MATRIA HEALTHCARE INC
10-Q, 1999-05-17
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q



     X  Quarterly  Report  pursuant  to Section  13 or 15 (d) of the  Securities
        Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended March 31, 1999.

                                       Or

     _  Transition  Report  pursuant  to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the  Securities
        Exchange Act of 1934 for the 
        transition period from ______ to ______.

Commission file number 0-20619


                             Matria Healthcare, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                   58-2205984
(State or other jurisdiction of                    (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                     Identification No.)


   1850 Parkway Place, 12th Floor, Marietta, Georgia    30067  
     (Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code)

                                 (770) 767-4500
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed  by  Section  13 or 15 (d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter  period that the  registrant
was  required  to file such  reports),  and (2) has been  subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                        YES     X                 NO      
                            ---------               -------
The number of shares  outstanding  of the issuer's  only class of Common  Stock,
$.01 par value,  together with associated  Common Stock purchase  rights,  as of
April 30, 1999 was 36,537,921.
<PAGE>

                         Part I - Financial Information
                          Item 1. Financial Statements

                    Matria Healthcare, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                      Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets

                (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                March 31,   December 31,
  ASSETS                                                                          1999          1998
                                                                          ----------------  --------------
<S>                                                                             <C>           <C>  
Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents ................................................   $  7,246      9,109
    Short-term investments ...................................................       --        2,859
    Trade accounts receivable, less allowances of $23,721 and $21,235 at March
       31, 1999 and December 31,
       1998, respectively ....................................................     46,735     37,311
    Inventories ..............................................................      8,377      1,699
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets ................................      2,716      4,556
                                                                                 ----------  --------
       Total current assets ..................................................     65,074     55,534
Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation of
    $31,786 and $30,238 at March 31, 1999 and
    December 31, 1998, respectively ..........................................     19,113     16,865
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization of $3,300
    and $612 at March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998,
    respectively .............................................................    141,791     16,261
Deferred tax asset ...........................................................     20,000       --
Cash surrender value of life insurance .......................................      6,674      4,425
Other assets .................................................................      2,820      3,949
                                                                                ----------  --------
                                                                                 $255,472     97,034
                                                                                ----------  --------
</TABLE>

 See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
<PAGE>

                    Matria Healthcare, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                      Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets

                 (Dollars in thousands except, per share amounts)
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                           March 31,           December 31,
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:                                                        1999                  1998
                                                                                      -----------------       ----------------
<S>                                                                                   <C>                     <C>

Current liabilities:
    Current installments of long-term debt
       and obligations under capital leases                                                 $13,822               718
    Accounts payable, principally trade                                                      23,863             8,939
    Accrued liabilities                                                                      17,769             9,536
                                                                                       ------------          ---------
            Total current liabilities                                                        55,454            19,193
Long-term debt and obligations under capital leases,
    excluding current installments                                                           95,177            18,385
Other long-term liabilities                                                                   9,002             9,575
                                                                                        ------------          ---------
            Total liabilities                                                               159,633            47,153
                             

Preferred stock, $.01 par value.  Authorized 50,000,000 shares:
     Series A convertible, redeemable; issued 10,000 shares at
            March 31, 1999; none at December 31, 1998;
            redemption value $10,000                                                        10,000              --   
                                   
     Series B  redeemable;  issued 35,000 shares at 
            March 31, 1999; none at December 31, 1998;
            redemption value $35,000                                                        30,672              --
                                      

Common shareholders' equity:
    Common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 100,000,000 shares;
            issued and outstanding 36,468,834 and 36,409,544 shares
            at March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998, respectively                              365               364
     Additional paid-in capital                                                            285,026           280,585
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                      (178)               --
    Accumulated deficit                                                                   (226,511)         (227,533)
    Notes receivable and accrued interest from shareholder                                  (3,535)           (3,535)
                                                                                      ------------          ---------
           Total shareholders' equity                                                       55,167            49,881
                                                                                      ------------          ---------
                                                                                     $     255,472           97,034
                                                                                      ------------          ---------
</TABLE>

      See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.


<PAGE>



                    Matria Healthcare, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                 Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations

           (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                   (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                           Three Months Ended
                                                                                                March 31,

                                                                                          1999             1998
<S>                                                                                    <C>               <C>

Revenues                                                                                $ 59,359         32,818
Cost of revenues                                                                          31,276         13,325
Selling and administrative expenses                                                       20,561         14,708
Provision for doubtful accounts                                                            1,906          1,490
Amortization of intangible assets                                                          2,599          9,147
                                                                                      ------------     ---------
             Operating earnings (loss)                                                     3,017        (5,852)
Interest income (expense), net                                                            (1,503)           18
Other income, net                                                                            157           186
                                                                                      ------------     ---------
              Earnings (loss) before income taxes                                          1,671        (5,648)
Income taxes                                                                                  -              - 
                                                                                      ------------     ---------
             Net earnings (loss)                                                           1,671        (5,648)
Accretion of Series B redeemable preferred stock                                             (87)            - 
Preferred stock dividend requirements                                                       (649)             -
                                                                                      ------------     ---------
             Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders                        $   935        (5,648)
                                                                                      ------------     ---------
Net earnings (loss) per common share:
             Basic                                                                        $ 0.03         (0.15)
                                                                                      ------------     ---------
             Diluted                                                                      $ 0.03         (0.15)
                                                                                      ------------     ---------
Weighted average shares outstanding:
             Basic                                                                        36,439        36,826
                                                                                      ------------     ---------
             Diluted                                                                      36,939        36,826
                                                                                      ------------     ---------
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
<PAGE>


                    Matria Healthcare, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                 Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

                             (Amounts in thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                                                  1999          1998
<S>                                                                           <C>               <C> 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
    Net earnings (loss) ....................................................   $   1,671       (5,648)
    Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash
       provided by (used in) operating activities:
            Depreciation and amortization ..................................       4,403       10,395
            Provision for doubtful accounts ................................       1,906        1,490
            Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquistions:
                 Accounts receivable .......................................      (3,003)      (3,224)
                 Inventories, prepaids and other current assets ............       2,949         (917)
                 Intangible and other noncurrent assets ....................      (2,451)        (484)
                 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities ..................      (3,932)      (5,260)
                 Accrued pension cost ......................................         180       (3,217)
                 Other current liabilities .................................         717       (2,573)
                                                                                ---------    ---------
                    Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities ....       2,440       (9,438)
                                                                                ---------    ---------
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
    Purchases of property and equipment ....................................      (1,860)        (679)
    Sales of short-term investments ........................................       2,859        7,821
    Purchases of short-term investments ....................................         --        (1,500)
    Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired                              (93,019)          -- 
                                                                                 ---------   ---------
            Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities ............     (92,020)       5,642
                                                                                 ---------   ---------
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
    Borrowings under credit agreement ......................................     105,000          -- 
     Proceeds from issuance of debt                                                 --            334
    Principal repayments of debt and capital lease obligations .............     (17,219)        (359)
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock .................................         114          201
    Other, net                                                                      --            (60)
                                                                                 ---------   ---------
                   Net cash  provided by financing activities ..............      87,895          116
                                                                                 ---------   ---------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents ...............        (178)          -- 
                                                                                 ---------   ---------
                   Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents ...............      (1,863)      (3,680)
Cash and cash eqivalents at beginning of period ............................       9,109        9,086
                                                                                 ---------   ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                     $   7,246        5,406
                                                                                ---------   ---------
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.


<PAGE>





                         Notes to Consolidated Condensed
                              Financial Statements

           (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
                                   (Unaudited)


1.       General

         The consolidated  condensed  financial  statements as of March 31, 1999
         and for the three months  ended March 31, 1999 and 1998 are  unaudited.
         In the opinion of  management,  all  adjustments,  consisting of normal
         recurring accruals, necessary for fair presentation of the consolidated
         financial  position and results of operations for the periods presented
         have  been  included.   Certain   reclassifications   of  prior  period
         information have been made to conform to the current year presentation.
         The results  for the  three-month  period  ended March 31, 1999 are not
         necessarily indicative of the results for the full year ending December
         31, 1999.

         The  consolidated  condensed  financial  statements  should  be read in
         conjunction  with the  consolidated  financial  statements  and related
         notes included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Matria  Healthcare,
         Inc. ("Matria" or the "Company") for the year ended December 31, 1998.


2.       Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock

         Basic earnings (loss) per common share available to common shareholders
         are based on the weighted average number of common shares  outstanding.
         Diluted  earnings  (loss)  per common  share are based on the  weighted
         average  number of common  shares  outstanding  and dilutive  potential
         common shares, such as dilutive stock options and warrants,  determined
         using the treasury stock method.


3.        Acquisitions 

         Effective  January 1, 1999,  the Company  completed the  acquisition of
         substantially  all of the assets of Gainor Medical  Management,  L.L.C.
         ("Gainor Medical"), for a purchase price of approximately $130,000. The
         acquisition  was accounted for under the purchase  method of accounting
         and  resulted  in  purchased   patient   lists  of  $3,300,   executive
         non-compete   agreements   of  $500  and  goodwill  of  $113,653.   The
         acquisition  agreement also provides for additional contingent purchase
         price of up to $35,000 based on the 1999  financial  performance of the
         Gainor Medical businesses. The assets acquired included the outstanding
         capital stock of and membership interests and other equity interests in
         the subsidiaries of Gainor Medical. Results of its operations have been
         included in the Company's  consolidated results of operations effective
         January 1, 1999. If earned, the contingent purchase price is payable by
         the  issuance  of  subordinated  notes in the year  2000,  and would be
         recorded as additional goodwill when earned.
<PAGE>

         At the  closing of the  transaction,  the Company  paid  $83,758 of the
         purchase price in cash to the seller,  assumed  approximately $1,242 in
         debt and issued $45,000 in redeemable  preferred  stock and warrants of
         the Company. The transaction also included a cash adjustment payable by
         the  Company of $6,573,  one-half  of which was paid at the closing and
         the remaining one-half of which is payable during the second quarter of
         1999.

         As of the  acquisition  date of Gainor  Medical,  the Company had a net
         operating loss carry forward of  approximately  $90,000.  In connection
         with this  acquisition,  the Company  recognized a $20,000 deferred tax
         asset and a  corresponding  decrease in goodwill for the  estimated tax
         benefits of the net operating  loss carry forward to be realized in the
         future as a result of the acquisition.

         The cash portion of the purchase price was financed partially through a
         $125,000 five-year bank credit facility, which the Company entered into
         in January 1999 (See Note 4).

         In January  1998,  the Company  converted a $250 note  receivable  from
         Diabetes  Management  Services,  Inc.  ("DMS")  and paid  $500  cash to
         acquire a 10% equity  interest in DMS.  During  1998,  the Company made
         advances to fund  working  capital of DMS totaling  $1,335.  In January
         1999, the Company converted the notes receivable for these advances and
         paid cash of $6,500 to acquire the remaining  equity  interests of DMS.
         The  acquisition  was  accounted  for  using  the  purchase  method  of
         accounting  and  resulted  in  goodwill  of  $10,765.  Results of DMS's
         operations have been included in the Company's  consolidated results of
         operations effective January 1, 1999.

         Summarized  below are the  unaudited pro forma results of operations of
         the  Company  for the  three  months  ended  March  31,  1998 as if the
         acquisitions described above and the Company's acquisition in July 1998
         of Quality Diagnostic  Services Inc. ("QDS") had been effective January
         1, 1998.  The results of operations  of the 1998 and 1999  acquisitions
         have  been  included  in  the  consolidated   condensed  statements  of
         operations  of the Company as of January 1, 1999 and  therefore  no pro
         forma results are presented for the three months ended March 31, 1999.

                                                             Three Months Ended
                                                                 March 31, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  <S>                                                <C>
                  Revenues                                           $ 53,387
                  Net loss                                            ( 8,437)
                  Net loss available to common shareholders             (0.23)
</TABLE>


4.       Long Term Debt 

         In January 1999, in connection with the  acquisitions of Gainor Medical
         and DMS, the Company replaced its prior credit facility with a $125,000
         five-year bank credit facility. The new facility consists of an $80,000
         term loan facility, payable $6,000 in 
<PAGE>

         1999,  $12,000 in 2000,  $14,000 in 2001,  $16,000 in 2002,  $20,000 in
         2003 and $12,000 in 2004 and a $45,000  revolving credit facility.  The
         facility,  which is collateralized by accounts receivable,  inventories
         and certain assets of the Company,  provides,  at the Company's option,
         interest  at the prime  rate plus .375% to 1.75% or the LIBOR rate plus
         1.5% to 2.5%. The facility requires a commitment fee payable quarterly,
         in arrears,  of .375% to .500%,  based upon the unused  portion.  As of
         March 31, 1999,  the total  outstanding  amount under this facility was
         $105,000 and the interest  rate was 7.25%.  Under this  agreement,  the
         Company is required to maintain certain financial ratios. The agreement
         places certain  limitations on cash  dividends.  At March 31, 1999, the
         Company was in compliance with these requirements.

5.        Preferred Stock 

         In  connection  with  the  purchase  of  Gainor  Medical,  the  Company
         designated  16,500  shares  and  issued  10,000  shares  of 4% Series A
         convertible   redeemable   preferred  stock  ("Series  A  CRPS"),   and
         designated  60,000  shares  and  issued  35,000  shares  of 8% Series B
         redeemable  preferred stock ("Series B RPS") with attached  warrants to
         purchase  4,000,000  shares of the Company's  common stock at $3.00 per
         share.

         The Series A CRPS is convertible  at any time into 2,222,222  shares of
         common stock. At its option,  the Company may redeem the Series A CRPS,
         at any time beginning two years after the acquisition  date,  after the
         30 day moving  average of the closing price of the Company's  stock has
         exceeded  $5.40 per share,  at a redemption  price of $1,222 per share.
         The Series A CRPS has a mandatory  redemption  feature,  which requires
         the  Company to redeem  one third of the  shares  issued on each of the
         eighth, ninth and tenth anniversary dates of the original issuance date
         at the  redemption  price of $1,000 per share.  Redemption may occur at
         the holder's request,  in the event there is a change of control of the
         Company, as defined in the applicable shareholder agreement.  Dividends
         are payable  quarterly,  in arrears,  in cash or  additional  shares of
         Series A CRPS, or a combination thereof, at the option of the Company.
         The Series A CRPS has been recorded at the mandatory redemption value.

         At its  option,  the Company may redeem the Series B RPS in whole or in
         part at any time at the  redemption  price of  $1,000  per  share.  The
         Series B RPS has a mandatory  redemption  feature  which  requires  the
         Company to redeem one third of the shares issued on each of the eighth,
         ninth and tenth anniversary dates of the original issuance date, at the
         redemption  price of $1,000 per share.  At issuance  date,  the Company
         allocated  $4,415 of the $35,000 total redemption value of Series B RPS
         to the fair value of the warrants issued,  using a Black-Scholes option
         pricing  model.  This  amount was  recorded  as a credit to  additional
         paid-in  capital  and is being  accreted  over the term of the Series B
         RPS.

         In the event of liquidation,  holders of Series A CRPS and Series B RPS
         are entitled to receive,  from the assets available for distribution to
         the  shareholders,  an amount in cash or property at fair market value,
         equal to  $1,000  per share  plus  unpaid  dividends.  The  Company  is
         restricted  from paying  dividends on the Company's
<PAGE>

common stock until all unpaid dividends on the Series A CRPS and Series B RPS
are paid.

6.     Business Segment Information

       The Company's  reportable  business  segments are the strategic  business
       units  that offer  different  products  and  services.  They are  managed
       separately,  and the Company  evaluates  performance  based on  operating
       earnings of the respective business unit.

       As a result  of the  acquisitions  in the last half of 1998 and the first
       quarter of 1999, the Company's operations have been classified into three
       reportable  business  segments,  Women's  Health,  Diabetes  Supplies and
       Services and  Cardiovascular.  The Women's Health segment offers services
       designed to assist physicians and payors in the cost effective management
       of  maternity  patients   including:   specialized  home  nursing;   risk
       assessment;  patient education and management;  home uterine  contraction
       monitoring;  infusion therapy; gestational diabetes management; and other
       monitoring   and  clinical   services  as  prescribed  by  the  patient's
       physician. The Diabetes Supplies and Services segment has two components:
       diabetes disease management services and microsampling products which are
       products  used to obtain and test small  samples  of bodily  fluids.  The
       Cardiovascular   segment  provides  cardiac  event   monitoring,   holter
       monitoring and pacemaker follow-up  services.  The Other Segments include
       three business  segments that are below the  quantitative  threshold for
       disclosure:   respiratory   disease  management;   infertility   practice
       management services; and clinical record software and services.

       The  accounting  policies of the  segments  are the same as those for the
       consolidated  entity.  There  are no  intersegment  sales  and  operating
       earnings (loss) by business  segment excludes  interest income,  interest
       expense, and corporate expenses.
<PAGE>

         Summarized financial  information as of and for the three-month periods
         ended March 31, 1999 and 1998 by business segment follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                             Revenues        Operating earnings (loss)
                                                         1999        1998       1999       1998
<S>                                                    <C>           <C>        <C>       <C>

Women's Health                                         $26,620       29,363     2,761     (3,738)
Diabetes Supplies and Services                          25,934         --       1,437       --
Cardiovascular                                           3,690         --         782       --
Other Segments                                           3,115        3,455      (936)    (1,165)
                                                        -------      -------    ------     ------
         Total segments                                 59,359       32,818     4,044     (4,903)
                       

General Corporate                                            --        --      (1,027)      (949)
Interest income (expense), net                               --        --      (1,503)        18
Other income (expenses), net                                 --        --         157        186
                                                        -------      -------    ------     ------
         Consolidated revenues and earnings
         (loss) before income taxes                     $ 59,359     32,818      1,671     (5,648)
                                                         -------     -------    ------     ------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                              Indentifiable
                                                  assets
                                       March 31,       December 31,
                                         1999             1998
<S>                                    <C>             <C>   

Women's Health                         $ 42,701          57,011
 Diabetes Supplies and Services         148,502              39
Cardiovascular                           15,774          14,383
Other Segment                             4,823           6,543
General Corporate                        43,672          19,058
                                        -------         -------
Consolidated Assets                    $255,472          97,034
                                        -------         -------
</TABLE>



       The Company's  revenues from outside the United States were less than 16%
       of total revenues.  No single customer  accounted for 10% of consolidated
       net revenue in either period.

7.       Recent Accounting Pronouncements

         In June  1998,  the  FASB  issued  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting
         Standards No. 133,  "Accounting for Derivative  Instruments and Hedging
         Activities"  ("SFAS No.  133").  SFAS No. 133,  which is effective  for
         2000,  requires all  derivatives to be recorded on the balance sheet at
         fair value and  establishes  accounting  treatment  for  certain  hedge
         transactions.  The Company is analyzing the implementation requirements
         and currently  does not anticipate  there will be a material  impact on
         the results of operations or financial  position after adoption of SFAS
         No. 133.

8.       Comprehensive Income

         On  January  1,  1998,  the  Company  adopted  Statement  of  Financial
         Accounting 
<PAGE>

         Standards No. 130, "Reporting  Comprehensive  Income" ("SFAS No. 130").
         SFAS No. 130  establishes  standards for reporting and  presentation of
         comprehensive  income  and its  components  in a full set of  financial
         statements.  For the  Company,  comprehensive  income  consists  of net
         earnings  (loss) and  foreign  currency  translation  adjustments.  The
         statement  requires  only  additional   disclosures  in  the  financial
         statements,  it does not affect the  Company's  financial  position  or
         results of operations. Comprehensive income (loss) for the three months
         ended March 31, 1999 and 1998 was $1,493 and ($5,648), respectively.

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition 
         and Results of Operations.

General

During 1998 and early 1999, the Company  announced  several strategic actions to
expand its business focus beyond  managing the condition of pregnancy into other
disease management markets.  These actions included: (i) the acquisition in July
1998 of Quality  Diagnostic  Services,  Inc. ("QDS"), a cardiac event monitoring
company;  (ii) the  completion  of a licensing  agreement  in October  1998 with
National  Jewish  Medical and  Research  Center  ("National  Jewish") to provide
services in the respiratory disease management market; and (iii) the acquisition
in January 1999 of the business and assets of Gainor Medical Management,  L.L.C.
("Gainor  Medical") and Diabetes  Management  Services,  Inc. ("DMS"),  diabetes
disease  management  companies.  Disease  management  is an emerging  healthcare
sector  receiving  a  heightened  focus  in the  healthcare  industry,  and  the
competition  in this  sector  is  fragmented  without  a  dominant  leader.  The
Company's management is confident that with the successful implementation of its
expansion  strategies,  the Company  will become the dominant  market  leader in
disease management and that these strategies will result in significant  revenue
growth in 1999 and beyond.

In connection with these  acquisitions,  the Company acquired  intangible assets
that are  being  amortized  over  various  useful  lives  from 5-15  years.  The
amortization  periods  are based  on,  among  other  things,  the  nature of the
products and markets, the competitive position of the acquired companies and the
adaptability to changing market conditions of the acquired companies.

The following discussion of the results of operations and financial condition of
the  Company  should  be read in  conjunction  with the  consolidated  financial
statements and related notes in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended  December  31, 1998 and the  Company's  Report on Form 8-K/A filed on
April 5, 1999 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  As a result
of the 1998 and 1999 strategic actions and acquisitions,  the historical results
of  operations  are not  indicative  of the results that will be achieved by the
Company during future periods.
<PAGE>


Results of Operations

Revenues  increased  $26.541  million or 80.9% in the  three-month  period ended
March 31,  1999 as  compared  to the same  period in 1998  primarily  due to the
acquisitions  of Gainor Medical and DMS, the businesses that are included in the
Diabetes Supplies and Services  segment,  and QDS, the business that is included
in the Cardiovascular  segment.  Revenues for the Diabetes Supplies and Services
and   Cardiovascular   segments  were  $25.934   million  and  $3.690   million,
respectively,  in the first quarter of 1999.  These increases were partly offset
by a 9.3% decline in revenues for the Company's  Women's Health segment relating
to the decline in prescriptions  for preterm labor management  services and to a
decrease in revenues  resulting from the termination of marketing  rights of the
fetal fibronectin immunoassay test effective August 31, 1998.

Cost of  revenues  as a  percentage  of  revenues  increased  to  52.7%  for the
three-month  period ended March 31, 1999 from 40.6% for the same period in 1998.
This increase  resulted  primarily from the  acquisition of Gainor Medical where
cost of revenues is 70.0%.  Approximately  48% of the revenues of Gainor Medical
are from the  sales  of  microsampling  products,  which  have a higher  cost of
revenues than the service related businesses of the Company.

Selling and  administrative  expenses as a percentage  of revenues  decreased to
34.6% for the  three-month  period  ended March 31, 1999 from 44.8% for the same
period in 1998 due to economies of scale  achieved as a result of the  Company's
acquisitions of Gainor Medical, QDS, and DMS.

The Company  provides  for  estimated  uncollectible  accounts  as revenues  are
recognized.  The provision for doubtful accounts as a percentage of revenues for
the  Women's  Health  and  Cardiovascular  segments  was  5.5%  and 5.0% for the
three-month periods ended March 31, 1999 and 1998,  respectively.  The provision
for  doubtful  accounts as a percentage  of revenues in the Diabetes  Management
segment was  approximately  1% in the first  quarter of 1999.  The  provision is
adjusted   periodically  based  upon  the  Company's  quarterly   evaluation  of
historical  collection  experience,  recoveries of amounts previously  provided,
industry  reimbursement  trends  and  other  relevant  factors.  Therefore,  the
provision rate could vary on a quarterly basis.

Amortization  of  intangible  assets  decreased in the first  quarter of 1999 as
compared to the same period in 1998 due to the  writeoffs of  intangible  assets
taken in third and fourth quarters of 1998. The impact of the decrease resulting
from  these  writeoffs  was  offset  by the  additional  amortization  from  the
intangible assets recorded as part of the acquisitions described above.

Interest expense  increased in the first quarter of 1999 as compared to the same
period in 1998 due to a significant  increase in borrowings  related to business
acquisitions.
<PAGE>

     The Company did not record a federal or state  income tax  provision in the
first  quarter  of  1999 or  1998  due to the  Company's  operating  loss  carry
forwards.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 1999 the Company had cash and  short-term  investments of $7.246
million.  Net cash  provided by operations  increased to $2.440  million for the
three-month  period  ended March 31,  1999,  compared to cash used in  operating
activities of $9.438 million for the same period of 1998. During 1998, cash flow
from operating  activities was reduced by payments of $3.130 million relating to
severance  costs  of  terminated  employees,   $2.587  million  for  performance
incentives  paid  under the  Company's  management  incentive  plan,  and $1.328
million  for  lump-sum  payouts  related to the  termination  of a  nonqualified
defined benefit pension plan.

The Company's  accounts  receivable  days sales  outstanding  were 71 days as of
March 31, 1999 as compared to 96 days as of December 31, 1998.  The reduction is
primarily due to lower days sales  outstanding of the Gainor Medical  businesses
accounts receivable. Only 30% of those businesses' sales are reimbursed by third
party and U.S.  Government  healthcare  payors with the remaining sales being to
original  equipment   manufacturers,   corporate   employers  and  international
healthcare providers. As the sales to third party and U.S. Government healthcare
providers  increase,  the Company believes that the days sales  outstanding will
increase.

The Asset Purchase  Agreement for the acquisition of QDS provides for additional
cash  payments  of up to $6.000  million  contingent  upon 1999  revenues of the
Company's cardiac monitoring business.

The acquisition  agreement for Gainor Medical provides for additional contingent
purchase price of up to $35.000 million based upon 1999 financial performance of
the Gainor Medical businesses. If earned, the Gainor Medical contingent purchase
price is payable by the  issuance  of  subordinated  notes to the seller in the
year 2000.

Capital  expenditures  of $1.860  million in the first  quarter  of 1999  relate
primarily to the purchases of patient equipment to support revenue growth in the
Cardiovascular segment and for the upgrade and expansion of computer information
systems  in  all  segments  of  the  Company.  The  Company  expects  to  expend
approximately $10.500 million for capital items in 1999.

The Company  believes that its current cash  balances,  expected cash flows from
operations  and investing  activities and amounts  available  under the existing
credit facility will be sufficient to finance its current operations.
<PAGE>

         Year 2000 Issue

         The  Year  2000  issue  refers  generally  to the  data  structure  and
         processing  problem that may prevent  systems from properly  processing
         date-sensitive information when the year changes to 2000. The Year 2000
         issue affects information  technology ("IT") systems,  such as computer
         programs and various  types of electronic  equipment  that process date
         information  by using only two digits rather than four digits to define
         the  applicable  year,  and thus may recognize a date using "00" as the
         year 1900 rather than the year 2000. The issue also affects some non-IT
         systems,  such as devices  which rely on a  microcontroller  to process
         date  information.  The Year  2000  issue  could  disrupt  a  company's
         operations by generating  erroneous data or causing system  failures or
         miscalulations.

         The Company is involved in an  extensive,  ongoing  program to identify
         and correct problems arising from the Year 2000 issues.  The program is
         broken down into the following categories: (1) application systems; (2)
         hardware;  (3) monitoring  equipment;  and (4) computer applications of
         its significant suppliers and significant payors.

         The Company has evaluated  the  application  systems in two parts:  (1)
         AS400  applications  and (2)  client  server  applications.  The  AS400
         applications are believed to be capable of functioning  properly beyond
         the  year  1999 at this  time.  Although  the  Company  originally  had
         intended to replace its client  server  applications  in 1999,  because
         that project will not be complete by year end 1999, the Company intends
         to remediate  the existing  client  server  application  systems in the
         second quarter of 1999, a process that the Company  estimates will take
         four months to complete.

         Remediation and testing of the AS400 hardware is 100% complete, and the
         remediation  and  testing  of  the  individual  personal  computers  is
         approximately  85%  complete.  The  Company  expects the  remainder  of
         conversion and testing to be complete by July 1999.

         In the first  quarter  of 1999,  the  Company  completed  its review of
         embedded  computer  chips  and  software  applications,  which  control
         certain  monitoring  and  other  equipment.   Remediation  efforts  are
         expected to be minor and should be completed  in the second  quarter of
         1999.

         In 1998,  the Company  spent $60,000 for software and  consulting  fees
         associated with the initial Year 2000 evaluation. Budgeted expenditures
         in 1999 total  $100,000.  The Company is primarily  addressing all Year
         2000 issues with current staffing levels.

         In the  first  quarter  of 1999,  the  Company  sent  inquiries  to its
         significant suppliers and payors concerning the Year 2000 compliance of
         their  significant  computer  applications.  The Company  plans to send
         second  requests  during the  second  quarter  of 1999.  The  responses
         received  to  date  do  not   disclose   any   significant   issues  on
         non-compliance.  The Company will  continue to evaluate Year 2000 risks
         with respect to such suppliers and payors as responses are received. In
         that  connection,  it should  be noted  that  substantially  all of the
         Company's  revenues  are  derived  from  
<PAGE>

         reimbursement by third-party  payors, and that the Company is dependent
         upon such payors'  evaluation of their Year 2000  compliance  status to
         assess such risks. If such payors are incorrect in their  evaluation of
         their own Year 2000 compliance  status,  this could result in delays or
         errors in reimbursement  to the Company,  the effects of which could be
         material to the Company.

         In light of its compliance  efforts and based on information  currently
         available,  the Company believes that its risk associated with problems
         arising from Year 2000 issues is not significant.  However,  because of
         the many uncertainties associated with Year 2000 compliance issues, and
         because the Company's  assessment is  necessarily  based on information
         from third-party  payors and suppliers,  there can be no assurance that
         the Company's  assessment is correct or as to the materiality or effect
         of any  failure of such  assessment  to be correct.  The  Company  will
         continue  with its  assessment  process as described  above and, to the
         extent that  changes in such  assessment  require  it, will  attempt to
         develop  alternatives or modifications to its compliance plan described
         above.  There can, however,  be no assurance that such compliance plan,
         as it may be changed,  augmented or modified from time to time, will be
         successful.  There can be no assurance  that the Year 2000 problem will
         not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
         condition and results of operations.

         The SEC's recent guidance for Year 2000 disclosure  calls for companies
         to  describe  their  most  likely  worst  case  Year  2000   scenarios.
         Notwithstanding the aforementioned  issues, the Company does not expect
         significant   problems  at  the  turn  of  the  century  with  internal
         conversions  and  remediation.  However,  the most  likely  worst  case
         scenario is that if  third-party  payors are not able to reimburse  the
         Company after the turn of the century, the Company would be required to
         sustain operations through existing cash balances or through the use of
         available  borrowings  under its credit  facilities.  Also, the Company
         would be  required  to add  additional  staff  during  the time  period
         leading up to and  immediately  following  January 1, 2000, in order to
         address any unexpected Year 2000 issues.


         Forward-Looking Information

         This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements and information that
         are  based  on  the  Company's  belief  and  assumptions,  as  well  as
         information  currently available to the Company. From time to time, the
         Company and its officers, directors or employees may make other oral or
         written  statements  (including  statements in press  releases or other
         announcements) that contain forward-looking statements and information.
         Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the words "believe,"
         "anticipate,"   "estimate,"  "expect,"  "intend,"  "plan,"  "seek"  and
         similar  expressions,  when  used in  this  report  and in  such  other
         statements,  are intended to identify forward-looking  statements.  All
         forward-looking  statements  and  information  in this  Form  10-Q  are
         forward-looking  statements  within the  meaning of Section  27A of the
         Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  and Section 21E of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are intended to be covered by the
         safe harbors created thereby.  Such
<PAGE>

         forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and
         are subject to risks,  uncertainties  and other  factors that may cause
         the actual  results,  performance  or  achievements  of the  Company to
         differ materially from historical results or from any results expressed
         or implied by such  forward-looking  statements.  Such factors include,
         without  limitation,  (i) changes in reimbursement  rates,  policies or
         payment practices by third party payors, whether initiated by the payor
         or legislatively  maintained;  (ii) the loss of major customers;  (iii)
         termination  of the Company's  exclusive  supply  agreement with Nissho
         Corporation or failure to continue the agreement on terms  currently in
         effect;  (iv)  impairment  of  the  Company's  rights  in  intellectual
         property;  (v)  increased  or  more  effective  competition;  (vi)  new
         technologies  that render  obsolete  or  non-competitive  products  and
         services   offered  by  the  Company;   (vii)  changes  in  regulations
         applicable   to  the  Company  or  failure  to  comply  with   existing
         regulations;  (viii) future health care or budget  legislation or other
         health reform  initiatives;  (ix)  increased  exposure to  professional
         negligence  liability;  (x)  difficulties in  successfully  integrating
         recently  acquired   businesses  into  the  Company's   operations  and
         uncertainties  related to the future  performance  of such  businesses;
         (xi)  losses due to foreign  currency  exchange  rate  fluctuations  or
         deterioration of economic  conditions in foreign  markets;  (xii) costs
         associated with Year 2000 related systems  failures;  (xiii) the amount
         of sales to third parties and U.S. Government healthcare providers, and
         (xiv) the risk factors discussed from time to time in the Company's SEC
         reports,  including  but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K
         for the year ended  December 31, 1998.  Many of such factors are beyond
         the Company's ability to control or predict,  and readers are cautioned
         not to put  undue  reliance  on such  forward-looking  statements.  The
         Company   disclaims   any   obligation   to  update   or   review   any
         forward-looking statements contained in this report or in any statement
         referencing the risk factors and other cautionary  statements set forth
         in this Report,  whether as a result of new information,  future events
         or  otherwise,  except as may be required by the  Company's  disclosure
         obligations  in filings it makes with the SEC under Federal  Securities
         laws.

Item 3.       Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

         The  Company is exposed to market risk from  changes in interest  rates
         and foreign exchange rates.

         The Company's  primary  interest rate risk relates to its variable rate
         bank credit  facility.  At March 31, 1999, the Company's total variable
         rate long-term debt  obligation  was $105.000  million.  A hypothetical
         100-basis point change in the interest rates would result in additional
         interest  expense of  approximately  $210,000 for the first  quarter of
         1999. There was no variable rate debt in the first quarter of 1998.

         The  Company  does not  believe it is exposed  to  significant  foreign
         exchange rate risk.


<PAGE>



                                     PART II
                                OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2.  Changes In Securities and Use of Proceeds.

         On April  27,1999,  the Company  entered  into an Amended and  Restated
Rights  Agreement  with Sun Trust Bank,  Atlanta with  respect to the  Company's
common stock (the "Amended Rights Agreement"),  incorporating a second amendment
to the Rights  Agreement  dated January 30, 1996 (the "Rights  Agreement").  The
substance of the second  amendment was to change the requirement that the action
of a majority of the Continuing  Directors (as defined in the Rights  Agreement)
be required with respect to certain  matters to require  instead the action of a
majority of all  Directors.  In  addition,  the second  amendment  requires  the
affirmative  action  of the  Board  of  Directors  for the  issuance  of  rights
following a tender or exchange offer.

         On January 19, 1999, in connection with the Gainor Medical acquisition,
the Company issued 10,000 shares of 4% Series A convertible redeemable preferred
stock  ("Series A Preferred  Stock") and 35,000 shares of 8% Series B redeemable
preferred  stock  ("Series B  Preferred  Stock")  along with  attached  ten-year
warrants to purchase 4,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock at $3.00 per
share.  The Series A and B Preferred stock and attached  warrants were issued to
Gainor  Medical  as  part  of  the  purchase   price  for  the   acquisition  of
substantially all of the assets and business of Gainor Medical.  The issuance of
the preferred stock and warrants was exempt from registration under Section 4(2)
of the  Securities  Act as a  transaction  not involving a public  offering.  In
addition,  Gainor Medical was  sophisticated and had access to information about
the Company.

         The shares of Series A Preferred Stock are convertible at any time into
a total of 2,222,222 shares of the Company's common stock at a rate of $4.50 per
share,  while the  ten-year  warrants  allow for the  purchase of the  Company's
common stock at $3.00 per share.  For further  discussion of the  conversion and
exercise  features  of  the  preferred  stock  and  warrants,  see  "Note  5  to
Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements."



Item 6.      Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)      Exhibits

         4 Amended and Restated Rights  Agreement,  dated April 27, 1999 between
         Matria and Sun Trust Bank, Atlanta.

         11 Statement Regarding Computation of Earnings (Loss) Per Share
<PAGE>

(b)      Reports on Form 8-K.

         The  Company  filed a Current  Report on Form 8-K on  February 3, 1999,
         which reported under Items 2 and 7 the  consummation of the purchase of
         Gainor Medical  Management,  LLC ("Gainor Medical") and amended same by
         filing a Form 8-K/A on April 5, 1999  containing  audited and pro forma
         financial information on Gainor Medical.


27.      Financial Data Schedule (for SEC purposes only)


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES



      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                            Matria Healthcare, Inc.


May 17, 1999                By:      /s/  Donald R. Millard                   
                                  Donald R. Millard
                                  Director, President, Chief Executive
                                  Officer and Chief Financial Officer
                                  (Principal Financial Officer)


                            By:   __/s/  Yvonne V. Scoggins               
                                  Yvonne V. Scoggins
                                  Vice  President,  Chief  Accounting  Officer
                                  and Treasurer
<PAGE>



               Matria Healthcare, Inc. and Subsidiaries EXHIBIT 11
                    Computation of Earnings (Loss) per Share

                 (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                   (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                                    1999        1998

<S>                                                                 <C>          <C>

Basic
Net earnings (loss)                                                 $ 1,671     (5,648)
Accretion on preferred stock                                            (87)         --
Preferred stock dividend requirements                                  (649)         --
                                                                     -------    -------
Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders                $   935     (5,648)
                                                                     -------    -------
Shares:
 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding                36,439      36,826
                                                                     -------    -------
Net earnings (loss) per common share                                $  0.03       (0.15)
                                                                     -------    -------
Diluted
Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders                $   935      (5,648)
                                                                     -------    -------
Shares:
 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding                36,439     36,826
 Shares issuable from assumed exercise of options and warrants          500)        --
                                                                     -------    -------
                                                                      36,939    36,826
                                                                     -------    -------
Net earnings (loss) per common share                                 $  0.03     (0.15)
                                                                     -------    -------
</TABLE>




<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
     quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                          0001007228
<NAME>                                         N/A
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000
<CURRENCY>                                     US Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    3-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          Dec-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             Jan-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               Mar-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           7,246
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   70,456
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (23,721)
<INVENTORY>                                      8,377
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                65,074
<PP&E>                                          50,899
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (31,786)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 255,472
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           55,454
<BONDS>                                              0
                           40,672
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           365
<OTHER-SE>                                      54,802
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   255,472
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                59,359
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   31,276
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                23,003
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,906
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,503
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,671
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,671
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,671
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .03
        


</TABLE>




Exhibit 4

                             MATRIA HEALTHCARE, INC.
                                       and
                      SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, Rights Agent











                      Amended and Restated Rights Agreement
                           Dated as of April 27, 1999



<PAGE>





                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            PAGE
Section 1.  Certain Definitions................................................2
Section 2.  Appointment of Rights Agent........................................7
Section 3.  Issue of Rights Certificates.......................................8
Section 4.  Form of Rights Certificates.......................................10
Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration.................................11
Section 6   Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
            Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
            Certificates......................................................12
Section 7.  Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.....13
Section 8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates...............17
Section 9.  Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.....................17
Section 10.  Common Stock Record Date.........................................20
Section 11.  Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
             Number of Rights.................................................20
Section 12.  Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.......36
Section 13.  Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
             Earning Power....................................................37
Section 14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares..........................41
Section 15.  All Rights of Action.............................................43
Section 16.  Agreement of Rights Holders......................................43
Section 17.  Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder...............45
Section 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent......................................45
Section 19.  Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent........46
Section 20.  Duties of Rights Agent...........................................47
Section 21.  Change of Rights Agent...........................................50
Section 22.  Issuance of New Rights Certificates..............................51
Section 23.  Redemption and Termination.......................................52
Section 24.  Exchange.........................................................54
Section 25.  Notice of Certain Events.........................................56
Section 26.  Notices..........................................................58
Section 27.  Supplements and Amendments.......................................58
Section 28.  Successors.......................................................60
Section 29.  Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc........60
Section 30.  Benefits of this Agreement.......................................61
Section 31.  Severability.....................................................61
Section 32.  Governing Law....................................................61
Section 33.  Counterparts.....................................................62
Section 34.  Descriptive Headings.............................................62
Exhibit A    [Form of Rights Certificate]......................................1


<PAGE>


                      AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT

      AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT,  dated as of April 27, 1999 between
MATRIA HEALTHCARE,  INC., a Delaware  corporation (the "Company"),  and SunTrust
Bank, Atlanta, a Georgia banking corporation (the "Rights Agent").
                               W I T N E S S E T H
         WHEREAS,  on January 30,  1996,  the Board of  Directors of the Company
approved  and  adopted the Rights  Agreement  between the Company and the Rights
Agent (the "Original  Agreement")  and  authorized the issuance  pursuant to the
Original  Agreement of one Right for each share of common stock, par value $0.01
per share,  of the Company (the "Common Stock") issued pursuant to the Agreement
and Plan of Merger  dated as of October 2, 1995,  as amended as of  December  4,
1995, by and among the Company,  Healthdyne,  Inc. and Tokos Medical Corporation
(Delaware)  (the "Merger  Agreement"),  and has  authorized  the issuance of one
Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted  pursuant to the provisions of
Section  11(p)  hereof)  for each share of Common  Stock of the  Company  issued
between  the  Effective  Time (as  defined  in the  Merger  Agreement)  (whether
originally issued or delivered from the Company's treasury) and the Distribution
Date, each Right initially  representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth
of a share of Common  Stock of the  Company,  upon the terms and  subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth (the "Rights"); and
         WHEREAS,  on  December  21,  1998 and  April  27,  1999,  the  Board of
Directors of the Company  adopted  amendments  to the Original  Agreement (as so
amended, the "Agreement"); and

<PAGE>

         WHEREAS,  on April 27,  1999,  the Board of  Directors  of the  Company
authorized and directed that the Agreement be restated to reflect all amendments
approved to date;
         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  the  mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
     Section  1.  Certain  Definitions.  For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
     (a)  "Acquiring  Person" shall mean any Person 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 the Company,  any Subsidiary of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or
any Person or entity  organized,  appointed or established by the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person
shall be  deemed  to be an  "Acquiring  Person"  either  (i) as a result  of the
acquisition  of Common  Stock by the Company  which,  by reducing  the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding,  increases the proportional number of shares
beneficially owned by such Person together with all Affiliates and Associates of
such Person;  except that if (A) a Person would become an Acquiring  Person (but
for the  operation  of this  subclause  (i)) as a result of the  acquisition  of
Common  Stock by the  Company,  and (B)  after  such  share  acquisition  by the
Company,  such Person or an Affiliate  or Associate of such Person,  becomes the
Beneficial  Owner of any  additional  Common  Stock,  then such Person  shall be
deemed an Acquiring  Person unless,  upon becoming the Beneficial  Owner of such
additional  shares of Common Stock,  such Person is the Beneficial Owner of less
than 15% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (ii) if (A) within 8
days after such Person would otherwise have become an Acquiring  Person (but for
the  operation  of this  subclause  (ii)),  such  Person  notifies  the Board of
Directors that such Person did so inadvertently and (B) within 2 days after such
notification,  such  Person  is the  Beneficial  Owner  of  less  than 5% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock. Provided further,  however, that neither any
Investor (as defined in that certain  Standstill  Agreement  dated as of January
19, 1999,  between the Company,  Mark J. Gainor and SZ Investments,  L.L.C. (the
"Standstill  Agreement"))  nor any such  Investor's  Permitted  Transferees  (as
defined in the Standstill  Agreement)  shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person
solely by virtue of (x) the execution of the Purchase and Sale  Agreement  dated
as of  December  21,  1998 (the  "Purchase  Agreement")  between the Company and
Gainor Medical Management,  L.L.C., a Georgia limited liability company ("GMM"),

<PAGE>

(y) the execution of the Standstill Agreement, or (z) the consummation of any of
the transactions  contemplated and expressly permitted by the Purchase Agreement
or Section 3.2(a), (b), or (c) of the Standstill  Agreement,  except that if any
Investor (or any Permitted  Transferee)  acquires  Matria Voting  Securities (as
defined in the  Standstill  Agreement)  other than in an  acquisition  expressly
permitted by Section 3.2(a), (b) or (c) of the Standstill Agreement, such Matria
Voting  Securities,  together  with all  other  Matria  Voting  Securities  then
Beneficially Owned by such Investor (or such Investor's Permitted  Transferees),
shall  be  counted  in  determining  whether  such  Investor  (or any  Permitted
Transferee) is an Acquiring Person.
         (b)  "Affiliate"  and  "Associate"  shall have the respective  meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations  under
the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended and in effect on the date of
this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
         (c)      A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial  Owner" of, and shall
                  be deemed to  "beneficially  own," any  securities:

     (i) which such Person or any of such  Person's  Affiliates  or  Associates,
directly  or  indirectly,  has the  right  to  acquire  (whether  such  right is
exercisable  immediately  or only  after the  passage of time)  pursuant  to any
agreement, arrangement or
         understanding  (whether  or not in  writing)  or upon the  exercise  of
         conversion rights,  exchange rights,  rights,  warrants or options,  or
         otherwise;  provided,  however,  that a Person  shall not be deemed the
         "Beneficial  Owner"  of,  or  to  "beneficially  own,"  (A)  securities
         issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of
         a Triggering Event, or (B) 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) hereof in connection  with an adjustment made with respect to any
         Original Rights;

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

<PAGE>

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

Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Owner to the contrary,
a Person  shall not be deemed the  "Beneficial  Owner"  of, or to  "beneficially
own,"  (A)  securities  acquired  by  participation  in  good  faith  in a  firm
commitment  underwriting  by a Person  engaged in business as an  underwriter of
securities   until  the  expiration  of  forty  days  after  the  date  of  such
acquisition; (B) securities which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates may acquire, does or do acquire or may be deemed to have the right
to acquire,  pursuant to any merger or other  acquisition  agreement between the
Company and such Person (or one or more of his Affiliates or Associates) if such
agreement  has been  approved by the Board of Directors of the Company  prior to
such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person; and (C) 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; nor shall any officer, director or employee of the Company
or a  subsidiary  of the  Company be deemed,  solely by reason of such  Person's
status or authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of any securities that
are "beneficially owned" including, without limitation, in a fiduciary capacity,
by the Company,  any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the
Company or any  Subsidiary  of the  Company  or any Person or entity  organized,
appointed  or  established  by the  Company for or pursuant to the terms of such
plan or by any other such  officer,  director or employee  of the  Company,  any
Subsidiary  of the  Company,  any  employee  benefit  plan of the Company or any
Subsidiary  of the  Company  or any  Person or entity  organized,  appointed  or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of such plan.


<PAGE>

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

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

         (f) "Common  Stock"  shall mean the common  stock,  par value $0.01 per
share,  of the Company,  except that "Common  Stock" when used with reference to
any Person  other than the Company  shall mean the capital  stock of such Person
with the  greatest  voting  power,  or the  equity  securities  or other  equity
interest having power to control or direct the management of such Person.

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

     (h) "Section  11(a)(ii)  Event"  shall mean any event  described in Section
11(a)(ii)  (A),  (B) or (C) hereof.  (i) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event
described in clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.

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

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

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


<PAGE>

Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  contained  in this  Agreement,  the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  and expressly  permitted by the
Purchase  Agreement or Section 3.2 (a), (b) or (c) of the  Standstill  Agreement
shall not  constitute  a Triggering  Event,  except that if any Investor (or any
Permitted  Transferee)  acquires  Matria  Voting  Securities  (as defined in the
Standstill  Agreement)  other  than in an  acquisition  expressly  permitted  by
Section  3.2(a),  (b) or (c) of the  Standstill  Agreement,  such Matria  Voting
Securities,  together with all other Matria Voting  Securities then Beneficially
Owned by such  Investor (or such  Investor's  Permitted  Transferees),  shall be
counted in determining whether a Triggering Event has occurred.

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

         Section 3. Issue of Rights  Certificates.  (a) Until the earlier of (i)
the close of business on the tenth day after the Stock  Acquisition Date or (ii)
at such time as the Board of  Directors of the Company may  designate  after the
date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company,  any
Subsidiary  of the Company,  any employee  benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary  of the  Company,  or any Person or entity  organized,  appointed  or
established  by the  Company  for or  pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is
first  published  or sent or given  within the  meaning of Rule  14d-2(a) of the
General  Rules and  Regulations  under the  Exchange  Act, if upon  consummation
thereof,  such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares
of Common Stock then outstanding (the earlier of (i) and (ii), as either of such
periods may be extended  pursuant to the provisions of Section 27 hereof,  being
herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject  to  the  provisions  of  paragraph  (b)  of  this  Section  3) by  the
certificates  for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the
Common  Stock  (which  certificates  for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be
certificates  for Rights) and not by separate  certificates,  and (y) the Rights
will be  transferable  only in  connection  with the transfer of the  underlying
shares of  Common  Stock  (including  a  transfer  to the  Company).  As soon as
practicable  after  the  Distribution  Date,  the  Rights  Agent  will  send  by
first-class,  insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common
Stock as of the close of business on the  Distribution  Date,  at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more right certificates,
in  substantially  the form of  Exhibit A hereto  (the  "Rights  Certificates"),
evidencing  one  Right  for each  share of  Common  Stock  so held,  subject  to
adjustment as provided herein.  In the event that an adjustment in the number of
Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof,
at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company may 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.

<PAGE>

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

         (c) Rights  shall be issued in  respect  of all shares of Common  Stock
  which are  issued  after the  Effective  Time but prior to the  earlier of the
  Distribution  Date or the  Expiration  Date.  Certificates  representing  such
  shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and
  Shall bear the following legend:

         This  certificate  also  evidences  and entitles  the holder  hereof to
      certain Rights as set forth in the Amended and Restated  Rights  Agreement
      between Matria Healthcare, Inc. (the "Company") and SunTrust Bank, Atlanta
      (the "Rights  Agent"),dated  as of April 27, 1999, as amended from time to
      time (the "Rights Agreement"),  the terms of which are hereby incorporated
      herein  by  reference  and a copy of  which  is on  file at the  principal
      offices of the Company. Under certain  circumstances,  as set forth in the
      Rights Agreement,  such Rights will be evidenced by separate  certificates
      and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail
      to the holder of this  certificate a copy of the Rights  Agreement,  as in
      effect on the date of mailing,  without charge promptly after receipt of a
      written request  therefor.  UNDER CERTAIN  CIRCUMSTANCES  SET FORTH IN THE
      RIGHTS AGREEMENT,  RIGHTS ISSUED TO, OR HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR
      BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH
      TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS  AGREEMENT),  WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD BY OR
      ON BEHALF OF SUCH PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT  HOLDER, MAY BECOME NULL AND
      VOID.
<PAGE>

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

         Section 4. Form of Rights  Certificates.  (a) The  Rights  Certificates
(and the forms of election to purchase  and of  assignment  to be printed on the
reverse  thereof) shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A
hereto  and may  have  such  marks of  identification  or  designation  and such
legends,  summaries  or  endorsements  printed  thereon as the  Company may deem
appropriate and as are not  inconsistent  with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be  required  to comply  with any  applicable  law or with any rule or
regulation  made  pursuant  thereto or with any rule or  regulation of any stock
exchange  on which the Rights may from time to time be listed,  or to conform to
usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights
Certificates,  whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Effective Time and
on their face shall  entitle the holders  thereof to purchase such number of one
one-hundredths  of a share of Common Stock as shall be set forth  therein at the
price set forth therein (such exercise price per one  one-hundredth  of a share,
the "Purchase  Price"),  but the amount and type of securities  purchasable upon
the exercise of each Right and the Purchase  Price  thereof  shall be subject to
adjustment as provided herein.

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

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

         Section  5.   Countersignature   and   Registration.   (a)  The  Rights
Certificates  shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its  Chairman of the
Board,  its  President or any Vice  President,  either  manually or by facsimile
signature,  and shall have  affixed  thereto the  Company's  seal or a facsimile
thereof  which shall be attested by the  Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary of
the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature.  The Rights Certificates
shall be manually  countersigned  by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for
any  purpose  unless so  countersigned.  In case any  officer of the Company who
shall have signed any of the Rights  Certificates shall cease to be such officer
of the Company  before  countersignature  by the Rights  Agent and  issuance and
delivery  by  the  Company,  such  Rights  Certificates,  nevertheless,  may  be
countersigned  by the Rights Agent and issued and  delivered by the Company with
the same  force  and  effect  as  though  the  person  who  signed  such  Rights
Certificates  had not ceased to be such officer of the  Company,  and any Rights
Certificates  may 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 Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
         (b)  Following  the  Distribution  Date,  the Rights Agent will keep or
cause  to be  kept,  at  its  principal  office  or  offices  designated  as the
appropriate  place  for  surrender  of  Rights  Certificates  upon  exercise  or
transfer,  books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder.  Such books  shall  show the names and  addresses  of the  respective
holders of the Rights  Certificates,  the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by  each  of the  Rights  Certificates  and  the  date  of  each  of the  Rights
Certificates.
<PAGE>

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

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

         Section 7.  Exercise  of Rights;  Purchase  Price;  Expiration  Date of
Rights.  (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate  may  exercise  the Rights  evidenced  thereby  (except as otherwise
provided   herein   including,   without   limitation,   the   restrictions   on
exercisability  set forth in Section 9(c),  Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof)  in  whole or in part at any  time  after  the  Distribution  Date  upon
surrender of the Rights  Certificate,  with the form of election to purchase and
the  certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed,  to the Rights Agent
at the  principal  office or  offices of the Rights  Agent  designated  for such
purpose,  together with payment of the aggregate  Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of one one-hundredths of a share (or other securities,  cash or
other assets,  as the case may be) as to which such surrendered  Rights are then
exercisable,  at or prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on January
30, 2006 (the "Final  Expiration  Date"),  (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed  as provided in Section 23 hereof or (iii) the time at which the Rights
are  exchanged  as provided in Section 24 hereof (the  earlier of (i),  (ii) and
(iii) being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").

         (b) The Purchase Price for each one  one-hundredth of a share of Common
Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall  initially be $.61, 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.
<PAGE>

         (c) Upon  receipt  of a  Rights  Certificate  representing  exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase
Price  per one  one-hundredth  of a share of  Common  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 Common Stock (or make available, if the
Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares)  certificates  for the total
number of one one-hundredths of a share of Common Stock to be Purchased, and the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests,  or (B) if the Company  shall have elected to deposit the total number
of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights  hereunder with a
depositary  agent,  requisition from the depositary  agent  depositary  receipts
representing such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Common Stock as are
to be  purchased  (in which case  certificates  for the  shares of Common  Stock
represented  by such receipts  shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the
depositary  agent) and the Company  will direct the  depositary  agent to comply
with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any,
to be paid in lieu of fractional  shares in  accordance  with Section 14 hereof,
(iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts,  cause the same
to be  delivered  to or upon the order of the  registered  holder of such Rights
Certificate,  registered  in such  name or  names as may be  designated  by such
holder,  and (iv) after receipt  thereof,  deliver such cash, if any, to or upon
the order of the registered  holder of such Rights  Certificate.  The payment of
the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof)  shall be made in cash or by certified  bank check or bank draft payable
to the order of the Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue
other  securities  (including  Common  Stock) of the  Company,  pay cash  and/or
distribute  other  property  pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof,  the Company will
make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other
property  are  available  for  distribution  by the  Rights  Agent,  if and when
appropriate.

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

         (e)  Notwithstanding  anything in this Agreement to the contrary,  from
and after the first occurrence of a Triggering  Event,  any Rights  beneficially
owned by (i) an  Acquiring  Person or an  Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person,  (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring  Person (or of any such  Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee  after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or
(iii)  a  transferee  of an  Acquiring  Person  (or of  any  such  Associate  or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently  with the Acquiring
Person  becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether  or not for  consideration)  from the  Acquiring  Person to  holders of
equity  interests  in such  Acquiring  Person  or to any  Person  with  whom the
Acquiring  Person has any continuing  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding
regarding the transferred  Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Company has determined is part of a plan,  arrangement  or  understanding
which has as a primary  purpose or effect the  avoidance of this  Section  7(e),
shall  become null and void  without  any  further  action and no holder of such
Rights shall have any rights  whatsoever  with  respect to such Rights,  whether
under any provision of this  Agreement or  otherwise.  The Company shall use all
reasonable  efforts  to insure  that the  provisions  of this  Section  7(e) and
Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder
of Rights  Certificates  or 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.
<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

         (d) The Company  covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all one  one-hundredths  of a share of Common
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
non-assessable.

         (e) The Company further  covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all federal and state  transfer  taxes and charges which may
be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and
of any  certificates  for a number  of one  one-hundredths  of a share of Common
Stock (or Common  Stock and/or  other  securities,  as the case may be) upon the
exercise  of Rights.  The  Company  shall not,  however,  be required to pay any
transfer  tax which may be payable in respect of any  transfer  or  delivery  of
Rights  Certificates  to a Person  other than,  or the issuance or delivery of a
number of one  one-hundredths of a share of Common Stock (or Common Stock and/or
other  securities,  as the case may be) in respect of a name other than that of,
the registered holder of the Rights  Certificates  evidencing Rights surrendered
for  exercise,  or to issue or  deliver  any  certificates  for a number  of one
one-hundredths  of a share  of  Common  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.
<PAGE>

         Section 10.  Common Stock  Record  Date.  Each person in whose name any
certificate  for a number of one  one-hundredths  of a share of Common Stock (or
full shares of Common  Stock  and/or  other  securities,  as the case may be) is
issued  upon the  exercise  of Rights  shall for all  purposes be deemed to have
become the holder of record of such fractional shares of Common 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 Common  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 Common Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights  Certificate  shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company  with  respect  to shares  for which the  Rights  shall be  exercisable,
including,  without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.

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

                   (a)(i) In the event the  Company  shall at any time after the
         date of this  Agreement  (A)  declare a dividend  on the  Common  Stock
         payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common
         Stock,  (C) combine the outstanding  Common Stock into a smaller number
         of  shares,  or  (D)  issue  any  shares  of  its  capital  stock  in a
         reclassification    of   the   Common   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 Common Stock or
         capital  stock,  as the case may be,  issuable  on such date,  shall be
         proportionately  adjusted  so that the  holder of any  Right  exercised
         after such time  shall be  entitled  to  receive,  upon  payment of the
         Purchase Price then in effect,  the aggregate number and kind of shares
         of Common Stock or capital  stock,  as the case may be, which,  if such
         Right had been exercised  immediately  prior to such date and at a time
         when the Common Stock transfer books of the Company were open, he would
         have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of
         such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification;  provided,
         however,  that in no event shall the  consideration to be paid upon the
         exercise  of one  Right be less  than the  aggregate  par  value of the
         shares of Common Stock of the Company issuable upon the exercise of one
         Right. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment  under both
         this Section  11(a)(i) and Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof,  the  adjustment
         provided  for in this  Section  11(a)(i)  shall be in addition  to, and
         shall be made prior to, any  adjustment  required  pursuant  to Section
         11(a)(ii) hereof.
<PAGE>

                   (ii)    In the event:

                           (A)  any   Acquiring   Person  or  any  Associate  or
                   Affiliate of any Acquiring Person, at any time after the date
                   of this  Agreement,  directly or indirectly,  (1) shall merge
                   into the Company or  otherwise  combine  with the Company and
                   the Company shall be the continuing or surviving  corporation
                   of such  merger or  combination  and the Common  Stock of the
                   Company shall remain outstanding and unchanged, (2) shall, in
                   one  transaction  or a series of  transactions,  transfer any
                   assets  to the  Company  or to any  of  its  Subsidiaries  in
                   exchange  (in whole or in part) for  shares of Common  Stock,
                   for shares of other equity securities of the Company,  or for
                   securities  exercisable  for or  convertible  into  shares of
                   equity  securities of the Company (Common Stock or otherwise)
                   or  otherwise  obtain  from  the  Company,  with  or  without
                   consideration,   any   additional   shares  of  such   equity
                   securities or securities  exercisable for or convertible into
                   shares of such equity  securities  (other than  pursuant to a
                   pro rata  distribution  to all holders of Common Stock),  (3)
                   shall sell,  purchase,  lease,  exchange,  mortgage,  pledge,
                   transfer  or   otherwise   acquire  or  dispose  of,  in  one
                   transaction or a series of transactions, to, from or with (as
                   the  case  may be) the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries,
                   assets on terms and conditions  less favorable to the Company
                   than the  Company  would be able to  obtain  in arm's  length
                   negotiation  with an  unaffiliated  third  party,  other than
                   pursuant to a transaction  set forth in Section 13(a) hereof,
                   (4) shall sell, purchase, lease, exchange,  mortgage, pledge,
                   transfer   or   otherwise   acquire  or  dispose  of  in  one
                   transaction or a series of transactions, to, from or with (as
                   the  case  may  be)  the  Company  or any  of  the  Company's
                   Subsidiaries (other than incidental to the lines of business,
                   if any,  engaged in as of the date hereof between the Company
                   and such Acquiring  Person or Associate or Affiliate)  assets
                   having  an   aggregate   fair  market   value  of  more  than
                   $3,000,000, other than pursuant to a transaction set forth in
                   Section 13(a) hereof, (5) shall receive any compensation from
                   the Company or any of the Company's  Subsidiaries  other than
                   compensation  for full-time  employment as a regular employee
                   at  rates  in   accordance   with  the   Company's   (or  its
                   Subsidiaries')  past  practices,  or (6)  shall  receive  the
                   benefit,  directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a
                   stockholder and except if resulting from a requirement of law
                   or  governmental   regulation),   of  any  loans,   advances,
                   guarantees,  pledges or other financial assistance or any tax
                   credits or other tax advantage provided by the Company or any
                   of its Subsidiaries, or
<PAGE>

                           (B)  any  Person   (other  than  the   Company,   any
                   Subsidiary of the Company,  any employee  benefit plan of the
                   Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or
                   entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for
                   or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), alone or together
                   with its Affiliates and Associates,  shall, at any time after
                   the Effective  Time,  become the  Beneficial  Owner of 20% or
                   more of the shares of Common  Stock then  outstanding,  other
                   than pursuant to any  transaction  set forth in Section 13(a)
                   hereof,  or pursuant to a tender  offer or an exchange  offer
                   for all outstanding  shares of Common Stock at a price and on
                   terms  determined  by the Board of  Directors  to be (a) at a
                   price which is fair to stockholders  (taking into account all
                   factors  which  such  members  of  the  Board  deem  relevant
                   including, without limitation,  prices which could reasonably
                   be  achieved  if the  Company or its  assets  were sold on an
                   orderly  basis  designed  to realize  maximum  value) and (b)
                   otherwise  in the  best  interests  of the  Company  and  its
                   stockholders, or

                           (C) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person,
                   there shall be any reclassification of securities  (including
                   any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the Company,
                   or any merger or consolidation of the Company with any of its
                   Subsidiaries   or  any   other   transaction   or  series  of
                   transactions   involving   the   Company   or   any   of  its
                   Subsidiaries,  other than a transaction  or  transactions  to
                   which the  provisions of Section 13(a) apply  (whether or not
                   with or into or  otherwise  involving  an  Acquiring  Person)
                   which has the effect,  directly or indirectly,  of increasing
                   by more than 1% the  proportionate  share of the  outstanding
                   shares of any class of equity  securities  of the  Company or
                   any of its  Subsidiaries  which  is  directly  or  indirectly
                   beneficially  owned by any Acquiring  Person or any Associate
                   or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person,
<PAGE>

          then,  promptly  following  five  (5)  days  after  the  date  of  the
          occurrence of an event  described in Section  11(a)(ii)(B)  hereof and
          promptly  following the  occurrence of any event  described in Section
          11(a)(ii)(A)  or (C) hereof,  proper  provision  shall be made so that
          each holder of a Right  (except as provided  below and in Section 7(e)
          hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise of a
          Right  at one  hundred  times  the  then  current  Purchase  Price  in
          accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement,  in lieu of a number of
          one  one-hundredths  of a share of Common  Stock,  such number of full
          shares of  Common  Stock of the  Company  as shall  equal  the  result
          obtained by (x)  multiplying  (1) one hundred  times the then  current
          Purchase Price by (2) the then number of one one-hundredths of a share
          of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
          the first  occurrence of a Section  11(a)(ii)  Event, and (y) dividing
          that product (which, following such first occurrence, shall thereafter
          be  referred  to as the  "Purchase  Price"  for each Right and for all
          purposes  of  this  Agreement)  by  50% of the  current  market  price
          (determined  pursuant  to Section  11(d)  hereof)  per share of Common
          Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number of shares, the
          "Adjustment Shares"),

                   (iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common  Stock
         which are authorized by the Company's articles of incorporation but not
         outstanding  or reserved  for  issuance  for  purposes  other than upon
         exercise  of the Rights are not  sufficient  to permit the  exercise in
         full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing  subparagraph  (ii)
         of this Section 11(a),  the Company shall:  (A) determine the excess of
         (1) the value of the Adjustment  Shares issuable upon the exercise of a
         Right (the "Current  Value") over (2) the Purchase  Price (such excess,
         the  "Spread"),  and (B) with  respect  to each  Right,  make  adequate
         provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares,  upon 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 which the Board of Directors of the Company has deemed
         to have the same  value as  shares  of  Common  Stock  (such  shares of
         preferred stock, "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  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 thirty
         (30) days following the later of (x) the first  occurrence of a Section
         11(a)(ii)  Event  and (y) the  date on  which  the  Company's  right of
         redemption  pursuant  to Section  23 expires  (the later of (x) and (y)
         being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then
         the Company  shall be  obligated  to deliver,  upon the  surrender  for
         exercise  of a Right and  without  requiring  payment  of the  Purchase
         Price,  shares of Common Stock (to the extent  available)  and then, if
         necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal
         to the Spread. 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 thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended
         to the extent  necessary,  but not more than ninety (90) days after the
         Section  11(a)(ii)  Trigger  Date,  in order that the  Company may seek
         shareholder  approval for the  authorization of such additional  shares
         (such period, as it may be extended, the "Substitution Period"). To the
         extent  that the  Company  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

<PAGE>

         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 (as determined  pursuant
         to Section  11(d)  hereof) per share of the Common Stock on the Section
         11(a)(ii)  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
Common Stock  entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring
within  forty-five  (45)  calendar days after such record date) Common Stock (or
shares  having the same  rights,  privileges  and  preferences  as the shares of
Common Stock ("equivalent common stock")) or securities  convertible into Common
Stock or  equivalent  common  stock at a price per share of Common  Stock or per
share of equivalent  common stock (or having a conversion  price per share, if a
security convertible into Common Stock or equivalent common stock) less than the
current market price (as determined  pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share
of Common  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 Common Stock  outstanding  on such record date,
plus the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate  offering price of
the total number of shares of Common Stock and/or  equivalent common 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  Common  Stock
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional  shares of Common
Stock and/or  equivalent common stock to be offered for subscription or purchase
(or into  which  the  convertible  securities  so to be  offered  are  initially
convertible);  provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be
paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the  aggregate par value of the
shares of capital stock of the Company  issuable upon the exercise of one Right.
In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or
all of which may be in a form other than cash,  the value of such  consideration
shall be as  determined  in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose  determination  shall be  described  in a statement  filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be binding on the Rights  Agent and the  holders of the  Rights.
Shares of Common Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not
be deemed  outstanding for the purpose of any such computation.  Such adjustment
shall be made  successively  whenever  such a record  date is fixed,  and in the
event that such rights or warrants are not so issued,  the Purchase  Price shall
be  adjusted  to be the  Purchase  Price  which  would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.
<PAGE>

         (c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a  distribution  to
all holders of Common 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 Common Stock, but including
any dividend payable in stock other than Common Stock) or subscription rights or
warrants  (excluding  those referred to in Section 11(b)  hereof),  the Purchase
Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by  multiplying
the  Purchase  Price  in  effect  immediately  prior  to such  record  date by a
fraction,  the  numerator  of  which  shall  be the  current  market  price  (as
determined  pursuant to Section  11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on such
record  date,  less the fair market  value (as  determined  in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company,  whose  determination shall be described in a
statement  filed with the Rights  Agent) of the  portion of the cash,  assets or
evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or
warrants  applicable  to a share of Common  Stock and the  denominator  of which
shall be such current  market  price (as  determined  pursuant to Section  11(d)
hereof) per share of Common Stock; provided, however, that in no event shall the
consideration  to be paid  upon  the  exercise  of one  Right  be less  than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company  issuable upon
the exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively  whenever
such a record date is fixed,  and in the event that such  distribution is not so
made,  the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would
have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

         (d)  For  the  purpose  of  any  computation   hereunder,   other  than
computations  made pursuant to Section  11(a)(iii)  hereof,  the "current market
price" per share of Common  Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the  average
of the daily  closing  prices per share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30)
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior
to such  date,  and for  purposes  of  computations  made  pursuant  to  Section
11(a)(iii)  hereof,  the "current market price" per share of Common Stock on any
date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing  prices per share of
such  Common  Stock  for the  ten  (10)  consecutive  Trading  Days  immediately
following  such date;  provided,  however,  that in the event  that the  current
market  price  per  share  of the  Common  Stock is  determined  during a period
following the  announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend
or  distribution  on such Common Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or
securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights),
or (B) any subdivision,  combination or  reclassification  of such Common Stock,
<PAGE>

and prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10)
Trading Day period,  as set forth  above,  after the  ex-dividend  date for such
dividend or distribution,  or the record date for such subdivision,  combination
or  reclassification,  then, and in each such case,  the "current  market price"
shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing
price for each day shall be the last sale  price,  regular  way,  or, in case no
such sale takes  place on such day,  the  average of the  closing  bid and asked
prices,  regular way, in either case as reported in the  principal  consolidated
transaction  reporting  system with respect to securities  listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the
principal  consolidated  transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed on the  principal  national  securities  exchange  on which the shares of
Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock
are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities  exchange,  the
last  quoted  price or, if not so  quoted,  the  average of the high bid and low
asked  prices  in the  over-the-counter  market,  as  reported  by the  National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or
such  other  system  then in use,  or, if on any such date the  shares of Common
Stock are not quoted by any such  organization,  the  average of the closing bid
and asked prices as furnished by a professional  market maker making a market in
the Common Stock  selected by the Board of  Directors of the Company.  If on any
such date no market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value
of such  shares  on such  date as  determined  in good  faith  by the  Board  of
Directors of the Company shall be used.  The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day
on which the  principal  national  securities  exchange  on which the  shares of
Common  Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the  transaction  of
business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities  exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not
publicly held or not so listed or traded, "current market price" per share shall
mean the fair  value  per  share as  determined  in good  faith by the  Board 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 one one-hundredth of a
share of Common Stock shall be equal to the "current  market price" of one share
of Common Stock divided by 100.
<PAGE>

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

        (f) If as a result of an adjustment  made pursuant to Section  11(a)(ii)
or Section  13(a) hereof,  the holder of any Right  thereafter  exercised  shall
become  entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Common 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 Common Stock  contained in Sections  11(a),  (b),
(c), (e), (g), (h), (i),  (j),(k) and (m), and the  provisions of Sections 7, 9,
10, 13 and 14 hereof with  respect to the Common Stock shall apply on like terms
to any such other shares.

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

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

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

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

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

         (l) In any  case  in  which  this  Section  11  shall  require  that an
adjustment  in the  Purchase  Price be made  effective as of a record date for a
specified  event,  the Company may elect to defer until the  occurrence  of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right  exercised  after such record date
the number of one  one-hundredths  of a share of Common Stock and other  capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and
above the  number  of one  one-hundredths  of a share of Common  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 Common Stock,  (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of
Common Stock at less than the current market price,  (iii)  issuance  wholly for
cash of  shares  of  Common  Stock  or  securities  which  by  their  terms  are
convertible  into or  exchangeable  for  shares  of  Common  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 Common Stock shall
not be taxable to such stockholders.
<PAGE>

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

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

         (p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,  in the
event that the Company shall at any time after the  Effective  Time and prior to
the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,  (ii) subdivide the outstanding  shares
of Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding  shares of Common Stock into a
smaller  number of shares,  the number of Rights  associated  with each share of
Common Stock then  outstanding,  or issued or delivered  thereafter but prior to
the  Distribution  Date or in  accordance  with  Section  22  hereof,  shall  be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each  share of Common  Stock  following  any such event  shall  equal the result
obtained  by  multiplying  the  number of Rights  associated  with each share of
Common Stock  immediately  prior to such event by a fraction,  the  numerator 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.

         Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an  adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section 13 hereof,
the  Company  shall  (a)  promptly  prepare a  certificate  setting  forth  such
adjustment and a brief  statement of the facts  accounting for such  adjustment,
(b) promptly  file with the Rights Agent,  and with each transfer  agent for the
Common Stock and the Common Stock,  a copy of such  certificate,  and (c) mail a
brief summary  thereof to each holder of a Rights  Certificate  (or, if prior to
the Distribution  Date, to each holder of a certificate  representing  shares of
Common  Stock) in accordance  with Section 26 hereof.  The Rights Agent shall be
fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein
contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment unless and
until it shall have received such certificate.

         Section  13.  Consolidation,  Merger or Sale or  Transfer  of Assets or
Earning Power. (a) In the event that,  during such time as there is an Acquiring
Person, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge
with and into,  any other Person  (other than a  Subsidiary  of the Company in a
transaction  which  complies  with Section 11(o) hereof and has been approved by
the  Board  of  Directors),  and the  Company  shall  not be the  continuing  or
surviving  corporation of such  consolidation  or merger,  (y) any Person (other
than a Subsidiary  of the Company in a transaction  which  complies with Section
11(o) hereof and has been approved by the Board of Directors) shall  consolidate
with,  or  merge  with or  into,  the  Company,  and the  Company  shall  be the
continuing  or surviving  corporation  of such  consolidation  or merger and, in
connection  with such  consolidation  or merger,  all or part of the outstanding
shares of Common  Stock shall be changed  into or  exchanged  for stock or other
securities of any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company
shall sell or otherwise  transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell
or otherwise transfer),  in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
assets or earning power  aggregating  50% or more of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons
(other  than  the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  of the  Company  in one or  more
transactions  each of which  complies  with  Section  11(o)  hereof and has been
approved  by the  Board of  Directors),  then,  and in each  such  case,  proper
provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right,  except as provided
in Section 7(e) hereof,  shall  thereafter  have the right to receive,  upon the
exercise  thereof  at one  hundred  times  the then  current  Purchase  Price in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement,  such number of validly  authorized
and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradable full shares of Common
Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined),  not subject
to any liens, encumbrances,  rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as
shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying by one hundred the then
<PAGE>


current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of  one-hundredths of a share of
Common  Stock for which a Right is  exercisable  immediately  prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section  11(a)(ii) Event has occurred
prior to the first  occurrence of a Section 13 Event,  multiplying the number of
such  one-hundredths  of a share for which a Right was  exercisable  immediately
prior to the first occurrence of a Section  11(a)(ii) Event by one hundred times
the Purchase Price in effect  immediately prior to such first  occurrence),  and
dividing that product  (which,  following  the first  occurrence of a Section 13
Event,  shall be referred to as the "Purchase  Price" for each Right and for all
purposes of this  Agreement) by (2) 50% of the current market price  (determined
pursuant  to  Section  11(d)  hereof)  per  share  of the  Common  Stock of such
Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event;  (ii) such
Principal Party shall  thereafter be liable for, and shall assume,  by virtue of
such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to
this Agreement;  (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to
such  Principal  Party,  it being  specifically  intended that the provisions of
Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal  Party  following the first
occurrence  of a Section 13 Event;  (iv) such  Principal  Party  shall take such
steps (including,  but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of
shares of its Common  Stock) in  connection  with the  consummation  of any such
transaction  as may be  necessary  to assure that the  provisions  hereof  shall
thereafter be  applicable,  as nearly as  reasonably  may be, in relation to its
shares of Common Stock  thereafter  deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights;
and (v) the  provisions  of  Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof  shall  be of no  effect
following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.

         (b)      "Principal Party" shall mean

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

                  (ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
         the first  sentence  of Section  13(a),  the  Person  that is the party
         receiving  the  greatest   portion  of  the  assets  or  earning  power
         transferred  pursuant to such  transaction or  transactions;  provided,
         however,  that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
         is not at such time and has not been  continuously  over the  preceding
         twelve (12) month period  registered  under  Section 12 of the Exchange
         Act,  and such  Person is a direct or  indirect  Subsidiary  of another
         Person  the  Common  Stock  of  which  is and has  been so  registered,
         "Principal  Party"  shall refer to such other  Person;  and (2) in case
         such Person is a Subsidiary,  directly or indirectly,  of more than one
         Person,  the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so
         registered,  "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons
         is the issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest  aggregate market
         value.  (c) The Company shall not  consummate  any such  consolidation,
         merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall
have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not
been  issued or  reserved  for  issuance  to permit the  exercise in full of the
Rights in  accordance  with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company
and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental  agreement  providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and
(b) of this Section 13 and further  providing that, as soon as practicable after
the date of any  consolidation,  merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph
(a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
<PAGE>

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

                  (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;
         and

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

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

         (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  has been approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company;  or (ii)(A) such  transaction  is  consummated  with a
Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer
or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which complies with
the provisions of Section  11(a)(ii)(B)  hereof (or a wholly owned subsidiary of
any such Person or Persons),  (B) the price per share of Common Stock offered in
such  transaction  is not less than the price per share of Common  Stock paid to
all holders of shares of Common  Stock whose shares were  purchased  pursuant to
such tender offer or exchange  offer,  and (C) the form of  consideration  being
offered to the  remaining  holders of shares of Common  Stock  pursuant  to such
transaction  is the  same as the form of  consideration  paid  pursuant  to such
tender  offer or  exchange  offer.  Upon  consummation  of any such  transaction
contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
<PAGE>

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

         (b) The Company  shall not be required to issue  fractions of shares of
Common  Stock  (other  than  fractions  which  are  integral  multiples  of  one
one-hundredth  of a share of Common  Stock)  upon  exercise  of the Rights or to
distribute  certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock (other
than fractions which are integral  multiples of one  one-hundredth of a share of
Common Stock); provided,  however, that in lieu of fractions of shares of Common
Stock which are  integral  multiples of one  one-hundredth  of a share of Common
Stock, the Company may provide for the issuance of depositary  receipts pursuant
to Section 7(c) hereof.  In lieu of  fractional  shares of Common Stock that are
not integral  multiples of one  one-hundredth  of a share of Common  Stock,  the
Company may pay to the  registered  holders of Rights  Certificates  at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one  one-hundredth  of a share of Common
Stock.  For  purposes of this  Section  14(b),  the current  market value of one
one-hundredth  of a share of  Common  Stock  shall be one  one-hundredth  of the
closing  price of a share of Common  Stock (as  determined  pursuant  to Section
11(d)  hereof)  for  the  Trading  Day  immediately  prior  to the  date of such
exercise.
<PAGE>

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

         Section  15. All  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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

         Section 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent. (a) The Company agrees to pay
to the Rights Agent  reasonable  compensation  for all  services  rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent,  its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements  incurred in
the  administration  and  execution  of  this  Agreement  and the  exercise  and
performance  of its duties  hereunder.  The Company also agrees to indemnify the
Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any losses, expenses, claims,
damages or liabilities,  incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent,  for anything done or omitted by the
Rights  Agent in  connection  with the  acceptance  and  administration  of this
Agreement and performance hereunder,  including,  without limitation,  the costs
and expenses of  defending  against any claim of  liability  arising  therefrom,
directly or  indirectly,  and will  promptly  reimburse the Rights Agent for any
legal or other expenses  reasonably  incurred in  investigating or defending any
such loss, expense, claim, damage or liability.

         (b) The Rights Agent shall be protected  by the  indemnity  provided by
this  Section 18 and shall  incur no  liability  for or in respect of any action
taken,  suffered or omitted by it in connection with its  administration of this
Agreement in reliance  upon any Rights  Certificate  or  certificate  for Common
Stock or for other  securities  of the  Company,  instrument  of  assignment  or
transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,  affidavit, letter, notice, direction,
consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine  and  to  be  signed,   executed  and,  where  necessary,   verified  or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
<PAGE>

         Section 19. Merger or  Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any  corporation  into which the Rights Agent or any successor  Rights Agent
may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any  merger or  consolidation  to which the Rights  Agent or any  successor
Rights Agent shall be a party,  or any  corporation  succeeding to the corporate
trust 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.
<PAGE>

         (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 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 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.

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

         (e) 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.
<PAGE>

         (f) 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 to the  Company  or the holder of any Rights
Certificate  or any  shareholder of the Company for any action taken or suffered
to be taken by it in good  faith in  accordance  with  instructions  of any such
officer.

         (g) 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.

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

         (i) 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, in the sole judgment of the Rights Agent, reasonable grounds for
believing that repayment of such funds or adequate  indemnification against such
risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
<PAGE>

         (j) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent  for  exercise  or  transfer,  the  certificate  attached  to the  form of
assignment  or form of election to purchase,  as the case may be, has either not
been  completed  or  indicates  an  affirmative  response  to  clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise 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  thirty (30) days'  notice in writing  mailed to the  Company,  and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock,  by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights  Certificates by first-class  mail. The Company may remove
the Rights Agent or any successor  Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in
writing,  mailed to the Rights Agent or successor  Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each transfer  agent of the Common Stock,  by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights  Certificates by first-class mail. If the
Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise  become  incapable of
acting,  the Company  shall  appoint a  successor  to the Rights  Agent.  If the
Company shall fail to make such appointment  within a period of thirty (30) days
after giving  notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or
by the holder of a Rights  Certificate (who shall, with such notice,  submit his
Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of
any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent  jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed
by the Company or by such a court,  shall be a  corporation  organized and doing
business  under the laws of the  United  States or of the State of Georgia or of
the State of New York (or of any  other  state of the  United  States so long as
such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking institution in either
the State of  Georgia  or the State of New  York),  in good  standing,  having a
principal  office in either the State of Georgia or the State of New York, which
is authorized under such laws to exercise  corporate trust 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. 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 Common Stock,  and mail a notice  thereof in writing to
the registered  holders of the Rights  Certificates.  Failure to give any notice
provided  for in this  Section 21,  however,  or any defect  therein,  shall not
affect the  legality  or validity  of the  resignation  or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

         Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this  Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary,  the Company
may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by 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  redemption or  expiration of the Rights,  the Company (a)
shall,  with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the
exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the
exercise,  conversion  or  exchange  of  securities  hereinafter  issued  by the
Company,  and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed  necessary or appropriate by
the Board of 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  adjustments  shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof.
<PAGE>

         Section 23.  Redemption and Termination.  (a) The Board of Directors of
the  Company  may,  at its  option,  at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the
close of business  on the tenth day (as such period may be extended  pursuant to
the provisions of Section 27 hereof)  following the Stock  Acquisition  Date, or
(ii) the Final  Expiration  Date,  redeem  all but not less than all of the then
outstanding  Rights at a redemption  price of $.01 per Right, as such amount may
be appropriately  adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction  occurring  after  the date  hereof  (such  redemption  price  being
hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"),  such Redemption Price to be
payable in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on the "current market price," as
defined in Section 11(d) hereof,  of the Common Stock at the time of redemption)
or such other form of consideration as may be deemed appropriate by the Board of
Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if following the occurrence of
a Stock Acquisition Date and following the expiration of the right of redemption
hereunder but prior to any  Triggering  Event,  (i) a Person who is an Acquiring
Person shall have  transferred  or  otherwise  disposed of a number of shares of
Common  Stock in one  transaction  or series of  transactions,  not  directly or
indirectly  involving  the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  which did not
result  in the  occurrence  of a  Triggering  Event  such  that  such  Person is
thereafter a Beneficial Owner of 5% or less of the outstanding  shares of Common
Stock, and (ii) there are no other Persons, immediately following the occurrence
of the event described in clause (i), who are Acquiring Persons,  then the right
of redemption shall be reinstated and thereafter be subject to the provisions of
this Section 23.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained in this  Agreement to the
contrary,  the Rights shall not be exercisable  after the first  occurrence of a
Section  11(a)(ii)  Event until such time as the  Company's  right of redemption
hereunder and under subsection (b) of this Section 23 has expired.

         (b) During the period  commencing at the close of business on the tenth
day following the Stock  Acquisition  Date and terminating on the earlier of (i)
the  occurrence of a Triggering  Event and (ii) the Final  Expiration  Date, the
Board of Directors  of the Company  may, at its option,  redeem all but not less
than all of the then outstanding  Rights at the Redemption Price  (appropriately
adjusted  to reflect any stock  split,  stock  dividend  or similar  transaction
occurring after the date hereof), provided that such redemption is incidental to
a merger, consolidation or other business combination involving the Company or a
reorganization  or  restructuring  of the Company  which the Board of  Directors
shall determine to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
<PAGE>

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

         Section 24. Exchange. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at
its option, at any time after the occurrence of a Triggering 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 at an exchange  ratio of one Common Share per Right,
appropriately  adjusted to reflect any stock  split,  stock  dividend or similar
transaction   occurring  after  the  date  hereof  (such  exchange  ratio  being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board of Directors  shall not be  empowered  to effect such  exchange at any
time after any Person  (other than the Company,  any  Subsidiary of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such  Subsidiary,  or any entity
holding  shares of Common  Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan),
together  with  all  Affiliates  and  Associates  of such  Person,  becomes  the
Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

         (b)  Immediately  upon the  action  of the  Board of  Directors  of the
Company  ordering the exchange of any Rights  pursuant to paragraph  (a) of this
Section 24 and without any further  action and without any notice,  the right to
exercise such Rights shall  terminate and the only right  thereafter of a holder
of such Rights  shall be to receive  that number of shares of Common Stock equal
to the number of such  Rights  held by such holder  multiplied  by the  Exchange
Ratio.  The Company  shall  promptly  give public  notice of any such  exchange;
provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall
not affect the  validity of such  exchange.  The Company  promptly  shall mail a
notice of any such  exchange  to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given,  whether or
not the holder receives the notice.  Each such notice of exchange will state the
method by which the  exchange  of the shares of Common  Stock for Rights will be
effected and, in the event of any partial  exchange,  the number of Rights which
will be exchanged.  Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the
number of Rights  (other  than Rights  which have  become  void  pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
<PAGE>

         (c) In the event that there  shall not be  sufficient  shares of Common
Stock  issued but not  outstanding  or  authorized  but  unissued  to permit any
exchange  of Rights as  contemplated  in  accordance  with this  Section 24, the
Company  shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize  additional
shares of Common Stock for issuance  upon  exchange of the Rights.  In the event
the Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as
may be  necessary to  authorize  such  additional  shares of Common  Stock,  the
Company shall substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise be issuable
upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of Common Stock or fraction thereof
such that the current per share market price of one Common Share  multiplied  by
such number or fraction  is equal to the current per share  market  price of one
Common  Share as of the date of  issuance  of such  shares  of  Common  Stock or
fraction thereof.

        (d) The Company  shall not be required to issue  fractions  of shares of
Common Stock or to distribute  certificates which evidence  fractional shares of
Common Stock.  In lieu of such  fractional  shares of Common Stock,  the Company
shall pay to the  registered  holders of the Right  Certificates  with regard to
which such  fractional  shares of Common  Stock would  otherwise  be issuable an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole
Common Share.  For the purposes of this  paragraph (d), the current market value
of a whole  Common  Share  shall be the  closing  price of a  Common  Share  (as
determined  pursuant to Section  11(d)  hereof) for the Trading Day  immediately
prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.

         Section 25.  Notice of Certain  Events.  (a) In case the Company  shall
propose,  at any time  after  the  Distribution  Date,  (i) to pay any  dividend
payable  in stock of any class to the  holders  of  Common  Stock or to make any
other  distribution  to the  holders  of  Common  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 Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for
or to purchase any  additional  shares of Common Stock or shares of stock of any
class or any  other  securities,  rights  or  options,  or (iii) to  effect  any
reclassification  of its Common Stock (other than a  reclassification  involving
only the subdivision of outstanding  shares of Common Stock),  or (iv) to effect
any  consolidation  or  merger  into or with  any  other  Person  (other  than a
Subsidiary  of the Company in a  transaction  which  complies with Section 11(o)
hereof and has been approved by the Board of  Directors),  or to effect any sale
or other  transfer (or to permit one or more of its  Subsidiaries  to effect any
sale or other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
of 50% or  more  of  the  assets  or  earning  power  of  the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons  (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies  with  Section  11(o)  hereof  and has been  approved  by the  Board of
Directors),  or (v) to effect the liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of the
Company,  then,  in each such case,  the Company  shall give to each holder of a
Rights  Certificate,  to the extent  feasible and in accordance  with Section 26
hereof,  a notice of such proposed  action,  which shall specify the record date
for the purposes of such stock dividend,  distribution of rights or warrants, or
the date on which such reclassification,  consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
liquidation,  dissolution,  or  winding  up is to take  place  and  the  date of
participation  therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock, if any such
date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
covered  by clause  (i) or (ii)  above at least  twenty  (20) days  prior to the
record date for  determining  holders of the shares of Common Stock for purposes
of such action,  and in the case of any such other action,  at least twenty (20)
days  prior to the date of the  taking  of such  proposed  action or the date of
participation  therein by the holders of the shares of Common  Stock,  whichever
shall be the earlier.
<PAGE>

         (b) In case any Triggering  Event shall occur,  then, in any such case,
(i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a
Rights  Certificate,  to the extent  feasible and in accordance  with Section 26
hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event,  which shall specify the event
and the  consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section  11(a)(ii)
or Section 13 hereof as  applicable,  and (ii) all  references  in the preceding
paragraph  to Common Stock shall be deemed  thereafter  to refer to Common Stock
and/or, if appropriate, other securities.

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

           Matria Healthcare, Inc.
           1850 Parkway Place
           12th Floor
           Marietta, Georgia 30067
           Attention:    Corporate Secretary

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

         SunTrust Bank, Atlanta
          58 Edgewood Avenue
         Atlanta, Georgia  30302
         Attention:  Manager, Corporate Trust Department

<PAGE>

Notices  or  demands  authorized  by this  Agreement  to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights  Agent to the holder of any  Rights  Certificate  (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.  Subject to the penultimate
sentence  of this  Section 27 and with the  consent of the  Rights  Agent,  this
Agreement may be  supplemented  or amended at the times and for the purposes set
forth  below.  Prior to the  Distribution  Date and  subject to the  penultimate
sentence of this  Section 27, the Company  and the Rights  Agent  shall,  if the
Company so directs,  supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without
the approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock.
From and after the Distribution Date and subject to the penultimate  sentence of
this  Section  27, the  Company and the Rights  Agent  shall,  if the Company so
directs,  supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders
of Rights  Certificates  in order (i) to cure any ambiguity,  (ii) to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions  herein,  (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period
hereunder,  or (iv) to change or  supplement  the  provisions  hereunder  in any
manner which the Company may deem  necessary  or  desirable  and which shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other than
an Acquiring  Person or an  Affiliate  or  Associate  of an  Acquiring  Person);
provided,  this  Agreement  may not be  supplemented  or  amended  to  lengthen,
pursuant  to clause  (iii) of this  sentence,  (A) subject to Section 31, a time
period  relating  to when the Rights may be  redeemed at such time as the Rights
are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such lengthening is
for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the
benefits  to, the holders of the common  equity of the  Company,  including  the
holders of  Rights.  Upon the  delivery  of a  certificate  that is signed by an
officer  of the  Company  and  which  states  that the  proposed  supplement  or
amendment is in  compliance  with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment.  Notwithstanding  anything contained
in this  Agreement to the contrary,  no  supplement  or amendment  shall be made
which changes the  Redemption  Price,  the Final  Expiration  Date, the Purchase
Price or the number of one  one-hundredths  of a share of Common  Stock or other
securities or assets for which a Right is 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.
<PAGE>

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

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

         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  Georgia  and for all  purposes  shall be  governed  by and
construed in accordance  with the laws of such State  applicable to contracts to
be made and 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.


<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their  respective  corporate seals to be hereunto  affixed and
attested, all as of the date and year first above written.

Attest:                             MATRIA HEALTHCARE, INC.

____________________________        By:_________________________
Name:                                   Name:
Title:                                  Title:

Attest:                              SUNTRUST BANK, ATLANTA

___________________________          By:________________________
Name:                                   Name:
Title:                                  Title:



<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit A

                          [Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R-                                                 _____ Rights

NOT  EXERCISABLE  AFTER  JANUARY 30, 2006 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY
THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY,
AT $.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.  UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS  AGREEMENT) AND ANY  SUBSEQUENT  HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS  REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY  OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING  PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS  AGREEMENT).   ACCORDINGLY,   THIS  RIGHTS  CERTIFICATE  AND  THE  RIGHTS
REPRESENTED  HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE  CIRCUMSTANCES  SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]1

                               Rights Certificate
                             MATRIA HEALTHCARE, 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
Amended and Restated  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of April 27, 1999, as amended
from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"),  between Matria Healthcare,  Inc., a
Delaware  corporation (the  "Company"),  and SunTrust Bank,  Atlanta,  a Georgia
banking  corporation (the "Rights  Agent"),  to purchase from the Company at any
time prior to 5:00 PM  (Eastern  Standard  Time) on  January  30,  2006  (unless
earlier  redeemed by the Company as  provided  in the Rights  Agreement)  at the
office or  offices of the  Rights  Agent  designated  for such  purpose,  or its
successors as Rights Agent, one  one-hundredth  of a fully paid,  non-assessable
share of Common Stock (the "Common  Stock") of the Company,  at a purchase price
of  $.61  per  one  one-hundredth  of  a  share  (the  "Purchase  Price"),  upon
presentation and surrender of this Rights  Certificate with the Form of Election
to Purchase and related  Certificate duly executed.  The Purchase Price shall be
paid in cash. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the
number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise  thereof) set forth above,
and the Purchase  Price per share set forth  above,  are the number and Purchase
Price as of ___________________,  19__, based on the Common Stock as constituted
at such date.
<PAGE>

         Upon the  occurrence  of a  Section  11(a)(ii)  Event  (as such term is
defined  in the  Rights  Agreement),  if the  Rights  evidenced  by this  Rights
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Acquiring  Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement),  (ii) a  transferee  of any  such  Acquiring  Person,  Associate  or
Affiliate,  or  (iii)  under  certain  circumstances  specified  in  the  Rights
Agreement,  a  transferee  of a person  who,  after  such  transfer,  became  an
Acquiring  Person,  or an Affiliate or  Associate of an Acquiring  Person,  such
Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with
respect to such Rights from and after the  occurrence of such Section  11(a)(ii)
Event.
         As provided in the Rights Agreement,  the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of shares of Common  Stock or other  securities  which may be purchased
upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject
to modification  and adjustment upon the happening of certain events,  including
Triggering Events (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement).
         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 Rights Agent.
         This Rights  Certificate,  with or without  other Rights  Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose,  may be exchanged  for another  Rights  Certificate  or Rights
Certificates  of like tenor and date evidencing  Rights  entitling the holder to
purchase  a like  aggregate  number of one  one-hundredths  of a share of Common
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.
<PAGE>

         Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption
price  of $.01  per  Right at any time  prior  to the  earlier  of the  close of
business on (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such time
period may be  extended  pursuant to the Rights  Agreement),  and (ii) the Final
Expiration  Date. After the Expiration of the redemption  period,  the Company's
right of  redemption  may be  reinstated  if an  Acquiring  Person  reduces  his
beneficial  ownership to 5% or less of the outstanding shares of Common Stock in
a transaction or series of transactions not involving the Company.  In addition,
the Company may redeem the Rights  after the above ten day period and prior to a
Triggering Event, incidental to a merger or other business combination involving
the Company or reorganization or restructuring of the Company which the Board of
Directors of the Company (as defined in the Rights  Agreement)  determines is in
the best interest of stockholders.
           No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon the exercise
of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one  one-hundredth  of a share of Common  Stock,  which may, at the
election of the  Company,  be  evidenced by  depositary  receipts),  but in lieu
thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
         No holder  of this  Rights  Certificate  shall be  entitled  to vote or
receive  dividends  or be deemed for any  purpose the holder of shares of Common
Stock  or of any  other  securities  of the  Company  which  may at any  time be
issuable on the  exercise  hereof,  nor shall  anything  contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof,  as such, any
of the  rights  of a  stockholder  of the  Company  or any right to vote for the
election  of  directors  or upon any matter  submitted  to  stockholders  at any
meeting thereof,  or to give or withhold consent to any corporate  action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions  affecting  stockholders  (except as
provided  in the Rights  Agreement),  or to receive  dividends  or  subscription
rights,  or  otherwise,  until  the  Right or Rights  evidenced  by this  Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
         This  Rights  Certificate  shall  not be  valid or  obligatory  for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
     WITNESS the  facsimile  signature of the proper  officer of the Company and
its corporate seal.
Dated as of _________________________, 19__


ATTEST:                                      MATRIA HEALTHCARE, INC.


____________________________                 By:_______________________
     Secretary                               Title:____________________

Countersigned:
SunTrust Bank, Atlanta


By:_________________________
     Authorized Signature


<PAGE>


                  [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]

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

FOR VALUE
RECEIVED___________________________________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto _____________________________________
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Please print name and address of transferee)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     this  Rights  Certificate,  together  with all  right,  title and  interest
therein,  and does hereby  irrevocably  constitute  and appoint  _______________
Attorney,  to  transfer  the  within  Rights  Certificate  on the  books  of the
within-named Company, with full power of
substitution.
Dated:  ________________________,19____.

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

Signature Guaranteed:



<PAGE>


                                   Certificate

         The  undersigned  hereby  certifies by checking the  appropriate  boxes
that:
         (1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold,  assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring  Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such  Acquiring  Person (as such terms are defined
pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
         (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,  it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from
any Person who is, was or  subsequently  became an  Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person.

Dated: ______________________, 19_____              ____________________________
                                                              Signature

Signature Guaranteed:


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



<PAGE>


                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

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


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

Please insert social security
or other identifying number
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         (Please print name and address)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>


         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:____________________, 19_____

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

Signature Guaranteed:
                                   Certificate
         The  undersigned  hereby  certifies by checking the  appropriate  boxes
that:
         (1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an  Affiliate  or  Associate  of any such  Acquiring  Person  (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
         (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,  it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from
any  Person  who is,  was or  became an  Acquiring  Person  or an  Affiliate  or
Associate  of  an  Acquiring  Person.

Dated:______________________,   19__        ____________________________________
                                            Signature
Signature Guaranteed:


<PAGE>


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




- --------


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






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