COLLAGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC
8-A12G, 1997-09-17
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-A


              FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                  PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                        COLLAGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


            Delaware                                     52-1758016
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State of incorporation or organization)       (IRS Employer Identification No.)


301 South State Street
Newtown, Pennsylvania                                                    18940
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                            (Zip code)


If this form relates to the  registration  of a class of securities  pursuant to
Section  12(b)  of  the  Exchange  Act  and is  effective  pursuant  to  General
Instruction A.(c), please check the following box. [ ]

If this form relates to the  registration  of a class of securities  pursuant to
Section  12(g)  of  the  Exchange  Act  and is  effective  pursuant  to  General
Instruction A.(d), please check the following box. [X]


Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form
relates:
        ------------------------------------------------------------
                            (if applicable)


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class to be                Name of each  exchange  on  which  each
so registered                            class is to be registered


                                      None
                                (Title of Class)


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                         Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
                                (Title of Class)


<PAGE>


Item 1.   Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

            The Board of  Directors of  CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.  (the
"Company") has declared a distribution  of one preferred stock purchase right (a
"Right")  for each  outstanding  common  share,  par value  $0.01 per share (the
"Common  Stock"),  of the Company.  The  distribution is payable at the close of
business on September 26, 1997 to  shareholders  of record on September 26, 1997
(the  "Record  Date").  A Right  will  automatically  attach  to  shares  of the
Company's  Common Stock issued after the Record Date. The  description and terms
of the Rights are set forth in a Shareholder  Protection  Rights  Agreement (the
"Rights  Agreement")  between the Company and  American  Stock  Transfer & Trust
Company,  as rights  agent (the "Rights  Agent").  Terms not  otherwise  defined
herein  shall  have the  meanings  set forth in the  Rights  Agreement  which is
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

      The Rights  Agreement  provides  for the  issuance of one Right to buy one
one-hundredth  (1/100) of a share of Series A Participating  Preferred Stock, no
par value,  to  stockholders  of the Common  Stock as of the Record  Date and to
stockholders  of Common  Stock  issued  thereafter.  The Series A  Participating
Preferred  Stock is a series of the Company's  authorized  preferred stock (each
share, a "Preferred Share"), and is more fully described below.

      The Rights will remain  attached to and trade with the Common  Stock until
the  earlier  to  occur  of (i)  ten  (10)  business  days  following  a  public
announcement  that a person or group of  affiliated  or  associated  persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired,  or obtained the right to acquire,  beneficial
ownership of shares of the Company's  Common Stock  representing  twenty percent
(20%) or more of the voting power of all  outstanding  shares of Common Stock of
the  Company  (the date of such  announcement  being  referred  to as the "Stock
Acquisition  Date") or such later date as the Board of  Directors of the Company
may determine by resolution  adopted  prior to the  Separation  Date (as defined
below),  or (ii) ten (10) business days following the  commencement  of a tender
offer or  exchange  offer  that would  result in a person or group  beneficially
owning  outstanding  shares of the Company's  Common Stock  representing  twenty
percent  (20%) or more of the voting power of all  outstanding  shares of Common
Stock of the  Company,  or such  later  date as the  Board of  Directors  of the
Company may determine by resolution  adopted prior to the  Separation  Date. The
earlier of (i) and (ii) is referred to as the "Separation  Date."  Following the
Separation  Date,  the Rights  will  detach  from the  Common  Stock and will be
tradable separately from the Common Stock and Rights holders will be entitled to
purchase  one  one-hundredth  (1/100) of a share of the  Series A  Participating
Preferred Stock for $65.

      In the event that a person or group of affiliated  or  associated  persons
becomes an Acquiring  Person,  on the Separation  Date,  each Right,  other than
Rights held by the Acquiring Person, shall become exercisable for that number of
shares of Common  Stock as shall have a market value equal to two times the then
applicable exercise price of the Right (or, at the option of the Company, shares
of  Preferred  Stock  at a ratio  of one  one-hundredth  (1/100)  of a share  of


                                      -2-
<PAGE>


Preferred  Stock for each share of Common Stock  required to be issued).  If the
Company shall not have  sufficient  treasury  shares or authorized  but unissued
shares of Common  Stock or  Preferred  Stock to permit the full  exercise of the
Rights,  the Company may issue a combination of stock,  cash and debt in respect
thereof.  Following the time at which a person shall become an Acquiring  Person
but prior to the  acquisition by such  Acquiring  Person of more than 50% of the
Common  Stock,  the Board  may also,  at its  option,  exchange  all of the then
outstanding  rights (other than Rights held by the Acquiring  Person) for shares
of Common Stock (or, at the option of the Board, Preferred Stock) at an exchange
ratio of one share of Common Stock (or one  one-hundredth  (1/100) of a share of
Preferred Stock) for each Right.

      In the event that the Company is  acquired  in a merger or other  business
combination  transaction  or 50% or more of its  consolidated  assets or earning
power are sold to an Acquiring  Person,  its associates or affiliates or certain
other  persons in which such persons  have an  interest,  each holder of a Right
will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then
current  exercise  price of any Right,  that number of shares of common stock of
the acquiring  company which at the time of such transaction have a market value
equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.

      Until the Separation  Date, the Rights will be evidenced,  with respect to
any of the Common Stock certificates  outstanding as of the Record Date, by such
Common Stock  certificate with a copy of the summary of Rights attached thereto.
Until the  Separation  Date (or earlier  redemption or expiration of the Rights)
the Rights will be  transferred  with the Common  Stock,  and  transfer of those
certificates will also constitute transfer of those Rights.

      As  soon  as   practicable   following  the  Separation   Date,   separate
certificates  evidencing  the Rights  ("Right  Certificates")  will be mailed to
holders  of  record  of the  Common  Stock as of the  close of  business  on the
Separation  Date and such  separate  Right  Certificates  alone will  thereafter
evidence the Rights.

      The Rights are not exercisable  until the Separation Date. The Rights will
expire on September 26, 2007 (the "Expiration Date"), unless the Expiration Date
is  extended  or unless the Rights are  earlier  redeemed  or  exchanged  by the
Company, as described below.

     The Exercise Price payable,  and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or
other securities or property  issuable,  upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent  dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Stock,  (ii) if holders of the  Preferred  Stock are granted  certain  rights or
warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than
the current market price of the Preferred  Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution
to  holders  of the  Preferred  Stock of  evidences  of  indebtedness  or assets
(excluding  regular  quarterly  cash  dividends)  or of  subscription  rights or
warrants. With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the


                                      -3-
<PAGE>

Exercise Price will be required until cumulative  adjustments amount to at least
one percent of the Exercise Price.

      The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred  Stock  issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject
to  adjustment  in the  event of a stock  split of the  Common  Stock or a stock
dividend  on  the  Common  Stock  payable  in  Common  Stock  or   subdivisions,
consolidation or combinations of the Common Stock occurring,  in any case, prior
to the Separation Date.

      Preferred  Shares  purchasable  upon  exercise  of the Rights  will not be
redeemable.  Each  Preferred  Share will be entitled  to a minimum  preferential
quarterly  dividend  payment equal to 25% of the Exercise Price of a Right as of
the Separation  Date but will be entitled to an aggregate  dividend of 100 times
any dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of liquidation, the holders
of the Preferred Shares would be entitled to a minimum preferential  liquidation
payment  equal to 100 times the Exercise  Price of a Right as of the  Separation
Date or an  aggregate  payment  equal to 100 times the  payment  made per Common
Share. Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common
Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger,  consolidation or other transaction
in which Common Shares are exchanged,  each Preferred  Share will be entitled to
receive 100 times the amount of consideration  received per Common Share.  These
rights are  protected  by  customary  anti-dilution  provisions.  Because of the
nature of the dividend and liquidation rights of the Preferred Shares, the value
of one  one-hundredth  of a Preferred Share should  approximate the value of one
Common Share.

      The  Rights  are  redeemable  at any time prior to ten (10) days after the
public announcement of an acquisition of beneficial  ownership,  by one party or
several parties acting as a group, of Common Stock  representing at least twenty
percent (20%) voting power of the Company. In certain circumstances,  redemption
will require the concurrence of a majority of the "Disinterested Directors." The
term "Disinterested Directors" means any member of the Board of Directors of the
Company  who was a member  of the  Board  prior to the time  that the  Acquiring
Person became an Acquiring Person, any person who is subsequently elected to the
Board to fill a vacancy  created by an increase in the size of the Board if such
person is recommended or approved by a majority of the Disinterested  Directors,
and any successor of a  Disinterested  Director if such person is recommended or
approved by a majority of the Disinterested  Directors, but shall not include an
Acquiring  Person,  or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring  Person, or any
representative of the foregoing entities.

      The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board without the consent of
the  holders of the  Rights,  except  that after the  Separation  Date,  no such
amendment may adversely  affect the interest of the holders of the Rights (other
than the interests of the Acquiring Person).

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


                                      -4-
<PAGE>

      The Rights have  certain  anti-takeover  effects.  The Rights  would cause
substantial  dilution to a person or group that  attempts to acquire the Company
on terms not  approved  by the  Company's  Board,  except  pursuant  to an offer
conditioned on a substantial number of Rights being acquired.  The Rights should
not  interfere  with any merger or other  business  combination  approved by the
Board since the Rights may be redeemed by the Company at the Redemption Price in
accordance with the provisions of the Rights Agreement.

      The Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement between the Company and Rights
Agent,  dated as of September 15, 1997,  specifying  the terms of the Rights and
including  (i) the form of the  Certificate  of  Designation  as  adopted by the
Directors of the Company, (ii) the form of Rights Certificate and (iii) the form
of  Stockholder  Letter  announcing  the  declaration of the Rights are attached
hereto as exhibits  and are  incorporated  herein by  reference.  The  foregoing
description  of the Rights is  qualified  in its  entirety by  reference to such
exhibits.



Item 2.   Exhibits
          --------

 4.1      Shareholder  Protection  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of September 15,
          1997,  between  CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. and American  Stock
          Transfer  &  Trust  Company  which  includes  (i) the  Form of  Rights
          Certificate  and (ii)  the  Certificate  of  Designation  of  Series A
          Participating Preferred Stock of CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

99.1      Press Release dated as of September 16, 1997.

99.2      Form of Stockholder Letter.


                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 12 of the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                    COLLAGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.



                                    By:  /s/ Brian M. Gallagher, Ph.D.
                                         -----------------------------
                                    Name:   Brian M. Gallagher, Ph.D.
                                    Title:  President, Chief Executive Officer
                                            and Director


September 17, 1997


                                      -6-
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT LIST


    4.1   Shareholder  Protection  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of September 15,
          1997,  between  CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. and American  Stock
          Transfer  &  Trust  Company  which  includes  (i) the  Form of  Rights
          Certificate  and (ii)  the  Certificate  of  Designation  of  Series A
          Participating Preferred Stock of CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

99.1      Press Release dated as of September 16, 1997.

99.2      Form of Stockholder Letter.


                                      -7-


                                                                  EXECUTION COPY
                                                                  --------------





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


                     SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                   dated as of

                               September 15, 1997

                                     between

                        COLLAGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                                       and

                     AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

                                 as Rights Agent


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


<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----


ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS........................................................2
      1.1 Definitions........................................................2


ARTICLE II  THE RIGHTS......................................................12
      2.1 Summary of Rights.................................................12
      2.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates...............................12
      2.3 Exercise of Rights: Separation of Rights..........................13
      2.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price: Number of Rights...................16
      2.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective...............................18
      2.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights
            Certificates....................................................18
      2.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange...............19
      2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates.........20
      2.9 Persons Deemed Owners.............................................21
      2.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates........................22
      2.11 Agreement of Rights Holders......................................22


ARTICLE III  ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.....23
      3.1 Flip-in...........................................................23
      3.2 Flip-over.........................................................27


ARTICLE IV  THE RIGHTS AGENT................................................28
      4.1 General...........................................................28
      4.2 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.........29
      4.3 Duties of Rights Agent............................................30
      4.4 Change of Rights Agent............................................33


ARTICLE V  MISCELLANEOUS....................................................35
      5.1 Redemption........................................................35
      5.2 Expiration........................................................36
      5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates...............................36
      5.4 Supplements and Amendments........................................37
      5.5 Fractional Shares.................................................39
      5.6 Rights of Action..................................................39
      5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Shareholder.........................40
      5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions........................................40
      5.9 Notices...........................................................41
      5.10 Suspension of Exercisability.....................................42
      5.11 Costs of Enforcement.............................................42
      5.12 Successors.......................................................43


                                     - i -
<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----


      5.13 Benefits of this Agreement.......................................43
      5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.........43
      5.15 Descriptive Headings.............................................44
      5.16 Governing Law....................................................44
      5.17 Counterparts.....................................................44
      5.18 Severability.....................................................44



                                     - ii -
<PAGE>


                     SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                     ---------------------------------------

            SHAREHOLDER  PROTECTION  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT  (as amended from time to
time,  this  "Agreement"),  dated as of September 15, 1997,  between  CollaGenex
Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  and American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company,  as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent," which term
shall include any successor Rights Agent hereunder).

                                   WITNESSETH:
                                   -----------

            WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors  of the Company has (a)  authorized
and  declared a  dividend  of one right  ("'Right")  in respect of each share of
Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) held of record as of the close of business
on September  26, 1997 (the  "Record  Time") and (b) as provided in Section 2.4,
authorized  the  issuance of one Right in respect of each share of Common  Stock
issued after the Record Time and prior to the  Separation  Time (as  hereinafter
defined) and, to the extent  provided in Section 5.3, each share of Common Stock
issued after the Separation Time;

            WHEREAS,  subject  to the terms and  conditions  hereof,  each Right
entitles the holder thereof,  after the Separation Time, to purchase  securities
or assets of the Company  (or, in certain  cases,  securities  of certain  other
entities)  pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
and

            WHEREAS,  the Company  desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act on
behalf of the Company,  and the Rights Agent is willing so to act, in connection
with the issuance, transfer, 


<PAGE>

exchange and replacement of Rights  Certificates (as hereinafter  defined),  the
exercise of Rights and other matters referred to herein;

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


                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

            1.1 Definitions.
                -----------

            For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  the  following  terms  have  the
meanings indicated:

            "Acquiring  Person" shall mean any Person who is a Beneficial  Owner
of more than the Specified Percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock;
provided, however, that the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include any Person
(i) who is the  Beneficial  Owner of more  than  the  Specified  Percentage  (as
defined  below) of the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock on the date of this
Agreement or who shall become the  Beneficial  Owner of more than the  Specified
Percentage  of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock solely as a result of an
acquisition  by the Company of shares of Common  Stock until such time as any of
such Persons shall become the  Beneficial  Owner (other than by means of a stock
dividend  or stock  split)  after  the date  hereof of an  additional  1% of the
outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock,  provided,  that,  for  the  purpose  of
determining  whether any Person has become the Beneficial Owner of an additional
1% of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock,  compensatory  management  stock
options and other stock-based management awards issued by the Company subsequent
to the date of this  Agreement  shall  not be  included,  (ii) who  becomes  the
Beneficial Owner of more


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

than the Specified  Percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock but who
acquired  Beneficial  Ownership  of shares of Common  Stock  without any plan or
intention  to seek or affect  control of the  Company,  if such Person  promptly
enters into an irrevocable commitment to divest, and thereafter promptly divests
(without  exercising or retaining any power,  including voting,  with respect to
such shares), sufficient shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into,
exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) so that such Person ceases to
be the Beneficial Owner of more than the Specified Percentage of the outstanding
shares of Common  Stock or (iii) who  Beneficially  Owns shares of Common  Stock
consisting  solely of one or more of (A)  shares of  Common  Stock  Beneficially
Owned  pursuant to the grant or exercise of an option granted to such Person (an
"Option  Holder") by the Company in connection  with an agreement to merge with,
or acquire,  the Company  entered  into prior to a Flip-in  Date,  (B) shares of
Common Stock (or securities  convertible into,  exchangeable into or exercisable
for Common Stock), Beneficially Owned by such Option Holder or its Affiliates or
Associates  at the time of grant of such option,  and (C) shares of Common Stock
(or securities  convertible  into,  exchangeable  into or exercisable for Common
Stock) acquired by Affiliates or Associates of such Option Holder after the time
of such grant which, in the aggregate, amount to less than 1% of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock. In addition,  the Company,  any wholly-owned  Subsidiary
(as defined  below) of the Company and any  employee  stock  ownership  or other
employee benefit plan of the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company
shall not be an Acquiring Person.


                                      -3-
<PAGE>

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

            "Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

            A  Person  shall  be  deemed  the  "Beneficial  Owner,"  and to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own," any securities as to which
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is or may be deemed
to be the  beneficial  owner of  pursuant  to Rule  13d-3  and  13d-5  under the
Exchange Act, as such Rules are in effect on the date of this Agreement, as well
as any securities as to which such Person or any of such Person's  Affiliates or
Associates  has the right to become  Beneficial  Owner  (whether  such  right is
exercisable  immediately  or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of
conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the
exercise of conversion rights,  exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights),
warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be
deemed the  "Beneficial  Owner,"  or to have  "Beneficial  Ownership"  of, or to
"Beneficially  Own," any  security  (i) solely  because  such  security has been
tendered  pursuant to a tender or  exchange  offer made by such Person or any of
such Person's  Affiliates or Associates until such tendered security is accepted
for  payment or  exchange  or (ii)  solely  because  such  Person or any of such
Person's  Affiliates or Associates has or shares the power to vote or direct the
voting of such  security  pursuant to a  revocable  proxy given in response to a
public proxy or consent  solicitation made to more than ten holders of shares of
a class of stock of the Company  registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act
and pursuant to, and in accordance  with, the applicable  rules and  regulations
under the Exchange Act, except if such power (or the


                                      -4-
<PAGE>

arrangements  relating  thereto) is then reportable under Item 6 of Schedule 13D
under the  Exchange Act (or any similar  provision of a comparable  or successor
report).  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  no officer or director of the Company
shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities of any other Person by virtue
of any actions such officer or director takes in such capacity.  For purposes of
this  Agreement,  in  determining  the percentage of the  outstanding  shares of
Common Stock with respect to which a Person is the Beneficial  Owner, all shares
as to which  such  Person  is  deemed  the  Beneficial  Owner  shall  be  deemed
outstanding.

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

            "Close of  business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m. New York
City time on such date or, if such date is not a Business  Day,  5:00 p.m.,  New
York City time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

            "Common  Stock"  shall  mean the shares of Common  Stock,  $0.01 par
value, of the Company.

            "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

            "Disinterested  Directors" shall mean (i) any member of the Board of
Directors of the Company, while such Person is a member of the Board, who is not
an Acquiring  Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring  Person,  or a
representative  of an Acquiring  Person or any such Affiliate or Associate,  and
was a member of the Board prior to the time that the Acquiring  Person became an
Acquiring  Person,  or (ii) any Person who subsequently  becomes a member of the
Board to fill a vacancy  created by an increase in the size of the Board,  while
such Person is a


                                      -5-
<PAGE>

member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
of an Acquiring  Person,  or a  representative  of an Acquiring Person or of any
such  Affiliate or Associate,  if such Person's  nomination  for election by the
shareholders  or election to the Board is  recommended or approved by a majority
of the  Disinterested  Directors,  or (iii)  any  successor  of a  Disinterested
Director  who is not an  Acquiring  Person or an  Affiliate  or  Associate of an
Acquiring  Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring  Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person or
of any such Affiliate or Associate,  if such Person's nomination for election by
the  shareholders  or  election  to the Board is  recommended  or  approved by a
majority of the Disinterested Directors.

            "Election to Exercise" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.3(d) hereof.

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

            "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.1(c) hereof.

            "Exchange  Time"  shall mean the time at which the right to exercise
the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 3.1(c) hereof.

            "Exercise  Price" shall mean,  as of any date,  the price at which a
holder may purchase the  securities  issuable  upon exercise of one whole Right.
Until adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, the Exercise Price
shall equal $65.00.

            "Expansion Factor" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.4(a) hereof.

            "Expiration  Time" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time,
(ii) the Redemption Time,  (iii) the close of business on the tenth  anniversary
of the  Record  Time  and (iv)  immediately  prior  to the  effective  time of a
consolidation,  merger  or  share  exchange  of the  Company  (A)  into  another
corporation or (B) with another corporation in which the Company is


                                      -6-
<PAGE>

the  surviving  corporation  but  Common  Stock is  converted  into cash  and/or
securities  of another  corporation,  in either case  pursuant  to an  agreement
entered into by the Company prior to a Stock Acquisition Date.

            "'Flip-in  Date"  shall  mean  any  Stock  Acquisition  Date or such
earlier or later date as the Board of  Directors of the Company may from time to
time fix by resolution  adopted  prior to the Flip-in Date that would  otherwise
have occurred.

            "Flip-over  Entity," for purposes of Section 3.2,  shall mean (i) in
the case of a  Flip-over  Transaction  or Event  described  in clause (i) of the
definition  thereof,  the Person  issuing any  securities  into which  shares of
Common Stock are being  converted or exchanged  and, if no such  securities  are
being issued, the other party to such Flip-over Transaction or Event and (ii) in
the case of a Flip-over  Transaction  or Event referred to in clause (ii) of the
definition thereof,  the Person receiving the greatest portion of (A) the assets
or (B) the operating  income or cash flow being  transferred  in such  Flip-over
Transaction or Event,  provided in all cases if such Person is a Subsidiary of a
corporation, the parent corporation shall be the Flip-Over Entity.

            "Flip-over  Stock" shall mean the capital  stock (or similar  equity
interest) with the greatest voting power in respect of the election of directors
(or other  persons  similarly  responsible  for  direction  of the  business and
affairs) of the Flip-Over Entity.

            "Flip-over  Transaction or Event" shall mean a transaction or series
of transactions after a Flip-in Date in which,  directly or indirectly,  (i) the
Company shall  consolidate  or merge or participate in a share exchange with any
other Person if, at the time of the  consolidation,  merger or share exchange or
at the time the  Company  enters  into any  agreement  with  respect to any such
consolidation, merger or share exchange, the Acquiring Person controls the Board
of Directors of


                                      -7-
<PAGE>

the Company and either (A) any term of or  arrangement  concerning the treatment
of shares  of  capital  stock in such  consolidation,  merger or share  exchange
relating to the Acquiring  Person is not identical to the terms and arrangements
relating  to other  holders of the Common  Stock or (B) the Person with whom the
transaction  or series of  transactions  occurs  is the  Acquiring  Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of the Acquiring Person or (ii) the Company shall sell or
otherwise  transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries  shall sell or otherwise
transfer) assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either
book  value  or fair  market  value)  or (B)  generating  more  than  50% of the
operating income or cash flow, of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  (taken as a
whole) to any Person (other than the Company or one or more of its  wholly-owned
Subsidiaries)  or to two or more such Persons which are Affiliates or Associates
or otherwise acting in concert,  if, at the time of the entry by the Company (or
any such  Subsidiary) into an agreement with respect to such sale or transfer of
assets, the Acquiring Person controls the Board of Directors of the Company. For
the  purposes  hereof,  an Acquiring  Person  shall be deemed to  "control"  the
Company's  Board of Directors  when,  following a Flip-in Date,  the persons who
were  directors  of the  Company  (or  persons  nominated  and/or  appointed  as
directors by vote of a majority of such  persons)  before the Stock  Acquisition
Date shall cease to constitute a majority of the Company's Board of Directors.

            "Market  Price" per share of any  securities  on any date shall mean
the average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities (determined
as  described  below) on each of the 20  consecutive  Trading  Days (as  defined
below)  through and including the Trading Day  immediately  preceding such date;
provided,  however,  that if an event of a type  analogous  to any of the events
described in Section 2.4 hereof shall have caused the closing prices used to


                                      -8-
<PAGE>

determine  the Market Price on any Trading Days during such period of 20 Trading
Days not to be fully  comparable  with the closing price on such date, each such
closing price so used shall be appropriately  adjusted in order to make it fully
comparable  with the closing price on such date.  The closing price per share of
any  securities on any date shall be the last reported sale price,  regular way,
or, in case no such sale takes  place or is quoted on such date,  the average of
the  closing  bid  and  asked  prices,  regular  way,  for  each  share  of such
securities, 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,  Inc. or, if the securities are not listed or admitted
to trading on the New York Stock  Exchange,  Inc.,  as reported in the principal
consolidated  transaction  reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the securities are listed or
admitted to trading or, if the  securities are not listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities  exchange,  as reported by Nasdaq, or, if on any such
date the  securities  are not listed or  admitted  to  trading  on any  national
securities  exchange  or quoted on Nasdaq,  the  average of the  closing bid and
asked prices as furnished by a professional  market maker making a market in the
securities selected by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however,
that if on any such date the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on
a national  securities  exchange or traded in the  over-the-counter  market, the
closing  price per share of such  securities  on such date  shall  mean the fair
value per share of  securities  on such date as  determined in good faith by the
Board  of  Directors  of the  Company,  after  consultation  with  a  nationally
recognized  investment banking firm, and set forth in a certificate delivered to
the Rights Agent.


                                      -9-
<PAGE>

            "Option Holder" shall have the meaning set forth in the
definition of Acquiring Person.

            "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership,  association,
group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as such Rule is in effect on the date of this  Agreement),  corporation or
other entity.

            "Preferred  Stock" shall mean the Series A  Participating  Preferred
Stock,  no par value,  of the Company created by a Certificate of Designation in
substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

            "Record Time" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

            "Redemption Price" shall mean an amount equal to one cent, $0.01.

            "Redemption Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise
the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof.

            "Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

            "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

            "Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(c) hereof.

            "Rights Register" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.7(a) hereof.

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

            "Separation Time" shall mean the close of business on the earlier of
(i) the tenth  business day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of the
Company may from time to time fix by resolution  adopted prior to the Separation
Time that  would  otherwise  have  occurred)  after the date on which any Person
commences a tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in such
Persons becoming an Acquiring Person and (ii) the tenth business day (or


                                      -10-
<PAGE>

such later date as the Board of  Directors  of the Company may from time to time
fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation Time that would otherwise have
occurred) after the Flip-in Date; provided, that if the foregoing results in the
Separation Time being prior to the Record Time, the Separation Time shall be the
Record Time and provided further,  that if any tender or exchange offer referred
to in  clause  (i) of  this  paragraph  is  canceled,  terminated  or  otherwise
withdrawn  prior to the  Separation  Time  without the purchase of any shares of
Common Stock pursuant thereto,  such offer shall be deemed, for purposes of this
paragraph, never to have been made.

            "Specified Percentage" shall mean 20%.

            "Stock  Acquisition  Date"  shall  mean  the  first  date of  public
announcement by the Company (by any means) or by an Acquiring Person  (including
by means of filing a Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable  or successor  report or schedule)  or an amendment  thereto)  that a
Person has become an Acquiring Person.

            "Subsidiary"  of any specified  Person shall mean any corporation or
other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the equity securities or
a majority of the equity interest is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly,
by such Person.

            "Trading Day," when used with respect to any securities,  shall mean
a day on which the New York Stock Exchange,  Inc. is open for the transaction of
business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock  Exchange,  Inc., a day on which the  principal  national  securities
exchange on which such  securities are listed or admitted to trading is open for
the transaction of business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE RIGHTS

            2.1 Summary of Rights.
                -----------------

            As soon as practicable  after the Record Time, the Company will mail
a letter  summarizing the terms of the Rights to each holder of record of Common
Stock as of the Record Time, at such holder's address as shown by the records of
the Company.

            2.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates.
                -----------------------------------

            Certificates  for the Common  Stock issued after the Record Time but
prior to the  Separation  Time shall evidence one Right for each share of Common
Stock represented thereby and shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or
otherwise affixed to them the following legend:

      Until the Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement  referred to
      below),  this certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
      certain Rights as set forth in a Shareholder  Protection Rights Agreement,
      dated as of September  15, 1997 (as such may be amended from time to time,
      the "Rights  Agreement"),  between CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. (the
      "Company") and American  Stock Transfer & Trust Company,  as Rights Agent,
      the terms of which are hereby  incorporated herein by reference and a copy
      of which is on file at the  principal  executive  offices of the  Company.
      Under certain  circumstances,  as set forth in the Rights Agreement,  such
      Rights may be redeemed, may become exercisable for securities or assets of
      the Company or securities of another  entity,  may be exchanged for shares
      of Common Stock or other securities or assets of the Company,  may expire,
      may become void (if they are "Beneficially Owned" by an "Acquiring Person"
      or an  Affiliate or  Associate  thereof,  as such terms are defined in the
      Rights Agreement,  or by any transferee of any of the foregoing) or may be
      evidenced by separate  certificates and may no longer be evidenced by this
      certificate. The Company will mail or arrange for the mailing of a copy of
      the Rights  Agreement  to the holder of this  certificate  without  charge
      after the receipt of a written request therefor.


                                      -12-
<PAGE>

Certificates representing shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding
at the Record  Time  shall  evidence  one Right for each  share of Common  Stock
evidenced thereby notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend.

            2.3 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights.
                ----------------------------------------

            (a) Subject to Sections  3.1, 5.1 and 5.10 and subject to adjustment
as herein set  forth,  each Right will  entitle  the holder  thereof,  after the
Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, to purchase,  for the Exercise
Price, one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock.

            (b) Until the  Separation  Time,  (i) no Right may be exercised  and
(ii) each Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the associated share of
Common Stock (together,  in the case of certificates  issued prior to the Record
Time,  with the letter mailed to the record holder  thereof  pursuant to Section
2.1) and will be  transferable  only together with, and will be transferred by a
transfer (whether with or without such letter) of, such associated share.

            (c) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, after the Separation
Time and prior to the Expiration  Time, the Rights (i) may be exercised and (ii)
may be transferred independent of shares of Common Stock. Promptly following the
Separation  Time,  the Rights Agent will mail to each holder of record of Common
Stock as of the Separation  Time (other than any Person whose Rights have become
void  pursuant  to Section  3.1(b)),  at such  holder's  address as shown by the
records of the Company (the Company  hereby  agreeing to furnish  copies of such
records to the Rights  Agent for this  purpose),  (x) a  certificate  (a "Rights
Certificate")  in  substantially  the form of  Exhibit  A  hereto  appropriately
completed, representing the number of Rights held by


                                      -13-
<PAGE>

such holder at the Separation  Time and having 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 law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant  thereto or with any rule or regulation of any national
securities  exchange  or  quotation  system on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage, and (y) a disclosure statement
describing the Rights.

            (d) Subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  hereof,  Rights  may be
exercised  on any  Business  Day  after  the  Separation  Time and  prior to the
Expiration  Time by  submitting  to the  Rights  Agent  the  Rights  Certificate
evidencing  such Rights with an Election to Exercise (an "Election to Exercise")
substantially  in the form attached to the Rights  Certificate  duly  completed,
accompanied  by payment in cash, or by certified or official bank check or money
order payable to the order of the Company,  of a sum equal to the Exercise Price
multiplied by the number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover
any  transfer  tax or charge  which may be payable  in  respect of any  transfer
involved in the transfer or delivery of Rights  Certificates  or the issuance or
delivery of certificates  for shares or depositary  receipts (or both) in a name
other than that of the holder of the Rights being exercised.

            (e) Upon  receipt  of a Rights  Certificate,  with  an  Election  to
Exercise  accompanied by payment as set forth in Section 2.3(d),  and subject to
the terms and conditions hereof, the Rights Agent will thereupon promptly (i)(A)
requisition from a transfer agent stock  certificates  evidencing such number of
shares or other  securities  to be  purchased  (the Company  hereby  irrevocably
authorizing its transfer agents to comply with all such requisitions) and (B) if
the


                                      -14-
<PAGE>

Company elects  pursuant to Section 5.5 not to issue  certificates  representing
fractional  shares,  requisition  from the  depositary  selected  by the Company
depositary  receipts  representing  the  fractional  shares to be  purchased  or
requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional
shares  in  accordance   with  Section  5.5  and  (ii)  after  receipt  of  such
certificates,  depositary  receipts and/or cash, deliver the same to or upon the
order of the registered  holder of such Rights  Certificate,  registered (in the
case of  certificates  or  depositary  receipts) in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder.

            (f) In case the holder of any Rights  shall  exercise  less than all
the  Rights  evidenced  by  such  holder's  Rights  Certificate,  a  new  Rights
Certificate  evidencing the Rights  remaining  unexercised will be issued by the
Rights Agent to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.

            (g) The Company  covenants and agrees that it will (i) take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares  delivered upon exercise of
Rights  shall,  at the time of  delivery  of the  certificates  for such  shares
(subject to payment of the  Exercise  Price),  be duly and  validly  authorized,
executed,  issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable;  (ii) take all
such action as may be necessary to comply with any  applicable  requirements  of
the  Securities  Act  or  the  Exchange  Act,  and  the  rules  and  regulations
thereunder, and any other applicable law, rule or regulation, in connection with
the issuance of any shares upon  exercise of Rights;  and (iii) pay when due and
payable any and all federal and state  transfer  taxes and charges  which may be
payable  in  respect  of  the  original  issuance  or  delivery  of  the  Rights
Certificates or of any shares issued upon the exercise of Rights, provided, that
the Company shall not be required to pay any transfer tax or charge which may be
payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer or


                                      -15-
<PAGE>

delivery of Rights  Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates for
shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights  being  transferred
or exercised.

            2.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights.
                -----------------------------------------------

            (a) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time
and prior to the  Separation  Time (i) declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock
payable in Common Stock,  (ii) subdivide the  outstanding  Common Stock or (iii)
combine the  outstanding  Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common
Stock,  (x) the Exercise Price in effect after such  adjustment will be equal to
the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment divided by the
number of shares of Common Stock (the  "Expansion  Factor") that a holder of one
share of  Common  Stock  immediately  prior  to such  dividend,  subdivision  or
combination  would hold  thereafter as a result  thereof and (y) each Right held
prior  to such  adjustment  will  become  that  number  of  Rights  equal to the
Expansion  Factor,  and the  adjusted  number  of  Rights  will be  deemed to be
distributed  among the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the original
Rights were  associated  (if they remain  outstanding)  and the shares issued in
respect of such dividend, subdivision or combination, so that each such share of
Common Stock will have  exactly one Right  associated  with it. Each  adjustment
made  pursuant to this  paragraph  shall be made as of the payment or  effective
date for the applicable dividend, subdivision or combination.

            In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and
prior to the Separation  Time issue any shares of Common Stock otherwise than in
a transaction referred to in the preceding paragraph,  each such share of Common
Stock so issued shall automatically have one new Right associated with it, which
Right shall be evidenced by the certificate representing


                                      -16-
<PAGE>

such share. To the extent provided in Section 5.3, Rights shall be issued by the
Company  in  respect  of shares of Common  Stock  that are issued or sold by the
Company after the Separation Time.

            (b) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time
and prior to the Separation Time issue or distribute any securities or assets in
respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant to a
regular  periodic  cash  dividend  or a dividend  paid  solely in Common  Stock)
whether by dividend,  in a reclassification or  recapitalization  (including any
such  transaction  involving  a merger,  consolidation  or share  exchange),  or
otherwise,  the Company  shall make such  adjustments,  if any, in the  Exercise
Price,  number of Rights and/or  securities or other property  purchasable  upon
exercise  of  Rights  as the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  in its sole
discretion,  may deem to be  appropriate  under  the  circumstances  in order to
adequately  protect the  interests of the holders of Rights  generally,  and the
Company and the Rights Agent shall amend this  Agreement as necessary to provide
for such adjustments.

            (c) Each  adjustment  to the  Exercise  Price made  pursuant to this
Section 2.4 shall be calculated  to the nearest cent.  Whenever an adjustment to
the Exercise  Price is made  pursuant to this Section 2.4, the Company shall (i)
promptly  prepare  a  certificate  setting  forth  such  adjustment  and a brief
statement of the facts  accounting  for such  adjustment  and (ii) promptly file
with the Rights Agent and with each  transfer  agent for the Common Stock a copy
of such certificate.

            (d) Rights  certificates shall represent the securities  purchasable
under the terms of this  Agreement,  including  any  adjustment or change in the
securities purchasable upon exercise


                                      -17-
<PAGE>

of the  Rights,  even  though  such  certificates  may  continue  to express the
securities   purchasable   at  the  time  of  issuance  of  the  initial  Rights
Certificates.

            2.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective.
                -----------------------------------

            Each person in whose name any  certificate for shares is issued upon
the  exercise  of Rights  shall for all  purposes  be deemed to have  become the
holder of record of the  shares  represented  thereby on the date upon which the
Rights  Certificate  evidencing such Rights was duly  surrendered and payment of
the  Exercise  Price  for  such  Rights  (and any  applicable  taxes  and  other
governmental  charges  payable by the  exercising  holder  hereunder)  was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the stock transfer  books of the Company are closed,  such person shall be
deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such  certificate
shall be dated,  the next  succeeding  Business Day on which the stock  transfer
books of the Company are open.

            2.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights
                Certificates.
                --------------------------------------------------------

            (a) The  Rights  Certificates  shall be  executed  on  behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board,  President or one of its Vice  Presidents,
under its corporate seal reproduced  thereon attested by its Secretary or one of
its Assistant Secretaries.  The signature of any of these officers on the Rights
Certificates may be manual or facsimile.

            Rights  Certificates  bearing the manual or facsimile  signatures of
individuals  who were at any time the proper  officers of the Company shall bind
the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such  offices  prior to the  counter-signature  and delivery of such Rights
Certificates.


                                      -18-
<PAGE>

            Promptly  after the  Company  learns  of the  Separation  Time,  the
Company  will notify the Rights Agent of such  Separation  Time and will deliver
Rights   Certificates   executed  by  the  Company  to  the  Rights   Agent  for
counter-signature,  and,  subject to Section  3.1(b),  the  Rights  Agent  shall
manually  countersign and deliver such Rights Certificates to the holders of the
Rights pursuant to Section 2.3(c) hereof.  No Rights  Certificate shall be valid
for any purpose unless manually countersigned by the Rights Agent.

            (b) Each  Rights  Certificate  shall  be dated the  date of counter-
signature thereof.

            2.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
                ---------------------------------------------------

            (a) After the  Separation  Time, the Company will cause to be kept a
register  (the  "Rights   Register")  in  which,   subject  to  such  reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe,  the Company will provide for the  registration
and transfer of Rights.  The Rights Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar"
for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  the  Rights  Register  for the  Company  and
registering  Rights and transfers of Rights after the Separation  Time as herein
provided.  In the event  that the  Rights  Agent  shall  cease to be the  Rights
Registrar,  the Rights Agent will have the right to examine the Rights  Register
at all reasonable times after the Separation Time.

            After the  Separation  Time and prior to the Expiration  Time,  upon
surrender for  registration  of transfer or exchange of any Rights  Certificate,
and  subject to the  provisions  of Section  2.7(c) and (d),  the  Company  will
execute,  and the Rights Agent will countersign and deliver,  in the name of the
holder or the designated transferee or transferees,  as required pursuant to the
holder's instructions,  one or more new Rights Certificates  evidencing the same
aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.


                                      -19-
<PAGE>

            (b) Except as  otherwise  provided  in Section  3.1(b),  all  Rights
issued upon any  registration  of  transfer  or exchange of Rights  Certificates
shall be the valid obligations of the Company, and such Rights shall be entitled
to the same benefits  under this Agreement as the Rights  surrendered  upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.

            (c) Every  Rights  Certificate   surrendered   for  registration  of
transfer or exchange  shall be duly  endorsed,  or be  accompanied  by a written
instrument of transfer in form  satisfactory to the Company or the Rights Agent,
as the case  may be,  duly  executed  by the  holder  thereof  or such  holder's
attorney duly  authorized in writing.  As a condition to the issuance of any new
Rights  Certificate  under this Section 2.7, the Company may require the payment
of a sum  sufficient to cover any tax or other  governmental  charge that may be
imposed in relation thereto.

            (d) The Company  shall not be required to register  the  transfer or
exchange of any Rights after such Rights have become void under Section  3.1(b),
been exchanged under Section 3.1(c) or been redeemed under Section 5.1.

            2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates.
                ---------------------------------------------------------

            (a) If any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights
Agent prior to the Expiration Time, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and
5.1,  the Company  shall  execute and the Rights  Agent  shall  countersign  and
deliver in exchange therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number
of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.

            (b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights Agent
prior  to  the  Expiration  Time  (i)  evidence  to  their  satisfaction  of the
destruction,  loss or theft of any Rights  Certificate and (ii) such security or
indemnity  as may be  required  by them to save  each of them


                                      -20-
<PAGE>

and any of their agents harmless,  then, subject to Sections 3.1(b),  3.1(c) and
5.1 and in the  absence of notice to the  Company or the Rights  Agent that such
Rights Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall
execute,  and upon the Company's  request the Rights Agent shall countersign and
deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate, a new
Rights  Certificate  evidencing  the same  number of  Rights  as did the  Rights
Certificate so destroyed, lost or stolen.

            (c) As a condition  to the  issuance  of any new Rights  Certificate
under this Section 2.8, the Company may require the payment of a sum  sufficient
to cover any tax or other  governmental  charge  that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other  expenses  (including  the fees and expenses of the Rights
Agent) connected therewith.

            (d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.8
in lieu of any destroyed,  lost or stolen Rights  Certificate  shall evidence an
original additional  contractual  obligation of the Company,  whether or not the
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by
anyone,  and, subject to Section 3.1(b) shall be entitled to all the benefits of
this Agreement  equally and  proportionately  with any and all other Rights duly
issued hereunder.

            2.9 Persons Deemed Owners.
                ---------------------

            Prior to due presentment of a Rights  Certificate  (or, prior to the
Separation  Time, the associated  Common Stock  certificate) for registration of
transfer,  the  Company,  the Rights  Agent and any agent of the  Company or the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Separation Time, such Common Stock


                                      -21-
<PAGE>

certificate)  is  registered  as the  absolute  owner  thereof and of the Rights
evidenced  thereby for all  purposes  whatsoever,  including  the payment of the
Redemption Price, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected
by any notice to the  contrary.  As used in this  Agreement,  unless the context
otherwise  requires,  the term "holder" of any Rights shall mean the  registered
holder of such Rights (or, prior to the Separation  Time, the associated  shares
of Common Stock).

            2.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates.
                 -----------------------------------------

            All  Rights   Certificates   surrendered   upon   exercise   or  for
registration  of transfer or exchange  shall, if surrendered to any person other
than the Rights Agent, be delivered to the Rights Agent and, in any case,  shall
be promptly canceled by the Rights Agent. The Company may at any time deliver to
the  Rights  Agent  for   cancellation   any  Rights   Certificates   previously
countersigned and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any
manner  whatsoever,  and all Rights  Certificates so delivered shall be promptly
canceled by the Rights Agent. No Rights  Certificates  shall be countersigned in
lieu of or in exchange for any Rights Certificates  canceled as provided in this
Section 2.10, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement.  The Rights Agent
shall destroy all canceled  Rights  Certificates  and deliver a  certificate  of
destruction to the Company.

            2.11 Agreement of Rights Holders.
                 ---------------------------

            Every  holder of Rights by  accepting  the same  consents and agrees
with the  Company  and the Rights  Agent and with every  other  holder of Rights
that:

            (a) prior to the Separation  Time,  each Right will be  transferable
only together  with,  and will be  transferred  by a transfer of, the associated
share of Common Stock;


                                      -22-
<PAGE>

            (b) after the  Separation  Time,  the  Rights  Certificates  will be
transferable only on the Rights Register as provided herein;

            (c) prior to due presentment of a Rights  Certificate  (or, prior to
the Separation Time, the associated  Common Stock  certificate) for registration
of transfer,  the Company,  the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights  Certificate
(or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated  Common Stock  certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for
all purposes  whatsoever,  and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary;

            (d) Rights  beneficially  owned by certain  Persons will,  under the
circumstances set forth in Section 3.1(b), become void; and

            (e) this Agreement may be  supplemented or amended from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or 5.4 hereof.

                                   ARTICLE III

                          ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN
                        THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS


            3.1 Flip-in.
                -------

            (a) In the event that prior to the  Expiration  Time a Flip-in  Date
shall occur, except as provided in this Section 3.1, each Right shall constitute
the right to purchase from the Company, upon exercise thereof in accordance with
the terms hereof (but subject to Section 5.10),  that number of shares of Common
Stock having an aggregate  Market Price on the Stock


                                      -23-
<PAGE>

Acquisition  Date equal to twice the Exercise  Price for an amount in cash equal
to the  Exercise  Price  (such  right to be  appropriately  adjusted in order to
protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in the event that on or
after such Stock  Acquisition  Date an event of a type  analogous  to any of the
events  described in Section  2.4(a) or (b) shall have  occurred with respect to
the Common Stock).

            (b) Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any  Rights  that  are or were
Beneficially Owned on or after the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate  thereof or by any transferee,  direct or indirect,
of any of the  foregoing  shall  become  void  and any  holder  of  such  Rights
(including  transferees)  shall thereafter have no right to exercise or transfer
such Rights under any provision of this Agreement.  If any Rights Certificate is
presented for assignment or exercise and the Person presenting the same will not
complete the  certification  set forth at the end of the form of  assignment  or
notice of election  to exercise  and  provide  such  additional  evidence of the
identity of the  Beneficial  Owner and its  Affiliates and Associates (or former
Beneficial  Owners and their  Affiliates  and  Associates)  as the Company shall
reasonably request,  then the Company shall be entitled conclusively to deem the
Beneficial  Owner thereof to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof or a transferee of any of the foregoing  and  accordingly  will deem the
Rights evidenced thereby to be void and not transferable or exercisable.

            (c) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after a Flip-in Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes
the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding  shares of Common Stock
elect to  exchange  all (but not less than all) of the then  outstanding  Rights
(which shall not include Rights that have become void


                                      -24-
<PAGE>

pursuant to the  provisions of Section  3.1(b)) for shares of Common Stock at an
exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted in
order to protect the interests of holders of Rights  generally in the event that
after the  Separation  Time an event of a type  analogous  to any of the  events
described  in Section  2.4(a) or (b) shall  have  occurred  with  respect to the
Common  Stock  (such  exchange  ratio,  as  adjusted  from  time to time,  being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").

            Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
electing to  exchange  the  Rights,  without any further  action and without any
notice,  the right to exercise the Rights will  terminate  and each Right (other
than Rights that have become void  pursuant to Section  3.1(b)) will  thereafter
represent  only the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to
the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors electing
to exchange the Rights,  the Company shall give notice thereof  (specifying  the
steps to be taken to receive  shares of Common  Stock in exchange for Rights) to
the Rights  Agent and the  holders of the Rights  (other  than  Rights that have
become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) outstanding immediately prior thereto by
mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.

            Each Person in whose name any  certificate for shares is issued upon
the exchange of Rights  pursuant to this Section  3.1(c) or Section 3.1(d) shall
for all  purposes  be deemed to have  become  the holder of record of the shares
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 any applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the holder was
made;  provided,  however,  that if the date of such  surrender and payment is a
date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed,  such Person
shall be deemed to


                                      -25-
<PAGE>

have become the record holder of such shares on, and such  certificate  shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the stock transfer books of the
Company are open.

            (d) Whenever the Company shall become obligated under Section 3.1(a)
or (c) to issue  shares of Common  Stock upon  exercise  of or in  exchange  for
Rights, the Company,  at its option, may substitute therefor shares of Preferred
Stock,  at a ratio of one  one-hundredth  of a share of Preferred Stock for each
share of Common Stock so issuable.

            (e) In the event that there shall not be sufficient  treasury shares
or  authorized  but unissued  shares of Common  Stock or Preferred  Stock of the
Company to permit the  exercise or exchange in full of the Rights in  accordance
with  Section  3.1(a) or (c),  and the  Company  elects not to, or is  otherwise
unable to, make the exchange  referred to in Section  3.1(c),  the Company shall
either (i) call a meeting of shareholders  seeking  approval to cause sufficient
additional  shares  to be  authorized  (provided  that if such  approval  is not
obtained  the  Company  will take the action  specified  in clause  (ii) of this
sentence)  or (ii) take such action as shall be necessary to ensure and provide,
to the extent  permitted by applicable  law and any agreements or instruments in
effect on the Stock  Acquisition  Date to which it is a party,  that each  Right
shall thereafter  constitute the right to receive,  (x) at the Company's option,
either (A) in return for the Exercise Price,  debt or equity securities or other
assets  (or a  combination  thereof)  having a fair  value  equal  to twice  the
Exercise  Price, or (B) without  payment of  consideration  (except as otherwise
required by  applicable  law),  debt or equity  securities or other assets (or a
combination  thereof) having a fair value equal to the Exercise Price, or (y) if
the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  elects  to  exchange  the  Rights  in
accordance with Section 3.1(c),  debt or equity securities or other assets (or a
combination  thereof)  having a fair  value  equal to the  product of the Market
Price of a


                                      -26-
<PAGE>

share of Common Stock on the Flip-in Date times the Exchange  Ratio in effect on
the Flip-in Date, where in any case set forth in (x) or (y) above the fair value
of such debt or equity securities or other assets shall be as determined in good
faith by the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  after  consultation  with a
nationally recognized investment banking firm.

            3.2 Flip-over.
                ---------

            (a) Prior to the  Expiration  Time, the Company shall not enter into
any  agreement  with  respect to,  consummate  or permit to occur any  Flip-over
Transaction  or Event unless and until it shall have entered into a supplemental
agreement  with the  Flip-over  Entity,  for the  benefit of the  holders of the
Rights,  providing  that,  upon  consummation  or  occurrence  of the  Flip-over
Transaction  or Event (i) each Right shall  thereafter  constitute  the right to
purchase from the Flip-over Entity, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the
terms hereof,  that number of shares of Flip-over Stock of the Flip-over  Entity
having an aggregate  Market Price on the date of  consummation  or occurrence of
such  Flip-over  Transaction  or Event equal to twice the Exercise  Price for an
amount in cash  equal to the  Exercise  Price  (such  right to be  appropriately
adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in
the event that after such date of  consummation or occurrence an event of a type
analogous  to any of the events  described  in Section  2.4(a) or (b) shall have
occurred  with respect to the  Flip-over  Stock) and (ii) the  Flip-over  Entity
shall  thereafter be liable for, and shall assume,  by virtue of such  Flip-over
Transaction or Event and such  supplemental  agreement,  all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. The provisions of this Section
3.2 shall apply to successive Flip-over Transactions or Events.


                                      -27-
<PAGE>

            (b) Prior to the Expiration Time, unless the Rights will be redeemed
pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof in  connection  therewith,  the Company shall not
enter into any  agreement  with  respect to,  consummate  or permit to occur any
Flip-over  Transaction  or Event if at the time  thereof  there are any  rights,
warrants or  securities  outstanding  or any other  arrangements,  agreements or
instruments  that would eliminate or otherwise  diminish in any material respect
the benefits  intended to be afforded by this Rights Agreement to the holders of
Rights upon consummation of such transaction.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                THE RIGHTS AGENT

            4.1 General.
                -------

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


                                      -28-
<PAGE>

            (b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for or in respect of any action  taken,  suffered or omitted by it in connection
with its  administration  of this Agreement in reliance upon any certificate for
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights, Rights Certificate,  certificate
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.

            4.2 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 is a party, or any corporation  succeeding to the
shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent,
will 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 that such corporation would be eligible for appointment
as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 4.4 hereof.  In case
at the time such  successor  Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by this
Agreement  any of the  Rights  Certificates  have  been  countersigned  but  not
delivered,  any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the  counter-signature  of
the   predecessor   Rights  Agent  and  deliver  such  Rights   Certificates  so
countersigned;  and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates have not
been  countersigned,  any  successor  Rights Agent may  countersign  such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor


                                      -29-
<PAGE>

Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such  Rights  Certificates  will  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 is changed and
at such time any of the Rights  Certificates  shall have been  countersigned but
not delivered,  the Rights Agent may adopt the counter-signature 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.

            4.3 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 will be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

            (b) Whenever in the  performance  of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights  Agent deems it  necessary  or  desirable  that any fact or matter 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


                                      -30-
<PAGE>

proved and  established  by a  certificate  signed by a person  believed  by the
Rights  Agent  to be the  Chairman  of the  Board,  the  President  or any  Vice
President and by the  Treasurer or any  Assistant  Treasurer or the Secretary or
any Assistant  Secretary of the Company and  delivered to the Rights Agent;  and
such certificate  will 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  will be  liable  hereunder  only for its own
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

            (d) The  Rights  Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of
the  statements  of fact or  recitals  contained  in  this  Agreement  or in the
certificates  for securities  purchasable  upon exercise of Rights or the Rights
Certificates (except its counter-signature thereof) or be required to verify the
same,  but all such  statements and recitals are and will be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.

            (e) The Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this  Agreement or the execution and delivery  hereof (except
the due authorization,  execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect  of  the  validity  or  execution  of  any  certificate  for  securities
purchasable  upon  exercise  of  Rights  or  Rights   Certificate   (except  its
counter-signature  thereof);  nor will it be  responsible  for any breach by the
Company of any  covenant or  condition  contained  in this  Agreement  or in any
Rights  Certificate;   nor  will  it  be  responsible  for  any  change  in  the
exercisability  of the Rights  (including  the Rights  becoming void pursuant to
Section  3.1(b)  hereof) or any  adjustment  required  under the  provisions  of
Section 2.4, 3.1 or 3.2 hereof or responsible  for the manner,  method or amount
of any such


                                      -31-
<PAGE>

adjustment or the  ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any
such adjustment  (except with respect to the exercise of Rights after receipt of
the certificate contemplated by Section 2.4 describing any such adjustment); nor
will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as
to the authorization or reservation of any securities  purchasable upon exercise
of Rights  or any  Rights  or as to  whether  any  securities  purchasable  upon
exercise of Rights will, when issued, be duly and validly authorized,  executed,
issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable.

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

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

            (h) The  Rights  Agent and any  shareholder,  director,  officer  or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy,  sell or deal in Common  Stock,  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


                                      -32-
<PAGE>

were not Rights Agent under this  Agreement.  Nothing  herein shall preclude the
Rights Agent from acting in any other  capacity for the Company or for any other
legal entity.

            (i) The Rights  Agent may execute and  exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder  either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents,  and the Rights Agent will 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  reasonable care was exercised in the selection
and continued employment thereof.

            4.4 Change of Rights Agent.
                ----------------------

            The Rights Agent may resign and be discharged  from its duties under
this  Agreement  upon 90 days notice (or such lesser  notice as is acceptable to
the  Company) in writing  mailed to the Company  and to each  transfer  agent of
Common Stock by registered or certified  mail,  and to the holders of the Rights
in accordance  with Section 5.9. The Company may remove the Rights Agent upon 30
days notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent and to each transfer agent of
the Common  Stock by  registered  or certified  mail,  and to the holders of the
Rights in  accordance  with Section 5.9. If the Rights Agent should resign or be
removed or  otherwise  become  incapable  of acting,  the Company will appoint a
successor to the Rights  Agent.  If the Company  fails to make such  appointment
within a period of 30 days after 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 any Rights  (which  holder  shall,  with such
notice,  submit such holder's Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company),
then the holder of any Rights may


                                      -33-
<PAGE>

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 any state of the United  States,  in good  standing,  which is
authorized  under  such  laws  to  exercise  the  powers  of  the  Rights  Agent
contemplated  by this  Agreement 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;  provided,
however,  that  the  Company  is  aware  that as of the  date of this  Agreement
American  Stock  Transfer & Trust  Company does not have a combined  capital and
surplus of $50,000,000.  After  appointment,  the successor Rights Agent will 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 will file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor  Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common  Stock,  and mail a notice  thereof in writing to the  holders of the
Rights. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 4.4, 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.


                                      -34-
<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE V

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

            5.1 Redemption.
                ----------

            (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time until 10 days  after the  Flip-in  Date,  elect to redeem all (but not less
than all) the then  outstanding  Rights at the Redemption Price and the Company,
at its option,  may pay the Redemption  Price either in cash or shares of Common
Stock or other  securities of the Company  deemed by the Board of Directors,  in
the exercise of its sole  discretion,  to be at least equivalent in value to the
Redemption  Price ;  provided,  however,  that if the Board of  Directors of the
Company  authorizes  redemption of the Rights in either of the circumstances set
forth in clauses (i) or (ii) below,  then there must be Disinterested  Directors
then in  office  and such  authorization  shall  require  the  concurrence  of a
majority of such Disinterested  Directors:  (i) such authorization  occurs on or
after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, or (ii) such  authorization
occurs  on or  after  the date of a change  (resulting  from a proxy or  consent
solicitation)  in a majority of the directors in office at the  commencement  of
such  solicitation if any Person who is a participant in such  solicitation  has
stated (or if, upon the  commencement  of such  solicitation,  a majority of the
Board of Directors of the Company has determined in good faith) that such person
(or any of its  Affiliates  or  Associates)  intends  to take,  or may  consider
taking,  any  action  which  would  result in such  Person or any  Affiliate  or
Associate  of such Person  becoming an  Acquiring  Person or causing a Flip-over
Transaction or Event. Notwithstanding anything contained in this


                                      -35-
<PAGE>

Agreement to the contrary,  the Rights shall not become  exercisable  until such
time as the  Company's  right of  redemption  pursuant to this Section 5.1 shall
expire.

            (b) Immediately  upon  the action of the Board of  Directors  of the
Company  electing to redeem the Rights (or,  if the  resolution  of the Board of
Directors  electing to redeem the Rights states that the redemption  will not be
effective  until the  occurrence of a specified  future time or event,  upon the
occurrence of such future time or event), without any further action and without
any notice,  the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right will
thereafter  represent only the right to receive the Redemption  Price in cash or
securities,  as determined by the Board of Directors.  Promptly after the Rights
are  redeemed,  the Company  shall give notice of such  redemption to the Rights
Agent and the holders of the then  outstanding  Rights by mailing such notice in
accordance with Section 5.9.

            5.2 Expiration.
                ----------

            The Rights and this Agreement  shall expire at the  Expiration  Time
and no Person  shall have any rights  pursuant  to this  Agreement  or any Right
after the Expiration Time,  except, if the Rights are exchanged or redeemed,  as
provided in Section 3.1 or 5.1 hereof, respectively.

            5.3 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 number or kind or class of
shares of stock  purchasable upon exercise of Rights made in accordance with the
provisions of this  Agreement.  In addition,  in connection with the issuance or


                                      -36-
<PAGE>

sale of shares of Common Stock by the Company  following the Separation Time and
prior to the Expiration Time pursuant to the terms of securities  convertible or
redeemable  into shares of Common  Stock or to  options,  in each case issued or
granted prior to, and  outstanding  at, the  Separation  Time, the Company shall
issue to the  holders  of such  shares  of  Common  Stock,  Rights  Certificates
representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with the issuance or
sale of such shares of Common Stock;  provided,  however,  in each case,  (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 to the Person to whom
such Rights Certificates would be issued, (ii) no such Rights Certificates shall
be  issued  if,  and to the  extent  that,  appropriate  adjustment  shall  have
otherwise been made in lieu of the issuance thereof, and (iii) the Company shall
have no obligation to distribute Rights  Certificates to any Acquiring Person or
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring  Person or any  transferee  of any of the
foregoing.

            5.4 Supplements and Amendments.
                --------------------------

          Prior to the Separation Date and subject to the  penultimate  sentence
of this  Section 5.4, the Company may, 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 Rights.  From and after the  Separation  Date,  and
subject to the  penultimate  sentence of this  Section 5.4, the Company may, and
the Rights  Agent  shall if the  Company so  directs,  supplement  or amend this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights in order (i) to cure any
ambiguity,  (ii) to correct or supplement any provision  contained  herein which
may be


                                      -37-
<PAGE>

defective or inconsistent with any other provisions  herein,  (iii) 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  (other than an Acquiring  Person or an Affiliate or Associate
of an Acquiring  Person),  (iv) to suspend the  effectiveness  of Section 3.1(b)
hereof (which  suspension,  following the first occurrence of an event set forth
in  clauses  (i) and (ii) of the  proviso  to Section  5.1(a)  hereof,  shall be
effective  only if there  are  Disinterested  Directors  and shall  require  the
concurrence of a majority of such Disinterested Directors), or (v) to shorten or
lengthen any time period hereunder (which  lengthening or shortening,  following
the  first  occurrence  of an event  set  forth in  clauses  (i) and (ii) of the
proviso  of  Section  5.1(a)  hereof,  shall  be  effective  only if  there  are
Disinterested  Directors and shall require the concurrence of a majority of such
Disinterested  Directors);  provided,  this Agreement may not be supplemented or
amended to lengthen,  pursuant to clause (v) of this sentence, (A) a time period
relating  to when the Rights may be  redeemed at such time as the Rights are not
then redeemable or (B) any other time period unless such  lengthening is for the
purpose of  protecting,  enhancing  or  clarifying  the  rights  of,  and/or the
benefits to, the holders of Rights.  Upon the delivery of a certificate  from an
appropriate  officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or
amendment is in compliance  with the terms of this Section 5.4, 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
after the Separation Date which (i) changes the Redemption  Price,  the Exercise
Price or the  number of one  one-hundredths  of a share of  Preferred  Stock for
which a Right is exercisable or (ii) shortens the 


                                      -38-
<PAGE>

Expiration  Time.  Prior to the Separation Date, the interests of the holders of
Rights shall be deemed  coincident  with the  interests of the holders of Common
Stock.

            5.5 Fractional Shares.
                -----------------

            If  the  Company  elects  not  to  issue  certificates  representing
fractional  shares upon exercise or redemption of Rights,  the Company shall, in
lieu  thereof,  in the sole  discretion  of the Board of  Directors,  either (a)
evidence such  fractional  shares by depositary  receipts  issued pursuant to an
appropriate  agreement  between  the Company  and a  depositary  selected by it,
providing that each holder of a depositary receipt shall have all of the rights,
privileges  and  preferences  to  which  such  holder  would  be  entitled  as a
beneficial owner of such fractional  share, or (b) pay to the registered  holder
of such Rights the appropriate fraction of the Market Price per share in cash.

            5.6 Rights of Action.
                ----------------

            Subject to the terms of this Agreement  (including  Sections  3.1(b)
and 5.14),  rights of action in respect of this Agreement,  other than rights of
action vested solely in the Rights Agent,  are vested in the respective  holders
of the Rights;  and any holder of any Rights,  without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights, may, on such holder's own behalf and
for such  holder's  own  benefit  and the  benefit  of other  holders of Rights,
enforce,  and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding  against
the Company to enforce,  or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's  right to
exercise such  holder's  Rights in the manner  provided in such holder's  Rights
Certificate  and in  this  Agreement.  Without  limiting  the  foregoing  or any
remedies  available to the holders of Rights,  it is  specifically  acknowledged
that


                                      -39-
<PAGE>

the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of
this Agreement and will be entitled to specific  performance of the  obligations
under,  and injunctive  relief  against actual or threatened  violations of, the
obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.

            5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Shareholder.
                -----------------------------------------

            No holder, as such, of any Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends  or be  deemed  for any  purpose  the  holder  of  shares or any other
securities which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of such Rights, nor
shall  anything  contained  herein or in any Rights  Certificate be construed to
confer  upon  the  holder  of any  Rights,  as  such,  any of  the  rights  of a
shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or
upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof,  or to give or
withhold  consent to any corporate  action,  or to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in Section 5.8 hereof),
or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise,  until such Rights
shall have been exercised or exchanged in accordance with the provisions hereof.

            5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions.
                ---------------------------

            In case the Company  shall  propose  after the  Separation  Time and
prior to the Expiration Time (i) to effect or permit a Flip-over  Transaction or
Event or (ii) 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
Right, in accordance with Section 5.9 hereof,  a notice of such proposed action,
which shall specify the date on which such Flip-over Transaction or Event,



                                      -40-
<PAGE>

liquidation,  dissolution, or winding up is to take place, and such notice shall
be so given at least 20  Business  Days  prior to the date of the taking of such
proposed action.

            5.9 Notices.
                -------

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

            CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
            301 South State Street
            Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940
            Attention:  President

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


            American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
            40 Wall Street
            New York, New York 10005
            Attention:  Corporate Trust Department

            Any notice or demand  authorized or required by this Agreement to be
given or made by the  Company  or the  Rights  Agent to or on the  holder of any
Rights shall be  sufficiently  given or made if delivered or sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as
it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the


                                      -41-
<PAGE>

Separation  Time,  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.

            5.10 Suspension of Exercisability.
                 ----------------------------

            To the extent  that the Company  determines  in good faith that some
action will or need be taken  pursuant to Section 3.1 or to comply with  federal
or state  securities  laws,  the Company may suspend the  exercisability  of the
Rights for a reasonable  period in order to take such action or comply with such
laws. In the event of any such  suspension,  the Company shall issue as promptly
as  practicable  a  public  announcement  stating  that  the  exercisability  or
exchangeability  of the Rights has been  temporarily  suspended.  Notice thereof
pursuant to Section 5.9 shall not be required.

            Failure  to  give a  notice  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this
Agreement shall not affect the validity of any action taken hereunder.

            5.11 Costs of Enforcement.
                 --------------------

            The  Company  agrees  that if the  Company  or any other  Person the
securities of which are purchasable upon exercise of Rights fails to fulfill any
of its obligations  pursuant to this Agreement,  then the Company or such Person
will  reimburse  the holder of any Rights for the costs and expenses  (including
legal fees)  incurred by such holder in actions to enforce such holder's  rights
pursuant to any Rights or this Agreement.


                                      -42-
<PAGE>

            5.12 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.

            5.13 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 holders of the Rights any legal
or equitable  right,  remedy or claim under this  Agreement  and this  Agreement
shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and
the holders of the Rights.

            5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
                 --------------------------------------------------------

          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.   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 of the Company to any liability to the holders of
the Rights.


                                      -43-
<PAGE>

            5.15 Descriptive Headings.
                 --------------------

            Descriptive  headings appear herein for  convenience  only and shall
not  control or affect  the  meaning or  construction  of any of the  provisions
hereof.

            5.16 Governing Law.
                 -------------

            THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH RIGHT ISSUED HEREUNDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE
A CONTRACT  MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF  DELAWARE  AND FOR ALL  PURPOSES
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND  CONSTRUED  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE
APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS TO BE MADE AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE.

            5.17 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.

            5.18 Severability.
                 ------------

          If any term or  provision  hereof or the  application  thereof  to any
circumstance  shall,  in any  jurisdiction  and to any  extent,  be  invalid  or
unenforceable,   such  term  or  provision  shall  be  ineffective  as  to  such
jurisdiction  to the  extent  of such  invalidity  or  unenforceability  without
invalidating  or rendering  unenforceable  the  remaining  terms and  provisions
hereof or the application of such term or provision to circumstances  other than
those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable.

                                    * * * * *


                                      -44-
<PAGE>

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


                                COLLAGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.


                                      /s/ Nancy C. Broadbent
                                      ----------------------
                                          Chief Financial Officer


                                    AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &
                                        TRUST COMPANY



                                          /s/ Herbert J. Lemmer
                                          ---------------------
                                          Vice President


                                      -45-
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                       ---------


                           Form of Rights Certificate



         Certificate No. W-                                        Rights
                                                        ----------

             THE  RIGHTS  ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR MANDATORY
             EXCHANGE,  AT  THE OPTION  OF THE  COMPANY,  ON THE
             TERMS SET FORTH  IN  THE  RIGHTS AGREEMENT.  RIGHTS
             BENEFICIALLY   OWNED   BY   ACQUIRING  PERSONS   OR
             AFFILIATES  OR  ASSOCIATES  THEREOF (AS SUCH  TERMS
             ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR TRANSFEREES
             OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING WILL BE VOID.


                               Rights Certificate

                        COLLAGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.



            This   certifies   that,                                          or
                                     ----------------------------------------
registered  assigns,  is the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth
above,  each of which entitles the  registered  holder  thereof,  subject to the
terms, provisions and conditions of the Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement,
dated as of  September  15,  1997 (as  amended  from time to time,  the  "Rights
Agreement"),  between CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the  "Company"),  and American  Stock  Transfer & Trust Company as Rights Agent
(the "Rights  Agent," which term shall include any successor  Rights Agent under
the  Rights  Agreement),  to  purchase  from the  Company  at any time after the
Separation  Time (as such term is defined in the Rights  Agreement) and prior to
the close of business on September 26, 2007, one  one-hundredth


<PAGE>

of a fully  paid  share of  Participating  Preferred  Stock,  no par value  (the
"Preferred  Stock"),  of the Company  (subject to  adjustment as provided in the
Rights Agreement) at the Exercise Price referred to below, upon presentation and
surrender of this Rights  Certificate with the Form of Election to Exercise duly
executed at the  principal  office of the Rights  Agent in The City of New York.
The Exercise  Price shall  initially be $65.00 per Right and shall be subject to
adjustment in certain events as provided in the Rights Agreement.

            In certain  circumstances  described  in the Rights  Agreement,  the
Rights  evidenced  hereby may entitle the registered  holder thereof to purchase
securities  of an entity  other than the  Company or  securities  of the Company
other than  Preferred  Stock or assets of the  Company,  all as  provided 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.  Copies of
the Rights  Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are
available without cost upon written request.

            This Rights Certificate,  with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon  surrender at the office of the Rights Agent  designated  for such purpose,
may be exchanged for another Rights  Certificate or Rights  Certificates of like
tenor  evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of
Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights  Certificates  surrendered.
If this Rights  Certificate  shall be exercised in part, the  registered  holder


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

shall be entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof,  another Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

            Subject  to the  provisions  of the  Rights  Agreement,  each  Right
evidenced by this  Certificate  may be (a) redeemed by the Company under certain
circumstances,  at its option,  at a redemption  price of $0.01 per Right or (b)
exchanged by the Company under  certain  circumstances,  at its option,  for one
share of Common Stock or one  one-hundredth  of a share of  Preferred  Stock per
Right (or, in certain cases, other securities or assets of the Company), subject
in  each  case to  adjustment  in  certain  events  as  provided  in the  Rights
Agreement.

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


                                      -3-
<PAGE>

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



Date:
     ---------------------


ATTEST:                             COLLAGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.


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


Countersigned:


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



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


                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                  Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate



                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
                               ------------------

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


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


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

Signature Guaranteed:
                                    --------------------------------------
                                    Signature
                                    (Signature must correspond to name as
                                    written upon the face of this Rights
                                    Certificate in every particular, without
                                    alteration or enlargement or any change
                                    whatsoever)

            Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible  guarantor  institution
(banks,  stockbrokers,  savings  and loan  associations  and credit  unions with
membership in an approved signature guarantee  Medallion  program),  pursuant to
SEC Rule 17Ad-15.


                                      -5-
<PAGE>

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


                            (To be completed if true)


The undersigned hereby represents,  for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the  knowledge of the  undersigned,  have never been,  Beneficially
Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in
the Rights Agreement).

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


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


                                     NOTICE

            In the event the  certification  set forth above is not completed in
connection  with a purported  assignment,  the Company will deem the  Beneficial
Owner of the  Rights  evidenced  by the  enclosed  Rights  Certificate  to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate  thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights  evidenced by such Rights  Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.


                                      -6-
<PAGE>

                    To be attached to each Rights Certificate


                          FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
                          ----------------------------



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


TO: COLLAGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.


            The   undersigned    hereby    irrevocably    elects   to   exercise
                        whole  Rights   represented   by  the  attached   Rights
- -----------------------
Certificate  to purchase the shares of  Participating  Preferred  Stock issuable
upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that  certificates for such shares
be issued in the name of:


                        ---------------------------------
                                     (Name)


                        ---------------------------------
                                    (Address)

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

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

                        ---------------------------------
                     (Social Security or Other Taxpayer ID)


                                      -7-
<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:


                        ---------------------------------
                                     (Name)


                        ---------------------------------
                                    (Address)

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

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

                        ---------------------------------
                     (Social Security or Other Taxpayer ID)



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


Signature Guaranteed:
                                    --------------------------------------
                                    Signature
                                    (Signature must correspond to name as
                                    written upon the face of the attached
                                    Rights Certificate in every particular,
                                    without alteration or enlargement or any
                                    change  whatsoever)


            Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible  guarantor  institution
(banks,  stockbrokers,  savings  and loan  associations  and credit  unions with
membership in an approved signature guarantee  Medallion  program),  pursuant to
SEC Rule 17Ad-15.


                                      -8-
<PAGE>

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


                            (To be completed if true)



            The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of
Rights and shares of Common  Stock,  that the Rights  evidenced  by the attached
Rights Certificate are not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never
been,  Beneficially  Owned by an  Acquiring  Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).



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


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

                                     NOTICE
                                     ------


            In the event the  certification  set forth above is not completed in
connection with a purported exercise, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner
of the Rights  evidenced by the attached  Rights  Certificate to be an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement)
or a transferee  of any of the foregoing  and  accordingly  will deem the Rights
evidenced  by such  Rights  Certificate  to be  void  and  not  transferable  or
exercisable.


                                      -9-
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT B
                                                                       ---------



                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

                                       OF

                     SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

                                       OF

                        COLLAGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.


      Pursuant  to  Section  151  of  the  Delaware  General   Corporation  Law,
CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY THAT:

      Pursuant  to  authority  conferred  upon  the  Board of  Directors  of the
Corporation by its Certificate of  Incorporation  and pursuant to the provisions
of Section 151 of the Delaware  General  Corporation Law, the Board of Directors
of the Corporation,  at a duly called meeting thereof held on September 5, 1997,
adopted the following resolution:

            RESOLVED,  that there is hereby  established  a series of  Preferred
      Stock, no par value, of the Corporation,  and the  designation,  number of
      shares,  and other relative  rights,  preferences  and  limitations of the
      shares of such series are hereby fixed as follows:

               (i) The  distinctive  serial  designation of this series shall be
          "Series A Participating  Preferred  Stock"  (hereinafter  called "this
          Series"). Each share of this Series shall be identical in all respects
          with the other  shares of this Series  except as to the dates from and
          after which dividends thereon shall be cumulative.

               (ii) The  number of  shares in this  Series  shall  initially  be
          _______,  which number may from time to time be increased or decreased
          (but not below the number then outstanding) by the Board of Directors.
          Shares of this Series  purchased by the Corporation  shall be canceled
          and shall revert to authorized but unissued  shares of Preferred Stock
          undesignated  as to  series.  Shares of this  Series  may be issued in
          fractional  shares,  which fractional shares shall entitle the holder,
          in proportion to such holder's  fractional  share,  to all rights of a
          holder of a whole share of this Series.

<PAGE>

               (iii) The  holders of full or  fractional  shares of this  Series
          shall be  entitled  to  receive,  when and as declared by the Board of
          Directors,   but  only  out  of  funds  legally  available   therefor,
          dividends,  (A) on each date  that  dividends  or other  distributions
          (other than dividends or distributions  payable in Common Stock of the
          Corporation)  are payable on or in respect of Common Stock  comprising
          part of the  Reference  Package (as defined  below),  in an amount per
          whole share of this Series equal to the aggregate  amount of dividends
          or other distributions (other than dividends or distributions  payable
          in Common Stock of the Corporation) that would be payable on such date
          to a holder of the Reference Package and (B) on the last day of March,
          June,  September  and  December  in each year,  in an amount per whole
          share of this  Series  equal to the excess  (if any) of  $___________1
          over the  aggregate  dividends  paid per  whole  share of this  Series
          during  the  three-month  period  ending on such  last day.  Each such
          dividend  shall be paid to the  holders  of  record  of shares of this
          Series on the date,  not exceeding  sixty days preceding such dividend
          or  distribution  payment date,  fixed for the purpose by the Board of
          Directors  in  advance  of  payment  of each  particular  dividend  or
          distribution. Dividends on each full and each fractional share of this
          Series shall be cumulative from the date such full or fractional share
          is originally issued;  provided that any such full or fractional share
          originally  issued after a dividend record date and on or prior to the
          dividend  payment date to which such record date relates  shall not be
          entitled to receive the dividend payable on such dividend payment date
          or any amount in respect of the period from such original  issuance to
          such dividend payment date.

               The term  "Reference  Package" shall initially mean 100 shares of
          Common Stock, no par value ("Common  Stock"),  of the Corporation.  In
          the  event  the  Corporation  shall at any  time  after  the  close of
          business on , _______,  _______2  (A) declare or pay a dividend on any
          Common Stock payable in Common  Stock,  (B) subdivide any Common Stock
          or (C) combine any Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,  then
          and in each such case the Reference  Package after such event shall be
          the Common Stock that a holder of the  Reference  Package  immediately
          prior to such event would hold thereafter as a result thereof.

- ----------
1    Insert an amount  equal to 1/4 of 1% of the Exercise  Price  divided by the
     number of shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of one Right.
2    For a certificate of designation  relating to shares to be issued  pursuant
     to Section 2.3 of the Rights  Agreement,  insert the Separation Time. For a
     certificate  of  designation  relating  to shares to be issued  pursuant to
     Section 3.1(d) of the Rights Agreement, insert the Flip-in Date


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

               Holders of shares of this  Series  shall not be  entitled  to any
          dividends,  whether  payable in cash,  property or stock, in excess of
          full cumulative dividends, as herein provided on this Series.

               So long as any shares of this Series are outstanding, no dividend
          (other than a dividend in Common  Stock or in any other stock  ranking
          junior to this Series as to dividends and upon  liquidation)  shall be
          declared  or paid or set  aside  for  payment  or  other  distribution
          declared or made upon the Common Stock or upon any other stock ranking
          junior to this Series as to dividends or upon  liquidation,  nor shall
          any Common Stock nor any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior
          to or on a parity with this Series as to dividends or upon liquidation
          be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or
          any  moneys be paid to or made  available  for a sinking  fund for the
          redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Corporation (except
          by conversion  into or exchange for stock of the  Corporation  ranking
          junior to this Series as to dividends and upon  liquidation),  unless,
          in each case, the full cumulative dividends (including the dividend to
          be due  upon  payment  of  such  dividend,  distribution,  redemption,
          purchase  or other  acquisition)  on all  outstanding  shares  of this
          Series shall have been, or shall contemporaneously be, paid.

               (iv) In the event of any merger, consolidation,  reclassification
          or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged
          for or changed into other stock or  securities,  cash and/or any other
          property, then in any such case the shares of this Series shall at the
          same time be  similarly  exchanged  or  changed in an amount per whole
          share equal to the aggregate amount of stock, securities,  cash and/or
          any  other  property  (payable  in kind),  as the case may be,  that a
          holder of the  Reference  Package  would be  entitled  to receive as a
          result of such transaction.

               (v) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
          the affairs of the Corporation,  whether voluntary or involuntary, the
          holders  of full  and  fractional  shares  of  this  Series  shall  be
          entitled,  before any  distribution  or payment is made on any date to
          the holders of the Common Stock or any other stock of the  Corporation
          ranking junior to this Series upon liquidation,  to be paid in full an
          amount  per whole  share of this  Series  equal to the  greater of (A)
          $        3  or  (B)  the  aggregate   amount   distributed  or  to  be
           --------
          distributed  prior to such date in

- ----------
3    Insert an amount equal to 100 times the Exercise  Price in effect as of the
     Separation Time.


                                      -3-
<PAGE>

          connection  with such  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up to a
          holder of the Reference Package (such greater amount being hereinafter
          referred to as the  "Liquidation  Preference"),  together with accrued
          dividends to such distribution or payment date,  whether or not earned
          or  declared.  If such  payment  shall  have  been made in full to all
          holders of shares of this Series, the holders of shares of this Series
          as such shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of
          the Corporation.

               In  the  event  the  assets  of  the  Corporation  available  for
          distribution  to the  holders  of  shares  of  this  Series  upon  any
          liquidation,  dissolution  or winding up of the  Corporation,  whether
          voluntary or  involuntary,  shall be  insufficient  to pay in full all
          amounts to which  such  holders  are  entitled  pursuant  to the first
          paragraph of this Section (v), no such  distribution  shall be made on
          account of any shares of any other class or series of Preferred  Stock
          ranking  on a  parity  with  the  shares  of  this  Series  upon  such
          liquidation,   dissolution   or   winding   up  unless   proportionate
          distributive  amounts  shall be paid on  account of the shares of this
          Series,  ratably in proportion to the full  distributable  amounts for
          which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon
          such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

                  Upon  the  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up  of  the
            Corporation,  the holders of shares of this Series then  outstanding
            shall  be  entitled  to be paid  out of  assets  of the  Corporation
            available for  distribution to its shareholders all amounts to which
            such  holders are entitled  pursuant to the first  paragraph of this
            Section  (v)  before  any  payment  shall be made to the  holders of
            Common Stock or any other stock of the  Corporation  ranking  junior
            upon liquidation to this Series.

               For the purposes of this Section (v), the consolidation or merger
          of, or  binding  share  exchange  by, the  Corporation  with any other
          corporation   shall  not  be  deemed  to  constitute  a   liquidation,
          dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

               (vi) The shares of this Series shall not be redeemable.

               (vii) In  addition  to any other vote or consent of  shareholders
          required  by  law  or by  the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  the
          Corporation,  each whole  share of this Series  shall,  on any matter,
          vote as a class with any other  capital stock  comprising  part of the
          Reference  Package and voting on such matter and shall have the number
          of votes thereon that a holder of the Reference Package would have.


                                      -4-
<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned  have signed and attested this
certificate on the _____ day of ___________________.



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



                        COLLAGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS ADOPTS
                             SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN


Newtown, PA -- September 16, 1997 -- CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. (Nasdaq:
CGPI)  announced  today that its Board of  Directors  has adopted a  Shareholder
Rights Plan.

      The Rights Plan provides, among other things, that upon the earlier of ten
days after a public  announcement that a person has become a beneficial owner of
twenty  percent or more of the voting power of all the  Company's  shares or ten
business days after a person  announces an offer to acquire  Company shares that
would give it twenty percent or more of the voting power, each right will become
exercisable to purchase Series A Participating Preferred Stock.

     After  the  rights  become  exercisable,  if a  person  or  group  acquires
beneficial ownership of shares representing twenty percent or more voting power,
or if the Company is acquired  in a merger in which the Company  survives,  then
each right  would  entitle  the holder  (other  than the  acquiror)  to purchase
Company common stock at fifty percent discount. Alternatively, if the Company is
acquired in a merger or other business combination, the rights permit holders to
purchase the common stock of the acquiror at a fifty percent discount.

     The Rights Plan is designed to deter  coercive or unfair  takeover  tactics
and to ensure that the Company's  stockholders  receive fair and equal treatment
in the event of an unsolicited  attempt to acquire  control of the Company.  The
Rights  Plan was not adopted in response to any effort to acquire the Company of
which the Board was aware.

      Shareholders  of record as of the close of business on September  26, 1997
and thereafter will receive the Rights,  although no separate  certificates will
be issued  unless and until they  detach  and trade  separately  from the Common
Stock as  described  above.  The new rights  will expire on  September  26, 2007
unless  further  extended,  and will be  subject to  redemption  by the Board of
Directors at $0.01 per right at any time prior to the first date upon which they
become  exercisable.  The rights  themselves have no voting power, nor will they
entitle a holder to receive dividends.

     CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,   Inc.  is  engaged  in  the  development  and
commercialization of innovative  proprietary medical therapies for the treatment
of  periodontal  disease  and  other  pathologies.   The  Company's  lead  drug,
Periostat(R),  is pending FDA approval for the treatment of periodontal disease.
A new drug  application for  Periostat(R) was filed with the FDA in August 1996.
The  Company's  core  technology  involves  inhibiting  the  activity of certain
enzymes  that  destroy  the  connective  tissues  of the body.  In  addition  to
periodontal  disease,  the Company and its  collaborators  are  researching  and
developing other potential applications of the core technology, including cancer
metastasis, wound healing,  osteoarthritis,  osteoporosis,  rheumatoid arthritis
and diabetic nephropathy.

<PAGE>

      To receive additional information on CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., via
fax,  at no  charge,  dial  1-800-PRO-INFO  and enter  code  CGPI,  or visit the
Company's website at www.collagenex.com.

     This news release  contains  forward-looking  statements  and  therefore it
necessarily  involves risks and  uncertainties.  Factors that could cause actual
events to differ from these  forward-looking  statements are set forth under the
caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated June 20, 1996, which is
part of its  registration  statement  on file with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission.  There can be no assurance that the Company will receive  regulatory
approval  to market any  product  or, if such  approval  is  received,  that the
product will be commercially successful.


                                      -2-



                     COLLAGENEX PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION


                                                          September       , 1997
                                                                    ------

Dear Stockholder:

     Your  Board of  Directors  has  adopted  a  Shareholder  Protection  Rights
Agreement (the "Plan"). The Plan is designed to protect the Company and you, its
stockholders,  in the event of an  unsolicited  offer to acquire  control of the
Company on terms that the Board of  Directors  determines  to be not in the best
interests  of the Company  because the offer is abusive,  coercive or  otherwise
unfair.  Such offers may  include,  for  example,  attempts  to acquire  control
without offering  adequate  consideration to all  stockholders.  The Plan is not
intended to prevent  and will not  prevent a takeover  of the  Company  that the
Board  determines  to be in the best  interests of the  Company.  Neither is the
Rights  Plan  intended  to  adversely  affect the  ability of a person to obtain
representation  on the  Company's  Board by means of the  proxy  process.  Under
Delaware law, the Board is charged with  responding  to a takeover  offer in the
first  instance,  in a manner it determines  to be in the best  interests of the
Company. The Plan should assist the Board in carrying out this obligation.

      As explained in greater  detail in the attached  Summary,  the Rights will
become  exercisable  only if and when a  situation  that they were  designed  to
address does, in fact, arise. RIGHTS CERTIFICATES WILL NOT BE SENT TO YOU UNLESS
AND UNTIL THEY BECOME  EXERCISABLE.  The  issuance of the Rights does not dilute
share value and does not affect earnings per share. The Rights are not presently
taxable to you or the  Company  under  federal  income tax law and they will not
change  the  manner in which you can  presently  trade  shares of the  Company's
common stock.

     The Plan  provides,  among  other  things,  that  upon the  earlier  of ten
business days after a public  announcement that a person has become a beneficial
owner of twenty percent or more of the voting power of all the Company's  shares
or ten business days after a person announces an offer to acquire Company shares
that would give it twenty  percent or more of the voting power,  each Right will
become  exercisable  to  purchase  1/100  of a share of the  Company's  Series A
Participating Preferred Stock.

     After the Rights become exercisable, if the Company is acquired in a merger
in which  the  Company  survives,  or if a person or group  acquires  beneficial
ownership of shares  representing  twenty percent or more of the voting power of
the Company, then each Right, not previously exercised, would entitle the holder
(other than the  acquiror) to purchase  Company  common stock at a fifty percent
discount  to its market  price.  Alternatively,  if the Company is acquired in a
merger or other business combination,  the Rights permit holders to purchase the
common stock of the acquiror at a fifty percent discount to its market price.

      The Rights will expire on September 26, 2007, unless further extended, and
will be subject to  redemption  by the Board of  Directors at $0.01 per right at
any time prior to the first date on which they become exercisable.

<PAGE>

      A copy of the  Rights  Agreement  is  available  to any  stockholder  upon
request to CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary,  or by
telephone at (215) 579-7388.


                                  Sincerely,


                                  /s/ Brian M. Gallagher, Ph.D.
                                  ------------------------------------
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

                  SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK

      The Board of Directors of CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company")
declared a distribution of one Right for each outstanding  share of Common Stock
of the Company to  stockholders  of record at the close of business on September
26,  1997 and to each share of Common  Stock  that may be issued by the  Company
prior to the "Separation  Date" (or the earlier  redemption or expiration of the
Rights) described below.

                             Operation of the Rights
                             -----------------------

     Upon the occurrence of certain  events  described  below,  each Right would
entitle its holder to purchase from the Company one  one-hundredth  (1/100) of a
share of Series A  Participating  Preferred  Stock, no par value (the "Preferred
Stock"), at a purchase price of $65.00 (the "Purchase Price").  Until the Rights
separate from the Common Stock, they cannot be exercised.

     The Rights will separate from the Common Stock upon the earlier to occur of
(i) ten business days following a public  announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire,
beneficial  ownership  of shares of the  Company's  capital  stock  representing
twenty percent or more of the voting power of all outstanding  shares of capital
stock of the Company or (ii) ten business days following the  commencement  of a
tender  offer  or  exchange  offer  that  would  result  in a  person  or  group
beneficially   owning   outstanding   shares  of  the  Company's  capital  stock
representing  twenty  percent  or more of the  voting  power of all  outstanding
shares of capital  stock of the Company  (in each case,  this person or group is
referenced as an "Acquiring  Person").  The date upon which the Rights  separate
from  the  Common  Stock,  and  are  thereby  freely  tradable,  is  called  the
"Separation  Date." The Separation Date can be delayed by an action of the Board
of Directors.

      If,  after  the  Separation   Date,  (i)  the  Company  is  the  surviving
corporation  in a merger with an  Acquiring  Person and its Common  Stock is not
changed or exchanged,  or (ii) an Acquiring  Person becomes the beneficial owner
of shares of the Company's capital stock representing  twenty percent or more of
the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, each
holder of a Right (instead of having the right to receive  Preferred Stock) will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock having a value
equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. This is known as a "Flip-In"
Event.  However,  any Rights held by an Acquiring Person would not receive these
benefits.

     In the event that,  at any time  following  the  Separation  Date,  (i) the
Company is acquired in certain merger or other business combination transactions
(other  than a merger  described  above) in which it does not  survive,  or (ii)
fifty  percent  or more of the  Company's  assets  or  earning  power is sold or
transferred,  each  holder of a Right  (instead  of having the right to purchase
Preferred  Stock)  will  thereafter  have the right to receive,  upon  exercise,
common  stock of the  acquiring  company  having a value  equal to two times the
exercise price of the Right. This is known as a "Flip-Over"  Event. For example,
assuming  an  exercise  price of $65.00  per  Right,  each Right not owned by an
Acquiring  Person (or by certain  related  parties)  following  a  "Flip-In"  or
"Flip-Over"  Event would entitle its holder to purchase  $130.00 worth of Common
Stock (or other

<PAGE>

     consideration,  as noted  above) for $65.00.  This would be Company  Common
Stock if a "Flip-In" event occurred,  and the Acquiring Person's common stock if
a "Flip-Over" event occurred.

                            Redemption of the Rights
                            ------------------------

      At any  time  until  the  Separation  Date,  the  Board of  Directors  may
unilaterally  redeem the Rights at a price of $0.01 per Right. This amount would
be paid to you and would  mean  that the  Rights  could no longer be  exercised.
Under certain  circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement,  the decision to
redeem  would  require  the  concurrence  of a  majority  of  the  Disinterested
Directors  (that  is, a Board  member  who is  unaffiliated  with the  Acquiring
Person).  After the  redemption  period  has  expired,  the  Company's  right of
redemption  may be  reinstated  if an Acquiring  Person  reduces his  beneficial
ownership to twenty  percent or less of the voting power of the capital stock of
the Company in a transaction  not involving  the Company.  Immediately  upon the
action of the Board of  Directors  ordering  redemption  of the Rights  with the
concurrence  of a majority of the  Disinterested  Directors,  if  required,  the
Rights  will  terminate  and the only right of the  holders of Rights will be to
receive the $0.01 redemption price.

                  The Board's Ability to Amend the Rights Plan
                  --------------------------------------------

      Under the  Rights  Plan,  the Board has broad  powers to amend the  Rights
Plan.  Other than those provisions  relating to the principal  economic terms of
the Rights,  any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board prior to the Separation Date.  After the Separation  Date,  amendments may
not adversely affect Right holders' interests.  Under certain circumstances,  an
amendment would require the concurrence of the Disinterested Directors.

              Other Miscellaneous Provisions Under the Rights Plan
              ----------------------------------------------------

      The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or
other securities or property  issuable,  upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent  dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Stock,  (ii) if holders of the  Preferred  Stock are granted  certain  rights or
warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than
the current market price of the Preferred  Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution
to  holders  of the  Preferred  Stock of  evidences  of  indebtedness  or assets
(excluding  regular  quarterly  cash  dividends)  or of  subscription  rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above).

      With certain  exceptions,  no  adjustment  in the  Purchase  Price will be
required  until  cumulative  adjustments  amount to at least one  percent of the
Purchase Price.

                   Significance of the Rights Until Exercised
                   ------------------------------------------

      Until a Right is exercised,  its holder has no claim as a  stockholder  of
the Company arising from the Right itself,  including,  without limitation,  the
right  to vote or to  receive  dividends.  While  the  initial  declaration  and
distribution  of the  Rights  will not be  taxable  to the  stockholders  or the
Company,  stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances,  recognize


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

taxable income in the event that the Rights become  exercisable for Common Stock
(or other  consideration)  of the  Company or for common  stock of an  Acquiring
Person as set forth above.

                         Evidence of Ownership Of Rights
                         -------------------------------

      Until the Separation  Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common
Stock  certificates  and  will  be  transferred  only  with  such  Common  Stock
certificates,  (ii) new Common Stock  certificates  issued after  September  26,
1997, will contain a notation  incorporating  the Rights Agreement by reference,
and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any  certificates  for Common Stock will
also  constitute  the  transfer of the Rights  associated  with the Common Stock
represented by such certificate. TO REPEAT, NO SEPARATE RIGHTS CERTIFICATES WILL
BE DISTRIBUTED UNLESS AND UNTIL A SEPARATION DATE OCCURS. The Rights will expire
at the close of business  on  September  26,  2007,  unless  extended or earlier
redeemed by the Board as described below.

      After the Separation  Date (except as otherwise  provided  above),  Rights
Certificates  will be mailed to holders of record of the Common  Stock as of the
close of business on a Separation  Date and,  thereafter,  such separate  Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights.

                           Other Information Available
                           ---------------------------

     This summary  description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and
is  qualified  in its  entirety by  reference  to the Rights  Agreement  that is
incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available to
any  stockholder  upon  request  to  CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,   Inc.,  Attn:
Corporate Secretary, or by telephone at (215) 579-7388.



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