ROSLYN BANCORP INC
8-A12G, EX-4.1, 2000-09-29
SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED
Previous: ROSLYN BANCORP INC, 8-A12G, 2000-09-29
Next: ROSLYN BANCORP INC, 8-A12G, EX-4.2, 2000-09-29



<PAGE> 1

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











                     STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                   DATED AS OF

                               SEPTEMBER 26, 2000

                                     BETWEEN


                              ROSLYN BANCORP, INC.


                                       AND


                         REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER COMPANY

                                 AS RIGHTS AGENT










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


                                      - i -


<PAGE> 2



                     STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----

                                    ARTICLE I
                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1   Certain Definitions .....................................        2


                                   ARTICLE II
                                   THE RIGHTS

Section 2.1   Summary of Rights........................................       10
Section 2.2   Legend on Common Stock Certificates......................       10
Section 2.3   Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights.................       11
Section 2.4   Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights..........       13
Section 2.5   Date on which Exercise is Effective......................       15
Section 2.6   Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating
                  of Rights Certificates...............................       16
Section 2.7   Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange......       17
Section 2.8   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights
                  Certificates ........................................       18
Section 2.9   Persons Deemed Owners....................................       19
Section 2.10  Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates................       19
Section 2.11  Agreement of Rights Holders..............................       20


                                   ARTICLE III
         ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

Section 3.1   Flip-in..................................................       21
Section 3.2   Flip-over................................................       24




                                     - ii -

<PAGE> 3



                                   ARTICLE IV
                                THE RIGHTS AGENT

Section 4.1    General.................................................       25
Section 4.2    Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name
                    of Rights Agent....................................       26
Section 4.3    Duties of Rights Agent..................................       27
Section 4.4    Change of Rights Agent..................................       30


                                    ARTICLE V
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1    Redemption..............................................       31
Section 5.2    Expiration..............................................       32
Section 5.3    Issuance of New Rights Certificates.....................       32
Section 5.4    Supplements and Amendments..............................       33
Section 5.5    Fractional Shares.......................................       33
Section 5.6    Rights of Action........................................       34
Section 5.7    Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder...............       34
Section 5.8    Notice of Proposed Actions..............................       35
Section 5.9    Notices.................................................       35
Section 5.10   Suspension of Exercisability............................       36
Section 5.11   Costs of Enforcement....................................       37
Section 5.12   Successors..............................................       37
Section 5.13   Benefits of this Agreement..............................       37
Section 5.14   Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors,
                    etc. ..............................................       37
Section 5.15   Descriptive Headings....................................       38
Section 5.16   Governing Law...........................................       38
Section 5.17   Counterparts............................................       38
Section 5.18   Severability............................................       38


                                    EXHIBITS

Exhibit A      Form of Rights Certificate
               (Together with Form of Election to Exercise)

Exhibit B      Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Right of
               Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Roslyn Bancorp,
               Inc.



                                     - iii -

<PAGE> 4



                     STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                     ---------------------------------------


      STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time,

this "Agreement"), dated as of September 26, 2000, between Roslyn Bancorp, Inc.,

A Delaware Corporation (the "Company"), and Registrar and Transfer Company,

Cranford, New Jersey, 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

October 10, 2000 (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 Sections 3.1, 3.2, 5.1 and 5.10, each Right entitles

the holder thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase securities of the

Company (or, in certain cases, 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, 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:



                                       -1-

<PAGE> 5



                                    ARTICLE I

                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

      1.1 Certain 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 10%

or more 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 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the date of

this Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more 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 hereafter or thereafter as

any of such Persons shall become the Beneficial Owner (other than by means of a

stock dividend or stock split) of any additional shares of Common Stock, (ii)

who is the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more 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 promptly 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 10% or

more 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 by the Company in connection with an agreement to merge with, or

acquire, the


                                       -2-

<PAGE> 6



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 Person or its Affiliates or Associates at the time of

grant of such option, (C) shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible

into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) acquired by Affiliates

or Associates of such Person after the time of such grant which, in the

aggregate, amount to less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, and

(D) shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or

exercisable for Common Stock) which are held by such Person in trust accounts,

managed accounts and the like or otherwise held in a fiduciary capacity, that

are beneficially owned by third persons who are not Affiliates or Associates of

such Person or acting together with such Person to hold such shares, or which

are held by such Person in respect of a debt previously contracted. In addition,

the Company, any wholly owned Subsidiary 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.

      "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to

such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

(the "Securities Exchange Act"), as such Rule is in effect on the date of this

Agreement.

      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 Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities

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



                                       -3-

<PAGE> 7



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 Securities

Exchange Act and pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and

regulations under the Securities Exchange Act, except if such power (or the

arrangements relating thereto) is then reportable under Item 6 of Schedule 13D

under the Securities 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.


                                       -4-

<PAGE> 8



      "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day

on which banking institutions in California 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 time

on such date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, 5:00 p.m. New York time on

the next succeeding Business Day).

      "Common Stock" shall mean the shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per

share, of the Company.

      "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 $75.00 per Right.

      "Expiration Time" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time, (ii)

the Redemption Time, (iii) October 10, 2010 and (iv) upon the merger of the

Company into another corporation pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to

a Flip-in Date.

      "Flip-in Date" shall mean the tenth business day after 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


                                       -5-

<PAGE> 9



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 the assets or earning power 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 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


                                       -6-

<PAGE> 10



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. 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 before the Flip-in 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 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 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


                                       -7-

<PAGE> 11



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 the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other system then in use, or, if on any such

date the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national

securities exchange or quoted by any such organization, the average of the

closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making

a market in the 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.

      "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association, group

(as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act, as such

Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement), corporation or other entity.

      "Preferred Stock" shall mean the series of Series A Junior Participating

Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company created by the

Certificate of Designation in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B

hereto appropriately completed.

      "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.

      "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


                                       -8-

<PAGE> 12



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 Person's becoming an Acquiring

Person and (ii) 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 cancelled, 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.

      "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public announcement

by the Company (by any means) that an Acquiring Person has become such.

      "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.



                                       -9-

<PAGE> 13



                                   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 Rights Agreement, dated as of September
      26, 2000 (as such may be amended from time to time, the "Rights
      Agreement"), between Roslyn Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") and Registrar
      and Transfer 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 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 promptly after
      the receipt of a written request therefor.

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.


                                      -10-

<PAGE> 14



      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-thousandth 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 this Section 2.3 and to Sections 3.l, 5.1 and 5.10, 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 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

                                      -11-

<PAGE> 15



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 Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, 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 Sections

3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, 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 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



                                      -12-

<PAGE> 16



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 of

1933, as amended or the Securities 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 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


                                      -13-

<PAGE> 17



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 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


                                      -14-

<PAGE> 18



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 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



                                      -15-

<PAGE> 19



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

Vice 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 countersignature and delivery of such Rights

Certificates.

      Promptly after 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 countersignature, 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 counter signed

by the Rights Agent.

       (b) Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature
thereof.


                                      -16-

<PAGE> 20



       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.

      (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


                                      -17-

<PAGE> 21



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 or terminated 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 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 its 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


                                      -18-

<PAGE> 22



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 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 cancelled by the Rights Agent.

The Company may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for


                                      -19-

<PAGE> 23



cancellation any Rights Certificates previously countersigned and delivered here

under which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all

Rights Certificates so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights

Agent. No Rights Certificates shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange

for any Rights Certificates cancelled as provided in this Section 2.10, except

as expressly permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall return all

cancelled Rights Certificates 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;

      (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


                                      -20-

<PAGE> 24



      (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 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

                                      -21-

<PAGE> 25



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 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


                                      -22-

<PAGE> 26



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 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-thousandth 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), the Company shall either (i) call a meeting of

stockholders 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


                                      -23-

<PAGE> 27



the Stock Acquisition Date to which it is a party, that each Right shall there

after 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 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


                                      -24-

<PAGE> 28



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.

      (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

                                      -25-

<PAGE> 29



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.

      (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 countersignature of the predecessor Rights

Agent

                                      -26-

<PAGE> 30



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 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 countersignature under its prior name

and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any

of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent

may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its

changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full

force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.

      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


                                      -27-

<PAGE> 31



respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be

conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by a person believed

by the Rights Agent to be the Vice 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 countersignature 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

countersignature 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


                                      -28-

<PAGE> 32



Section 2.4, 3.1 or 3.2 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount

of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would

require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights 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 Vice 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 stockholder, 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


                                      -29-

<PAGE> 33



contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely

as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall

preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or

for any other legal entity.

       (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers

hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through

its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent 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 apply to any court of competent

jurisdiction for the appointment of a


                                      -30-

<PAGE> 34



new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company

or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business under

the laws of the United States or of New York or any other 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. 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.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      5.1  Redemption. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
           ----------

option, at any time prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, elect to

redeem all (but not less than all) of 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



                                      -31-

<PAGE> 35



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.

      (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

      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 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


                                      -32-

<PAGE> 36



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. The Company and the Rights Agent may from
           --------------------------

time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any

holders of Rights (i) prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, in any

respect and (ii) after the close of business on the Flip-in Date, to make any

changes that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not

materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights generally or

in order to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision

contained herein which may be inconsistent with any other provisions herein or

otherwise defective. The Rights Agent will duly execute and deliver any

supplement or amendment hereto requested by the Company which satisfies the

terms of the preceding sentence.

      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



                                      -33-

<PAGE> 37



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) sell

such shares on behalf of the holders of Right and pay to the registered holder

of such Rights the appropriate fraction of price per share received upon such

sale.

      5.6  Rights of Action. Subject to the terms of this Agreement (including
           ----------------

Section 3.1(b)), 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 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 Stockholder. 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


                                      -34-

<PAGE> 38



any Rights, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any

right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to

stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any

corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting

stockholders (except as provided in Section 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

occurrence of any 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, 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:

                  Roslyn Bancorp, Inc.
                  One Jericho Plaza
                  Jericho, New York  11753

                  Attention:  Corporate Secretary



                                      -35-

<PAGE> 39




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:

                  Registrar and Transfer Company
                  10 Commerce Drive
                  Cranford, New Jersey  07016
                  Attn:  President


Notices or demands 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 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.



                                      -36-

<PAGE> 40



      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.

      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. (a) 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


                                      -37-

<PAGE> 41



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.

      (b) In taking any action referred to in Section 5.14 (a), the Board of

Directors shall be entitled to consider, without limitation, the financial and

managerial resources and future prospects of an Acquiring Person, the possible

effects of the action on the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and on

the employees, customers, suppliers and creditors of the Company and its

subsidiaries and the effects on the communities in which the Company's and its

subsidiaries facilities are located.

      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


                                      -38-

<PAGE> 42



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.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be

duly executed as of the date first above written.


                                    ROSLYN BANCORP, INC.


                                    By:    /s/ Joseph L. Mancino
                                           -------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Joseph L. Mancino
                                    Title: Vice Chairman of the Board, President
                                           and Chief Executive Officer


                                    By:    /s/ R. Patrick Quinn
                                           -------------------------------------
                                    Name:  R. Patrick Quinn
                                    Title: Secretary


                         REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER COMPANY


                                    By:    /s/ William P. Tatler
                                           -------------------------------------
                                    Name:  William P. Tatler
                                    Title: Vice President




                                      -39-



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission