The Company shall not consummate any Flip-Over Event unless
each Principal Party (or Person that may become a Principal Party as a result of
such Flip-Over Event) shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its
Common Stock 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 such Principal Party shall have executed and
delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms
set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing
that, as soon as practicable after the date of such Flip-Over Event, the
Principal Party at its own expense will

                 (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, and
         will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to (A)
         become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (B)
         remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
         requirements of the 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 "blue
         sky" laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate;

                 (iii) use its best efforts, if the Common Stock of the
         Principal Party is or shall become listed on a national securities
         exchange, to list (or continue the listing of) the Rights

                                      -24-
<PAGE>   28

         and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on such
         securities exchange and, if the Common Stock of the Principal Party
         shall not be listed on a national securities exchange, to cause the
         Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights to be
         reported by Nasdaq or such other transaction reporting system then in
         use; and

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

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

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

                 Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

                 (a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p)
hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates or scrip evidencing fractional
Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights
would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
Closing Price of one Right for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on
which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable.

                 (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Preferred Stock (other than, except as provided in Section 7(c)
hereof, fractions that are integral multiples of a Fractional Share of Preferred
Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates or scrip
evidencing fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than, except as provided
in Section 7(c) hereof, fractions that are integral multiples of a Fractional
Share of Preferred Stock). Interests in fractions of shares of Preferred Stock
in integral multiples of a Fractional Share of Preferred Stock may, at the
election of the Company in its sole discretion, be evidenced by depositary
receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a
depositary selected by it, provided that such agreement shall provide that the
holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and
preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the shares of
Preferred Stock represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional
shares of Preferred Stock that are

                                      -25-
<PAGE>   29

not integral multiples of a Fractional Share of Preferred Stock, the Company may
pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are
exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of one
one-thousandth of the Closing Price of a share of Preferred Stock for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

                 (c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company
shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise
of the Rights or to distribute certificates or scrip evidencing fractional
shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, the
Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the Closing Price of one share of Common Stock for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

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

                 Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect
of this Agreement, other than rights of action vested in the Rights Agent
pursuant to 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 Stock) and, where applicable, the Company; and any
registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder
of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the
Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to
enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights
Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
After a Triggering Event, holders of Rights shall be entitled to recover the
reasonable costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by them in
any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement.

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

                 (a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will not be
evidenced by Rights Certificates and will be transferable only in connection
with the transfer of Common Stock;

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

                                      -26-
<PAGE>   30

and with the form of assignment set forth on the reverse side thereof and the
certificate contained therein duly completed and fully executed;

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

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

                 Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.
No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of Fractional
Shares of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the Company that may at any
time be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall
anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer
upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a
stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or
withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof),
or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in
accordance with the provisions hereof.

                 Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.

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

                                      -27-
<PAGE>   31

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                      -28-
<PAGE>   32

established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder,
such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice
President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken
or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in
reliance upon such certificate.

                 (c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. In no event shall the Rights Agent
be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind
whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent
has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the
form of action.

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

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

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

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

                                      -29-
<PAGE>   33

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

                 (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights
or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by
or through its attorneys or agents (including the Company), and the Rights Agent
shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, omission, default, neglect
or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company
resulting from any such act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct; provided,
however, that 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 or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either
not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise or 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 Stock and the Preferred Stock, by registered or
certified mail, and to the registered holders, if any, of the Rights
Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent (with or without cause) upon 30 days' notice in writing,
mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, by registered
or certified mail, and to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates, if
any, 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 21, in no event shall the resignation or removal of a Rights Agent be
effective until a successor Rights Agent shall have been appointed and have
accepted such appointment. 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 registered holder of a Rights Certificate
(who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate for inspection by
the Company), then the Rights Agent or the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of the State of New York or
Texas (or of any other

                                      -30-
<PAGE>   34

state of the United States so long as such corporation is authorized to conduct
a stock transfer or corporate trust business in the State of New York or Texas),
in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by
federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as
Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an
affiliate of a corporation described in clause (a) of this sentence. After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers,
rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights
Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall
deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held
by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act
or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such
appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and the
Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders,
if any, of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in
this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality
or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment
of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

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

                 Section 23. Redemption and Termination.

                 (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,
at any time prior to the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, cause the
Company to redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a
redemption price of $.005 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately
adjusted, if necessary, to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (such
redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The
Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common
Stock (based on the Current Market Price of the Common Stock at the

                                      -31-
<PAGE>   35

time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the
Board of Directors.

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

                 Section 24. Exchange.

                 (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,
at any time and from time to time after the occurrence of a Flip-In Event,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall
not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section
7(e) hereof) for shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents or any
combination thereof, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or such
number of Common Stock Equivalents or units representing fractions thereof as
would be deemed to have the same value as one share of Common Stock, per Right,
appropriately adjusted, if necessary, to reflect any stock split, stock dividend
or similar transaction occurring after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date
(such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may not effect such
exchange at any time after (i) any Person (other than an Exempt Person),
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding
or (ii) the occurrence of a Flip-Over Event.

                 (b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the
Board of Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant
to and in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 24 (the effectiveness
of which action may be conditioned on the occurrence of one or more events or on
the existence of one or more facts or may be effective at some future time) and
without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such
Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights
shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock and/or Common Stock
Equivalents equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by
the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such
exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such
notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly
shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the registered holders of
such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of
the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided

                                      -32-
<PAGE>   36

shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the shares of
Common Stock and/or Common Stock Equivalents for Rights will be effected and, in
the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights that will be exchanged.
Any partial exchange shall be effected as nearly pro rata as possible based on
the number of Rights (other than Rights that have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.

                 (c) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock that
are authorized by the Company's certificate of incorporation but not outstanding
or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is
not sufficient to permit an exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance
with this Section 24, the Company may, at its option, take all such action as
may be necessary to authorize additional shares of Common Stock for issuance
upon exchange of the Rights.

                 (d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates or scrip evidencing
fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common
Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights with regard to
which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the value of a whole share of
Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 24, the value of a whole share of
Common Stock shall be the Closing Price per share of Common Stock for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section
24, and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the
same value as the Common Stock on such date.

                 Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.

                 (a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities,
rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred
Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or
merger into or with any other Person (other than a wholly owned Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to
effect any sale, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all the
Company's assets, cash flow or earning power to any other Person or Persons
(other than a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to be acquired pursuant to a
share exchange, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder
of record of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with
Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the
record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or
warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger,
sale, lease, transfer, liquidation, dissolution or winding up is to take place
and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the
case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least

                                      -33-
<PAGE>   37

20 days prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of
Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other
action, at least 20 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action
or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock, whichever shall be the earlier. The failure to give notice required by
this Section 25 or any defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity
of the action taken by the Company or the vote upon any such action.

                 (b) In case any Flip-In Event or Flip-Over Event shall occur,
then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each registered
holder of a Rights Certificate (or if occurring prior to the Distribution Date,
the registered holders of Common Stock), 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, and all references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred
Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if
appropriate, other securities.

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

                 Reliant Resources, Inc.
                 1111 Louisiana
                 Houston, Texas 77002
                 Attention: General Counsel

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

                 The Chase Manhattan Bank
                 600 Travis Street, Suite 1150
                 Houston, Texas 77002
                 Attention: Ms. Dierdre T. Green
                            Trust Officer

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

                 Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the time a
Person becomes an Acquiring Person and subject to the penultimate sentence of
this Section 27, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion and the
Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision
of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of

                                      -34-
<PAGE>   38

Rights or holders of Common Stock. From and after the time a Person becomes an
Acquiring Person and subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, the
Company may and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights in order (i)
to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein,
or (iii) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner that the
Company may deem necessary or desirable; provided that no such amendment or
supplement shall materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of
Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or 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 execute
such supplement or amendment; provided, however, that the Rights Agent may, but
shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplement or amendment that
affects the Rights Agent's own rights, duties or immunities under this
Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary,
no supplement or amendment shall be made that decreases the Redemption Price,
shortens the Final Expiration Date, increases the initial Purchase Price or
decreases the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for
which a Right is initially exercisable. Prior to the Distribution Date, the
interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests
of the holders of Common Stock.

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

                 Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of
Directors, etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including
for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares
of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in
accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this
Agreement. The Board of Directors of the Company (or, as set forth herein,
certain specified members thereof) shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board of Directors of the Company or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination
to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement). All such
actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for
purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that
are done or made by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, shall
(x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the
holders of the Rights, as such, and all other parties, and (y) not subject the
Board of Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights.

                 Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior
to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common

                                      -35-
<PAGE>   39

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

                 Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the
tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors of
the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision requiring that a
determination be made by less than the entire Board of Directors of the Company
is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid,
void or unenforceable, such determination shall then be made by the entire Board
of Directors of the Company.

                 Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each
Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under
the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State.

                 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.

                                      -36-
<PAGE>   40
                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                        RELIANT RESOURCES, INC.

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

                                        THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

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

                                      -37-
<PAGE>   41
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                     DESCRIPTION OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

                                      FROM

                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                                       OF

                      RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                             RELIANT RESOURCES, INC.

                            SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

                 1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preferred
Stock that shall be designated as "Series A Preferred Stock," and the number of
shares constituting such series shall be 2,000,000. Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided,
however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock to less than the number of shares then issued and outstanding
plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding rights, options
or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued by the
Corporation.

                 2. Dividends and Distributions.

                 (A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of
any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of
any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A
Preferred Stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the
Board of Directors out of assets of the Corporation legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of January, April,
July and October in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a
"Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent)
equal to the greater of (a) $10.00 or (b) the Adjustment Number (as defined
below) times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and the
Adjustment Number times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all
non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in
shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. The "Adjustment Number" shall
initially be 1,000. In the event the

                                      A-1
<PAGE>   42

Corporation shall at any time after January 15, 2001 (the "Rights Declaration
Date") (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

                 (B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on
the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above immediately
after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no
dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the
period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $10.00 per share on the Series A
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 A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record
date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on
such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or
unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after
the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to
accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but
unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series
A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at
the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of
Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 30 days
prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

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

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

                 (B) Except as otherwise provided in this Restated Certificate
of Incorporation or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
the holders of shares of any other class or series entitled to vote with the
Common Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as
one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

                                       A-2
<PAGE>   43

                 (C)(i) If at any time dividends on any Series A Preferred Stock
shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six quarterly dividends thereon, the
occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein
called a "default period") that shall extend until such time when all accrued
and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the
current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock then
outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment. During
each default period, (1) the number of directors shall be increased by two,
effective as of the time of election of such directors as herein provided, and
(2) the holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series A Preferred
Stock) upon which these or like voting rights have been conferred and are
exercisable (the "Voting Preferred Stock") with dividends in arrears in an
amount equal to six quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective
of series, shall have the right to elect such two directors.

                 (ii) During any default period, such voting right of the
holders of Series A Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special
meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any
annual meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of
stockholders, provided that such voting right shall not be exercised unless the
holders of at least thirty three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the shares
of Voting Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy.
The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the
exercise by the holders of Voting Preferred Stock of such voting right.

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

                 (iv) In any default period, after the holders of Voting
Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect directors voting as a
class, (x) the directors so elected by the holders of Voting Preferred Stock
shall continue in office until their successors shall have been elected by such
holders or until the expiration of the default period, and (y) any vacancy in
the Board of Directors may be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining
directors theretofore elected by the holders of the class or classes of stock
which elected the director whose office shall have become vacant. References in
this paragraph (C) to directors elected by the holders of a particular class or
classes of stock shall include directors elected by such directors to fill
vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.

                                       A-3
<PAGE>   44

                 (v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x)
the right of the holders of Voting Preferred Stock as a class to elect directors
shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by the holders of Voting
Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate and (z) the number of directors shall
be such number as may be provided for in this Restated Certificate of
Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation irrespective of any increase made
pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (C) of this Section 3 (such number being
subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law, or in this
Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation). Any
vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by the provisions of clauses (y)
and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining
directors.

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

                 4. Certain Restrictions.

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

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

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

                           (iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
         consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of
         stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in
         accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
         determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of Series A
         Preferred Stock, or to all such holders and the holders of any such
         shares ranking on a parity therewith, upon such terms as the Board of
         Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates
         and other relative power, preferences and rights 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
capital 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.

                                       A-4
<PAGE>   45

                 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled 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
any conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth in this Restated
Certificate of Incorporation.

                 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. (A) Upon any
liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received $1,000 per share, plus
an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon,
whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the "Series A Liquidation
Preference"). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series A
Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of
shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the "Common
Adjustment") equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series A
Liquidation Preference by (ii) the Adjustment Number. Following the payment of
the full amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment
in respect of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Common
Stock, respectively, holders of Series A Preferred Stock and holders of shares
of Common Stock shall, subject to the prior rights of all other series of
Preferred Stock, if any, ranking prior thereto, receive their ratable and
proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of
the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such Series A Preferred Stock and
Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.

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

                 (C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into
or with another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of any other
corporation into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section
6, but the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the
Corporation's assets shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 6.

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

                                       A-5
<PAGE>   46

stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case
may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or
exchanged.

                 8. Redemption. (A) The Corporation, at its option, may redeem
shares of the Series A Preferred Stock in whole at any time and in part from
time to time, at a redemption price equal to the Adjustment Number times the
current per share market price (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the
Common Stock on the date of the mailing of the notice of redemption, together
with unpaid accumulated dividends to the date of such redemption. The "current
per share market price" on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
closing price per share of such Common Stock for the ten 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 Stock is determined during a period following the announcement of (A)
a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock other than a regular quarterly
cash dividend or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
Common Stock and the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the
record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, shall not
have occurred prior to the commencement of such ten Trading Day period, then,
and in each such case, the current per share market price shall be properly
adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each
day shall be the last sales 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 transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the
New York Stock Exchange, on the principal national securities exchange on which
the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading, or, if the Common Stock is
not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange but sales
price information is reported for such security, as reported by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System ("Nasdaq")
or such other self-regulatory organization or registered securities information
processor (as such terms are used under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) that then reports information concerning the Common Stock, or, if sales
price information is not so reported, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market on such day, as reported by Nasdaq or such
other entity, or, if on any such date the Common Stock is not quoted by any such
entity, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the
Board of Directors. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market
in the Common Stock, the fair value of the Common Stock on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors shall be used. The term
"Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities
exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for
the transaction of business, or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted
to trading on any national securities exchange but is quoted by Nasdaq, a day on
which Nasdaq reports trades, or, if the Common Stock is not so quoted, a Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday on which banking institutions in the
State of New York or Texas are not authorized or obligated by law or executive
order to close.

                 (B) In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding shares
of the Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the number of shares to be
redeemed shall be determined by the Board of Directors and the shares to be
redeemed shall be determined by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the
Board of Directors or by any other method that may be determined by the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion to be equitable.

                                       A-6
<PAGE>   47

                 (C) Notice of any such redemption shall be given by mailing to
the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed a notice of
such redemption, first class postage prepaid, not later than the fifteenth day
and not earlier than the sixtieth day before the date fixed for redemption, at
their last address as the same shall appear upon the books of the Corporation.
Each such notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares
to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the shares held by such holder are to be
redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the
redemption price; (iv) the place or places where certificates for such shares
are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that
dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the close of
business on such redemption date. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not
the stockholder received such notice, and failure duly to give such notice by
mail, or any defect in such notice, to any holder of Series A Preferred Stock
shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other
shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are to be redeemed. On or after the date
fixed for redemption as stated in such notice, each holder of the shares called
for redemption shall surrender the certificate evidencing such shares to the
Corporation at the place designated in such notice and shall thereupon be
entitled to receive payment of the redemption price. If fewer than all the
shares represented by any such surrendered certificate are redeemed, a new
certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.

                 (D) The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be subject
to the operation of any purchase, retirement or sinking fund.

                 9. Ranking. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank junior to
all other series of Preferred Stock (other than any such series of Preferred
Stock the terms of which shall provide otherwise) in respect to dividend and
liquidation rights and shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.

                 10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series A
Preferred Stock are outstanding, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation
shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to
affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
sixty six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.

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

                                       A-7
<PAGE>   48

                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                          [Form of Rights Certificate]

Certificate No. R-                                               ________ Rights

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JANUARY 15, 2011 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY
THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY,
AT $.005 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY OR
TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO
LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.

                               RIGHTS CERTIFICATE

                             RELIANT RESOURCES, INC.

                 This certifies that _____________________, or registered
assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each
of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2001 as it may from
time to time be supplemented or amended (the "Rights Agreement"), between
Reliant Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, a New York state bank (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Company at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on January 15, 2011
at the office or offices designated by the Rights Agent for such purpose, or its
successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid, nonassessable
share (a "Fractional Share") of Series A Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock")
of the Company, at a purchase price of $_______ per one one-thousandth of a
share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate set
forth on the reverse hereof duly executed. The Purchase Price may be paid in
cash or by certified check, cashier's or official bank check or bank draft
payable to the order of the Company or the Rights Agent. The number of Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares that may be
purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price per
Fractional Share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of
January 15, 2001, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. The
Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering
Event (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) that a number of Rights
be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.

                                      B-1
<PAGE>   49

                 From and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event (as
such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate are beneficially owned by or transferred to (i) an Acquiring
Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring
Person, Associate or Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified
in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a person who, concurrently with or
after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall, with certain exceptions, become null and
void in the circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, and no holder
hereof shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights from and
after the occurrence of such Triggering Event.

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

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

                 This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights
Certificates, upon surrender at the office or offices designated by the Rights
Agent 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 Fractional Shares of Preferred
Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights
Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive
upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the
number of whole Rights not exercised.

                 Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at its option
at a redemption price of $.005 per Right, payable, at the election of the
Company, in cash or shares of Common Stock or such other consideration as the
Board of Directors may determine, at any time prior to the time a Person becomes
an Acquiring Person or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of
the Company's Common Stock, without par value, and/or other equity securities of
the Company deemed to have the same value as shares of Common Stock, at any time
prior to a person's becoming the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the shares
of Common Stock outstanding or the occurrence of a Flip-Over Event.

                                       B-2
<PAGE>   50

                 No fractional shares of Preferred Stock are required to be
issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than,
except as set forth above, fractions that are integral multiples of a Fractional
Share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment may be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

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

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

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

Dated as of January 15, 2001.

ATTEST:                                RELIANT RESOURCES, INC.

                                       By:
----------------------------------         ----------------------------------
Corporate Secretary                        Name:
                                           Title:

Countersigned:

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

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

                                       B-3
<PAGE>   51

                  [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

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

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ______________________________________ hereby sells, assigns
and transfers unto _____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

                  (Please print name and address of transferee)

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

Dated:                  , 200
       -----------------     -

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

Signature Guaranteed:

Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a national securities
exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a
commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States or another eligible guarantor institution (as defined pursuant to Rule
17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).

                                       B-4
<PAGE>   52

                                   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 an Acquiring Person
(as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

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

Dated:                  , 200
       -----------------     -          ----------------------------------------
                                        Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a national securities
exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a
commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States or another eligible guarantor institution (as defined pursuant to Rule
17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).

                                     NOTICE

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

                                       B-5
<PAGE>   53

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

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

To: RELIANT RESOURCES, INC.

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

Please insert social security
or other identifying number

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

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

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

Please insert social security
or other identifying number

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

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

Dated:                  , 200
       -----------------     -

                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Signature
Signature Guaranteed:

Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a national securities
exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a
commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States or another eligible guarantor institution (as defined pursuant to Rule
17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).

                                       B-6
<PAGE>   54

                                   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 an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

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

Dated:                  , 200
       -----------------     -          ----------------------------------------
                                        Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a national securities
exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a
commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States or another eligible guarantor institution (as defined pursuant to Rule
17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).

                                     NOTICE

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

                                       B-7
<PAGE>   55
                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                                SUMMARY OF RIGHTS

                 Effective January 15, 2001, the Board of Directors of Reliant
Resources, Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend of one right ("Right") for
each outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.001 per share
("Common Stock"), to stockholders of record at the close of business on January
15, 2001. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company
a unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share (a "Fractional Share") of
Series A Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at
a purchase price of $_____ per Fractional Share, subject to adjustment (the
"Purchase Price"). The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a
Rights Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2001, as it may from time to time be
supplemented or amended (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and The
Chase Manhattan Bank, as Rights Agent.

                 Detachment of Rights; Exercisability. Initially, the Rights
will be attached to all Common Stock certificates, and no separate certificates
for the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be distributed. The Rights will
separate from the Common Stock and a "Distribution Date" will occur, with
certain exceptions, upon the earlier of (i) ten days following 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% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the date of
the announcement being the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) ten business days
following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result
in a person's becoming an Acquiring Person; provided, however, that Reliant
Energy, Incorporated ("Reliant Energy") or its successors, together with all
affiliated and associated persons of Reliant Energy, shall not be or become an
Acquiring Person unless and until Reliant Energy, together with its affiliated
and associated persons, becomes the beneficial owner of additional shares of
Common Stock constituting ___% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common
Stock. In certain circumstances, the Distribution Date may be deferred by the
Board of Directors. Certain inadvertent acquisitions will not result in a
person's becoming an Acquiring Person if the person promptly divests itself of
sufficient Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date, (a) the Rights will be
evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only
with such Common Stock certificates, (b) new Common Stock certificates issued
will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (c)
the surrender for transfer of any Common Stock certificate will also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate.

                 The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at the close of business on January 15, 2011, unless earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.

                 As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of Common Stock as of the close
of business on the Distribution Date and, from and after the Distribution Date,
the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights. All shares of
Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
Shares of Common Stock issued after the Distribution Date in connection with
certain employee benefit plans or upon conversion of certain securities will be
issued with Rights. Except as otherwise

                                      C-1
<PAGE>   56

determined by the Board of Directors, no other shares of Common Stock issued
after the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.

                 Flip-In. In the event (a "Flip-In Event") that a person becomes
an Acquiring Person (except pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for all
outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms that a majority of
the independent directors of the Company determines to be fair to and otherwise
in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders (a "Permitted
Offer")), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise of such Right, a number of shares of Common Stock (or, in certain
circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a
Current Market Price (as defined in the Rights Agreement) equal to two times the
exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the
occurrence of any Triggering Event, all Rights that are, or (under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by or
transferred to an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) will be null
and void in the circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.

                 Flip-Over. In the event (a "Flip-Over Event") that, at any time
from and after the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, (i) the Company is
acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction (other than
certain mergers that follow a Permitted Offer), or (ii) 50% or more of the
Company's assets, cash flow or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder
of a Right (except Rights that are voided as set forth above) shall thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise, a number of shares of common stock of
the acquiring company having a Current Market Price equal to two times the
exercise price of the Right. Flip-In Events and Flip-Over Events are
collectively referred to as "Triggering Events."

                 Preferred Stock. After the Distribution Date, each Right will
entitle the holder to purchase a Fractional Share of Preferred Stock, which will
be essentially the economic equivalent of one share of Common Stock.

                 Antidilution. The number of outstanding Rights associated with
a share of Common Stock, or the number of Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock
issuable upon exercise of a Right and the Purchase Price, is subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of, the Common Stock occurring prior to the Distribution Date.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Fractional Shares of Preferred
Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution in the event of
certain transactions affecting the Preferred Stock.

                 With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price
will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the
Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not integral
multiples of a Fractional Share are required to be issued and, in lieu thereof,
an adjustment in cash may be made based on the market price of the Preferred
Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise. Pursuant to the
Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to require prior to the
occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of
Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.

                 Redemption of Rights. At any time until the time a person
becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not
in part, at a price of $.005 per Right,

                                       C-2
<PAGE>   57

payable, at the option of the Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock or such
other consideration as the Board of Directors may determine. Immediately upon
the effectiveness of the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of
the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of
Rights will be to receive the $.005 redemption price.

                 Exchange of Rights. At any time after the occurrence of a
Flip-In Event and prior to a person's becoming the beneficial owner of 50% or
more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding or the occurrence of a
Flip-Over Event, the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by
an Acquiring Person or an affiliate or an associate of an Acquiring Person,
which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one
share of Common Stock, and/or other equity securities deemed to have the same
value as one share of Common Stock, per Right, subject to adjustment.

                 Substitution. If the Company has an insufficient number of
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock available to permit an exercise
or exchange of Rights upon the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, it may substitute
certain other types of property for the Common Stock so long as the total value
received by the holder of the Rights is equivalent to the value of the Common
Stock that would otherwise have been received. The Company may substitute cash,
property, equity securities or debt of the Company, effect a reduction in the
exercise price of the Right or use any combination of the foregoing.

                 No Rights as a Stockholder; Taxes. Until a Right is exercised,
the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the
Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive
dividends. Stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable
income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or
other consideration) of the Company or for the common stock of the acquiring
company as set forth above or are exchanged as provided in the preceding
paragraph.

                 Amendment of Terms of Rights. Other than certain provisions
relating to the principal economic terms of the Rights, any of the provisions of
the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company
prior to the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person. Thereafter, the
provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors in
order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or to make changes that do
not materially and adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights
(excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person).

                 Rights Agent. The Chase Manhattan Bank serves as Rights Agent
with regard to the Rights.

                 Rights Agreement; Summary. A copy of the Rights Agreement has
been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a
Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company (Registration No. 333-48038).
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
incorporated herein by reference.

                                       C-3

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