WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES INC
10-Q, 1997-08-12
PAPER MILLS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

              (x) QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 (d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                         For the Quarterly Period Ended

                                  June 30, 1997

                          Commission File Number 0-3730



                           Willamette Industries, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



        State of Oregon                             93-0312940
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (State or other jurisdiction of                 (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)                Identification No.)



    1300 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Suite 3800, Portland, Oregon            97201
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code (503) 227-5581

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

                                           Yes  x         No
                                               ---           ---

Indicate the number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  issuer's  classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common Stock, 50 cent par value: 55,535,059 July 31, 1997.


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES                                    FORM 10-Q
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS                                                        PART I
(dollar amounts, except per share amounts, in thousands)                           ITEM 1

                                                                  June 30,    December 31,
                           ASSETS                                  1997           1996
                           ------                                  ----           ----

Current assets:
<S>                                                          <C>                <C>   
  Cash                                                       $       43,845        22,222
  Accounts receivable, less allowance
    for doubtful accounts of $4,718 and $4,460                      297,046       272,709
  Inventories (Note 2)                                              363,354       365,949
  Prepaid expenses and deposits on timber cutting contracts          42,537        38,454
  Assets held for sale (Note 3)                                      57,719       160,218
                             -                                    ---------     ---------

         Total current assets                                       804,501       859,552

Timber, timberlands and related facilities, net                   1,421,898     1,444,873

Property, plant and equipment, at cost less
  accumulated depreciation of $1,890,358 and $1,767,234           2,428,082     2,330,469

Other assets                                                         83,959        85,787
                                                                  ---------     ---------
                                                             $    4,738,440     4,720,681
                                                                  =========     =========

            LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
            ------------------------------------

Current liabilities:
  Current installments on long-term debt                     $       20,472         4,512
  Notes payable                                                     106,000       200,000
  Accounts payable, includes book overdrafts
    of $43,810 and $48,005                                          176,539       185,437
  Accrued expenses                                                  172,311       163,362
  Accrued income taxes                                                6,143        17,107
                                                                  ---------     ---------

         Total current liabilities                                  481,465       570,418

Deferred income taxes                                               383,218       374,246

Other liabilities                                                    35,025        32,819

Long-term debt, net of current installments                       1,859,052     1,766,917

Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, cumulative, of $.50 par value.
    Authorized 5,000,000 shares.                                          -             -
  Common stock, $.50 par value. Authorized 150,000,000
    shares; issued 55,506,506 and 55,353,654 shares.                 27,753        27,677
  Capital surplus                                                   314,211       306,517
  Retained earnings                                               1,637,716     1,642,087
                                                                  ---------     ---------
         Total stockholders' equity                               1,979,680     1,976,281
                                                                  ---------     ---------
                                                             $    4,738,440     4,720,681
                                                                  =========     =========
</TABLE>
                                       2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES                                 FORM 10-Q
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS                                             PART I
(dollar amounts, except per share amounts, in thousands)                        ITEM 1




                                        Three Months Ended        Six Months Ended
                                             June 30,                 June 30,
                                     ----------------------    ----------------------
                                         1997         1996         1997         1996
                                     ----------   ----------   ----------  ----------

<S>                                <C>               <C>        <C>         <C>      
Net sales                          $    857,742      858,792    1,695,405   1,724,904

Cost of sales                           738,927      704,807    1,467,294   1,382,973
                                     ----------   ----------   ----------  ----------

  Gross profit                          118,815      153,985      228,111     341,931

Selling and administrative expenses      61,227       55,640      120,860     110,790
                                     ----------   ----------   ----------  ----------

Operating earnings                       57,588       98,345      107,251     231,141

Other income(expense), net                  104          969          790       1,173
                                     ----------   ----------   ----------  ----------
                                         57,692       99,314      108,041     232,314

Interest expense                         29,429       21,106       58,572      35,192
                                     ----------   ----------   ----------  ----------

  Earnings before provision
     for income taxes                    28,263       78,208       49,469     197,122

Provision for income taxes               10,513       29,954       18,402      75,498
                                     ----------   ----------   ----------  ----------

  Net earnings                     $     17,750       48,254       31,067     121,624
                                     ==========   ==========   ==========  ==========

Weighted average number of
  shares outstanding                 55,416,705   55,241,935   55,390,560  55,233,052
                                     ==========   ==========   ==========  ==========

Per share information:
  Net earnings                     $       0.32         0.87         0.56        2.20
                                     ==========   ==========   ==========  ==========


  Dividends                        $       0.32         0.31         0.64        0.62
                                     ==========   ==========   ==========  ==========
</TABLE>


                                       3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES                                  FORM 10-Q
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS                                            PART I
(dollar amounts in thousands)                                                    ITEM 1

                                                                     Six Months Ended
                                                                         June  30,
                                                                  -----------------------
                                                                    1997           1996
                                                                  ---------     ---------
Cash flows from operating activities:
<S>                                                         <C>                 <C>   
  Net earnings                                              $        31,067       121,624
  Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
    from operating activities:
      Depreciation                                                  132,258       119,731
      Cost of fee timber harvested                                   25,445        16,295
      Other amortization                                              8,926         4,613
      Increase in deferred income taxes                               8,972        12,080

  Changes in working capital items:
      Accounts receivable                                           (24,337)        6,159
      Inventories                                                     2,595        58,984
      Prepaid expenses and deposits on timber cutting contracts      (4,083)       14,120
         Accounts payable and accrued expenses                           51        (8,140)
      Accrued income taxes                                          (10,964)       (8,240)
                                                                  ---------     ---------
  Net cash from operating activities                                169,930       337,226
                                                                  ---------     ---------

Cash flows from investing activities:
      Proceeds from sale of equipment                                   372           532
      Expenditures for property, plant and equipment               (230,248)     (191,330)
      Expenditures for timber and timberlands                        (4,412)       (7,749)
      Expenditures for roads and reforestation                       (5,946)       (4,375)
         Acquisitions (Note 3)                                            -      (957,385)
         Assets held for sale (Note 3)                              102,499      (199,626)
      Other                                                           3,061        (8,466)
                                                                  ---------     ---------
  Net cash from investing activities                               (134,674)   (1,368,399)
                                                                  ---------     ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
      Net change in operating lines of credit                        16,162       (11,000)
      Debt borrowing                                                100,211     1,134,057
      Proceeds from sale of common stock                              7,709           873
      Cash dividends paid                                           (35,438)      (34,240)
      Payment on debt                                              (102,277)      (22,835)
                                                                  ---------     ---------
  Net cash from financing activities                                (13,633)    1,066,855
                                                                  ---------     ---------

Net change in cash                                                   21,623        35,682

Cash at beginning of period                                          22,222        17,961
                                                                  ---------     ---------

Cash at end of period                                       $        43,845        53,643
                                                                  =========     =========

Supplemental  disclosures of cash flow information:
  Cash paid during the period for:
    Interest (net of amount capitalized)                    $        57,056        34,671
                                                                  =========     =========

    Income taxes                                            $        20,394        71,277
                                                                  =========     =========
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>

                                                                       FORM 10-Q
                                                                          PART I
                                                                          ITEM 1



                  WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  June 30, 1997


Note 1     The  information  furnished in this report  reflects all  adjustments
           which  are,  in  the  opinion  of  management,  necessary  to a  fair
           statement of the results for the interim periods presented.

Note 2     The components of inventories are as follows (thousands of dollars):

                                          June 30,      December 31,
                                           1997           1996
                                        ----------        -------

           Finished product            $   117,290        108,090
           Work in process                   7,913          6,182
           Raw material                    161,079        175,480
           Supplies                         77,072         76,197
                                        ----------        -------

                                       $   363,354        365,949
                                        ==========        =======

Note 3     On May 15, 1996, the Company acquired  approximately  1,088,000 acres
           of  timberland,  a sawmill and related  assets from  Cavenham  Forest
           Industries, Inc. Simultaneous to the purchase, the company determined
           to sell 542,000 acres of the acquired  property to third parties,  of
           which approximately $58 million,  including carrying costs, remain to
           be conveyed as of June 30, 1997 and are classified as assets held for
           sale.

Note 4     Certain items previously  reported have been  reclassified to conform
           with the 1997 presentation.








           Other  notes  have  been  omitted  pursuant  to Rule  10-01(a)(5)  of
           Regulation S-X.



                                       5
<PAGE>
                                                                       FORM 10-Q
                                                                          PART I
                                                                          ITEM 2


                  WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
                      OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
                                  June 30, 1997



The Company's two basic businesses,  paper products and building materials,  are
affected by changes in general  economic  conditions.  Paper  product  sales and
earnings  tend to follow the general  economy.  Building  materials  activity is
closely  related  to new  housing  starts and to the  availability  and terms of
financing for  construction.  Both industry segments use wood fiber as the basic
raw material.  The cost of wood fiber is sensitive to various  supply and demand
factors, including environmental issues affecting supply.


                              SEGMENT INFORMATION
                              -------------------

                       SALES AND GROSS PROFIT BY QUARTER
                       ---------------------------------

Sales:
           BUILDING MATERIALS GROUP                          PAPER GROUP

                                  %                                   %
             1997      1996     Change         1997        1996      Change
             ----      ----     ------         ----        ----      ------

1st Qtr. $ 301,387   226,438    33.1%       $  536,276    639,674    (16.2%)

2nd Qtr.   320,255   272,535    17.5%          537,487    586,257     (8.3%)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total    $ 621,642   498,973    24.6%       $1,073,763  1,225,931    (12.4%)
================================================================================


                                       6
<PAGE>
Gross Profit and Gross Profit Margins (GPM) :

             BUILDING MATERIALS GROUP                 PAPER GROUP
             ------------------------                 -----------
                     GPM             GPM                GPM              GPM
            1997      %      1996     %         1997     %      1996      %
            ----      -      ----     -         ----     -      ----      -

1st Qtr. $ 40,994   13.6% $ 23,769  10.5%   $  68,302  12.7% $ 164,177  25.7%

2nd Qtr.   57,404   17.9%   39,705  14.6%      61,411  11.4%   114,280  19.5%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total    $ 98,398   15.8% $ 63,474  12.7%   $ 129,713  12.1% $ 278,457  22.7%
================================================================================


                             RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
                             ---------------------

                     2ND Quarter 1997 vs. 2ND Quarter 1996
                     -------------------------------------

Net sales  remained  steady in the second quarter of 1997 when compared with the
second quarter of 1996, as increases in building  materials sales were offset by
decreases in paper product sales. Total paper product sales decreased by 8.3% in
the  second  quarter  of 1997  over  the  second  quarter  of  1996.  Corrugated
containers and grocery bags  contributed to the second quarter  decline as sales
prices in those product lines  declined 14.5% and 6.2%,  respectively,  from the
second quarter of 1996.  Unit  shipments for bags remained  stable and increased
3.7% for corrugated  containers  over the second quarter of 1996, in part due to
the start-up of the new  corrugated  box plant in Plant City,  Florida in March,
1997 and the new  corrugated  sheet  plant in  Portland,  Oregon  in May,  1997.
Markets for bleached paper products showed some encouraging  signs in the second
quarter.  Although  prices  declined  for both forms and cut sheets by 16.2% and
14.5%,  respectively,  from the second  quarter of 1996, the average June prices
for cut sheets  exceeded the average first and second  quarter  prices for 1997.
Additionally,  a unit shipment increase in cut sheets of 12.7% was realized over
the second quarter of 1996, primarily due to increased production to meet higher
market demand.  Meanwhile, unit shipments for continuous forms


                                       7
<PAGE>


realized a slight 1.0% decrease from second quarter 1996 levels.  Finally,  unit
shipments of hardwood market pulp declined 4.6% from the second quarter of 1996.
Sales prices for  hardwood  market  pulp,  however,  ran counter to the trend in
other paper products and increased 17.5% over the second quarter of 1996.

Building  materials  sales  increased  17.5% over the second quarter of 1996, as
lumber markets continued their strong performance from the first quarter of 1997
and the effect of the Company's 1996  acquisitions  were reflected in sales. The
1996  acquisition  of the Cavenham  lands has allowed the Company to utilize its
resources  more  efficiently,  thereby  providing the  opportunity  to enter the
export  market.  As a result,  the Company has been able to put Douglas fir logs
into the export stream and realize more  attractive  returns than those achieved
domestically.  Furthermore,  the  acquisition  of Medite of Europe  (Medite),  a
medium density fiberboard (MDF) plant in Clonmel,  Ireland,  has been profitable
since the purchase in November, 1996. Sales prices and unit volumes increased in
the domestic  lumber  markets by 5.0% and 19.8%,  respectively,  over the second
quarter of 1996. A significant portion of the volume increase is attributable to
the Warrenton,  Oregon Sawmill  purchased in the Cavenham  acquisition in May of
1996.

The structural  panel and composite  board product lines showed mixed results in
the second  quarter of 1997.  Plywood  prices  trended up slightly in the second
quarter  increasing 3.9% over the same period in 1996.  However,  unit shipments
decreased  1.7%,  partly  offsetting the price  increases.  In April,  1996, the
Company began  producing  oriented  strand board ("OSB") in Arcadia,  Louisiana.
Since  start-up,  unit sales  volumes have  consistently  improved  with volumes
showing a 173.7% increase for the second quarter of 1997 over the second


                                       8
<PAGE>

quarter of 1996, and an 8.9% increase over the first quarter of 1997. While unit
sales volume has increased,  continued  pricing pressures from supply and demand
imbalances  in the  structural  panel market have reduced OSB sales prices 34.2%
from the second quarter of 1996.

In the composite board product lines, unit shipments of MDF increased 79.7% over
the  second  quarter  of 1996  primarily  attributable  to the late  March  1996
start-up of the Eugene,  Oregon plant and the fourth quarter 1996 acquisition of
Medite.  Sales prices in the US domestic market  decreased 12.2% from the second
quarter of 1996,  due to  continued  over-supply  in the  market.  However,  the
European market, serviced by Medite, continued its pricing strength and showed a
slight  1.7%  increase  in sales  prices  from the first  quarter  of 1997.  The
increasing prices for Medite reflect the acceptance of Medite's  specialty grade
product  mix.  Particleboard  stayed  consistent  with the trend in the domestic
composite board market reflecting an 11.7% increase in unit shipments and a 6.6%
decrease in sales prices from the second quarter of 1996.

Gross profit margins decreased to 13.9% in the second quarter of 1997 from 17.9%
in the second  quarter of 1996.  Total paper product gross margins  decreased to
11.4% from 19.5% in the second quarter of 1996, as average sales prices declined
in all paper product  lines,  except  hardwood  market pulp.  Additionally,  the
Company's new corrugated box plant in Plant City,  Florida,  began production in
late March, 1997 and has incurred normal start-up costs. Raw material costs also
played a role in the decreasing margins as old corrugated  container (OCC) costs
and chip costs increased 5.4% and 2.0%, respectively, over the second quarter of
1996.


                                        9
<PAGE>


Building  materials gross margins were 17.9% in the second quarter of 1997 which
is up from 14.6% realized in the second quarter of 1996. The increase in margins
is the result of 1) new markets  created  from the addition of Medite and export
log sales and,  2)increasing  prices in lumber and plywood in the second quarter
of 1997 compared to 1996. In addition,  start-up costs such as those  associated
with the Eugene,  Oregon MDF plant and the OSB plant in Arcadia,  Louisiana that
came on line in early 1996 were not incurred in the second quarter of 1997.

Selling and  administrative  expenses increased $5.6 million or 10.0% mostly due
to  expansion  of Company  operations.  The ratio of selling and  administrative
expenses to net sales  increased to 7.1% for the second quarter of 1997 compared
with 6.5% for the same period in 1996.

Interest  expense was $29.4 million in the second  quarter of 1997 compared with
$21.1 million in the second quarter of 1996.  Interest expense  increased due to
increased borrowings in connection with the May 15, 1996, Cavenham  acquisition.
In addition,  the Company's  effective interest rate on average outstanding debt
increased from 6.85% for the second quarter of 1996 to 7.10% for the same period
in 1997.  Capitalized interest increased from $2.1 million in the second quarter
of 1996 to $4.4 million in 1997,  slightly  offsetting the effects of the change
in average interest rates.

In addition, the Company permanently closed its Taylor,  Louisiana plywood plant
in July and took a $2.3 million  pre-tax  charge during the second quarter which
was offset by income from the sale of assets and other nonrecurring items.


                                       10
<PAGE>

                      SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, VS.
                      -----------------------------------

                         SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996
                         ------------------------------

Net sales  decreased 1.7% in the first six months of 1997 compared with the same
period in 1996.  Total  paper  product  sales  decreased  12.4% as sales  prices
decreased in all paper product lines,  except hardwood market pulp. The decrease
in sales prices was partially  offset by increased  unit  shipments in all paper
product  lines,  excluding  paper  bags and  hardwood  market  pulp,  over  unit
shipments for the first six months of 1996.

Building  materials  sales increased 24.6% over the first six months of 1996, as
unit shipments  increased in all product lines except plywood.  Volume increases
were primarily the result of acquisitions of Medite of Europe in November, 1996,
and the Warrenton Sawmill obtained in the Cavenham  acquisition in May, 1996. In
addition,  volumes from our converted MDF Plant in Eugene,  Oregon and OSB Plant
in  Arcadia,  Louisiana,  both of which  started-up  in the first  half of 1996,
significantly  increased  volumes  over  1996.  Additionally,  the  sales  price
realization  increases in lumber and plywood  more than offset the  decreases in
OSB, particleboard and domestic MDF.

Gross  profit  margins  decreased to 13.5% for the first six months of 1997 from
19.8% for the same period in 1996.  Total paper product gross margins  decreased
to 12.1% from 22.7% for the first six months of 1996 reflecting  declining sales
prices in all  paper  product  lines,  except  hardwood  market  pulp.  Building
materials  gross margins were 15.8% for the first six months of 1997 which is up
from 12.7% realized for the first six months of 1996. The


                                       11
<PAGE>


increase in margins is primarily  the result of 1) new markets  created from the
addition of Medite and export log sales and, 2) increasing  prices in lumber and
plywood through the first half of 1997 compared to 1996.

Selling and  administrative  expenses increased $10.1 million or 9.1% mostly due
to  expansion  of Company  operations.  The ratio of selling and  administrative
expenses  to net  sales  increased  to 7.1% for the  first  six  months  of 1997
compared with 6.4% for the same period in 1996.

Interest  expense was $58.6  million  for the first six months of 1997  compared
with $35.2 million for the first six months of 1996.  Interest expense increased
due to  increased  borrowings  in  connection  with the May 15,  1996,  Cavenham
acquisition.  The Company's  effective interest rate on average outstanding debt
remained relatively unchanged at 7.04% for the first six months of 1997 compared
to 7.03%  for the  same  period  in  1996.  In  addition,  capitalized  interest
increased  from $4.6  million in the first  quarter  of 1996 to $7.9  million in
1997.

                    Financial Condition as of June 30, 1997
                    ---------------------------------------

During the first six months of 1997,  the Company had cash flows from  operating
activities of $169.9 million,  a decrease of 49.6% from the same period in 1996.
The  decrease  was  primarily  attributable  to a  decline  in net  earnings  as
discussed above.  Internally  generated cash flows funded 70.6% of total capital
expenditures  of $240.6  million in the first six months of 1997. The total debt
to capital ratio has slightly  increased to 50.1% at June 30, 1997 from 49.9% at
December  31,  1996.  The Company  anticipates  that it can maintain its present
capital  spending  commitments  and still  bring its debt to capital  ratio back
below 40% by 1999. The $58 million classified as assets held for

                                       12
<PAGE>


sale  relates to the final  parcel of  timberland  to be sold as a result of the
Cavenham  acquisition  as  discussed  in  Note 3 to The  Consolidated  Financial
Statements.  The sale is expected to close before November 15, 1997. Net working
capital was $323.0 million at June 30, 1997, compared with the $289.1 million at
December 31, 1996.

The Company  believes it has the resources  available to meet its short-term and
long-term liquidity requirements.  Resources include internally generated funds,
short-term  borrowing  arrangements and the unused portion of the revolving loan
available under a Credit Agreement. On August 1, 1997, the Company filed a shelf
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, covering $500.0 million
of debt and equity securities to be offered from time to time. As of the date of
this filing, none of the securities have been issued.

On August 5, 1997, the Board of Directors  declared a 2-for-1 stock split of its
outstanding  common stock.  The split will be implemented  as a stock  dividend,
payable September 12, 1997 at the rate of one new share of common stock for each
share held of record on August 25, 1997. In addition,  the directors  declared a
regular quarterly cash dividend of $.32 per share for the third quarter of 1997.

In August, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the repurchase
of up to $100 million of the Company's  common stock.  As of June 30, 1997,  the
Company had repurchased 50,000 shares of its common stock for


                                       13
<PAGE>

$2.7 million.  The Company does not anticipate further purchases until such time
as debt ratios are lower than current levels.

                           Forward-looking statements
                           --------------------------

Statements contained in this report that are not historical in nature, including
the  discussion of the  anticipated  reduction in the Company's  debt to capital
ratio,  the  adequacy of the  Company's  liquidity  resources,  and the expected
closure of the sale of the final parcel of the Cavenham timberland  acquisition,
are  forward-looking  statements  within the meaning of the  Private  Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking  statements are subject to risks
and  uncertainties  that may cause actual future  results to differ  materially.
Such risks and  uncertainties  with respect to the Company include the effect of
general  economic  conditions;  the level of new housing  starts and  remodeling
activity; the availability and terms of financing for construction;  competitive
factors,  including pricing pressures;  the cost and availability of wood fiber;
the effect of natural disasters on the Company's timberlands;  and the impact of
environmental  regulations and the  construction and other costs associated with
complying with such regulations.



                                       14
<PAGE>


                                                                       FORM 10-Q
                                                                         PART II

                               Other Information
                               -----------------


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

         (a)  Exhibits
              --------

              Exhibit No.               Exhibit
              -----------               -------

                  10                    Rights  Agreement  dated as of  February
                                        26,  1990,  amended  as of  December  3,
                                        1996.

                  12                    Computation  of  Ratio  of  Earnings  to
                                        Fixed Charges.

                  27                    Financial Data Schedule.

                  99                    Description of capital stock.

         (b)  Reports on Form 8-K
              -------------------
                No reports on Form 8-K were filed  during the  quarter for which
                this report is filed.




                                       15

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURE

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

                              WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.



                              By /s/J. A. Parsons
                                 (J. A. Parsons
                                  Executive Vice President
                                  Principal Financial Officer)


Date:  August 12, 1997



                           WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                       and

                     FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF OREGON, N. A.
                                  Rights Agent

                                Rights Agreement
                          Dated as of February 26, 1990



                                      - 1 -

<PAGE>



TABLE OF CONTENTS
- -----------------

      Section
- -------------
            Table of Defined Terms                                         iii
      1     Certain Definitions                                              1
      2     Appointment of Rights Agent                                      4
      3     Issuance of Right Certificates                                   5
      4     Form of Right Certificates                                       7
      5     Countersignature and Registration                                7
      6     Transfer, Split Up, Combination and
            Exchange of Right Certificates;
            Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
            Right Certificates                                               8
      7     Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price;
            Expiration Date of Rights                                        9
      8     Cancellation and Destruction of
            Right Certificates                                              11
      9     Reservation and Availability of
            Capital Shares                                                  12
      10    Preferred Shares Record Date                                    13
      11    Adjustment of Purchase Price,
            Number of Shares or Number of Rights                            13
      12    Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price
            or Number of Shares                                             22
      13    Consolidation, Merger, Statutory Plan
            of Exchange or Sale or Transfer of Assets
            or Earning Power                                                22
      14    Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares                         27
      15    Rights of Action                                                28
      16    Agreement of Right Holders                                      28
      17    Right Holders and Right Certificate
            Holders Not Deemed Shareholders                                 29
      18    Concerning the Rights Agent                                     30
      19    Merger or Consolidation or Change
            of Name of Rights Agent                                         30
      20    Duties of Rights Agent                                          31
      21    Change of Rights Agent                                          33
      22    Issuance of New Right Certificates                              34
      23    Redemption and Termination                                      35
      24    Exchange                                                        36
      25    Notice of Certain Events                                        38
      26    Notices                                                         39
      27    Supplements and Amendments                                      39
      28    Successors                                                      40
      29    Benefits of Agreement                                           40
      30    Severability                                                    41
      31    Determinations and Actions by the
            Board of Directors, etc.                                        41
      32    Governing Law                                                   41
      33    Counterparts                                                    42
      34    Descriptive Headings                                            42



                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>



Exhibit A -- Form of Articles of Amendment
Exhibit B -- Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit C -- Form of Summary of Rights




                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>



                             TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS
                             ----------------------

Term Defined
- -------------
Acquiring Person
Adjustment Shares
Affiliate
Agreement
Associate
Beneficial Owner
Board of Directors
Business Day
Close of Business
Common Shares
common stock equivalents
Company (Willamette Industries, Inc. )
Company (Following a Section 13 event)

current market value of a whole right (for purposes of fractional
Rights and fractional shares)

current market value of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
(for purposes of fractional Rights and fractional shares)

current per share  market  price of the Common  Shares  current per share market
price of the Preferred  Shares  Distribution  Date equivalent  preferred  shares
Exchange Act Exchange Date Exchange  Ratio Final  Expiration  Date NASDAQ Person
Plan (Employee  Benefit Plan)  Preferred  Shares  Principal Party Purchase Price
Record Date  Redemption  Date Redemption  Price  Registered  Common Shares Right
Rights Agent  Sanctioned  Tender Offer Section  11(a)(ii) event Section 13 event
Shareholder  Stand-Together Agreement Shares Acquisition Date Subsidiary Summary
of Rights Trading Day


                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>



                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

            This Rights  Agreement  (the  "Agreement")  dated as of February 26,
1990,  between  W1LLAMETTE  INDUSTRIES,   INC.  ,  an  Oregon  corporation  (the
"Company"),  and FIRST  INTERSTATE  BANK OF OREGON,  N. A. , a national  banking
association (the "Rights Agent");

                             W I T N E S S S E T H :

            WHEREAS  the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  (the  "Board  of
Directors") has authorized and declared a dividend  distribution of one right (a
"Right") for each Common Share (as  defined) of the Company  outstanding  at the
Close of Business (as defined) on February  26, 1990 (the "Record  Date"),  upon
the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth;

            WHEREAS  each such Right shall  represent  the right to purchase one
one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $. 50
par value,  of the  Company,  and shall have the  preferences,  limitations  and
relative  rights  set forth in the  Articles  of  Amendment  attached  hereto as
Exhibit A; and

            WHEREAS the Board of Directors has further  authorized  the issuance
of one Right with  respect to each Common  Share that shall  become  outstanding
between  the  Record  Date  and  the  earliest  of the  Distribution  Date,  the
Redemption  Date and the Final  Expiration  Date (as such  terms are  defined in
Sections 3 and 7);

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

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

            (a)  "Acquiring  Person"  shall mean any Person (as  defined) who or
which,  together with all Affiliates and Associates (as defined) of such Person,
shall be the  Beneficial  Owner (as defined) of 20 percent or more of the Common
Shares of the Company then  outstanding;  provided,  however,  that an Acquiring
Person shall not include (i) the Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the Company,  any
employee benefit plan ("Plan") of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company,
or any Person  holding  Common  Shares for or  pursuant to the terms of any such
Plan, (ii) any Person who is a party to the Shareholder Stand-Together Agreement
(as  defined)  but only while such Person  remains a party  thereto or (iii) any
Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner as the result of a Sanctioned  Tender
Offer. For purposes of this subsection (a), in determining the percentage of the
outstanding  shares  of  Common  Shares  with  respect  to which a Person is the
Beneficial Owner (A) all shares as to which such 


                                      - 5 -

<PAGE>



Person is deemed the Beneficial Owner shall be deemed  outstandingand (B) shares
which are subject to issuance  upon the exercise or  conversion  of  outstanding
conversion rights, rights,  warrants and options other than those referred to in
(A) shall  not be deemed  outstanding.  Any  determination  made by the Board of
Directors  as to whether any Person is or is not an  Acquiring  Person  shall be
conclusive and binding upon all holders of Rights.

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

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

                  (i) which such Person or any of such  Person's  Affiliates  or
      Associates  beneficially  owns,  directly or  indirectly,  for purposes of
      Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Regulation  13D-G thereunder (or any
      comparable or successor law or  regulation),  in each case as in effect on
      the date hereof; or

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



                                      - 6 -

<PAGE>

                  (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
      any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such other Person) with
      which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any
      agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary arrangements
      with and between  underwriters and selling group members with respect to a
      bona fide public  offering of  securities)  for the purpose of  acquiring,
      holding,  voting  (other  than voting  pursuant  to a  revocable  proxy as
      described  in the  provison to Section  l(c)(ii)(B))  or  disposing of any
      securities of the Company.

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

            (e)  "Close of  Business"  on any given  date  shall  mean 5 p. m. ,
Portland, Oregon time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not
a Business  Day,  it shall mean 5 p. m. ,  Portland,  Oregon  time,  on the next
succeeding Business Day.

            (f)  "Common  Shares"  when used with  reference  to the Company (or
without express  reference to another Person) shall mean shares of Common Stock,
$. 50 par  value,  of the  Company or any other  shares of capital  stock of the
Company  into  which the Common  Shares are  reclassified  or  changed.  "Common
Shares" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean
shares of the common  stock of such Person (or other class of equity  securities
or equity  interests)  having power to control or direct the  management of such
Person or, if such Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, of the Person which
ultimately  controls  such  first-mentioned  Person  and  which has  issued  and
outstanding  such  common  stock (or such other  class of equity  securities  or
equity interests).

            (g)  "Person"  shall  mean  any   individual,   firm,   partnership,
corporation,  association,  group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5  under the
Exchange  Act) or other  entity,  and shall  include any successor (by merger or
otherwise) of such entity.

            (h)  "Preferred  Shares"  shall  mean  shares  of  Series  A  Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, $. 50 par value, of the Company.

            (i)  "Purchase  Price"  shall mean the price to be paid for each one
one-hundredth  of a Preferred  Share pursuant to the exercise of a Right,  which
price is, as of the date  hereof,  as set forth in Section  7(c).  The  Purchase
Price is subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in Sections 11 and
13.



                                      - 7 -

<PAGE>


            (j) "Sanctioned  Tender Offer" shall mean a tender or exchange offer
for all outstanding Common Shares of the Company at a price and on terms which a
majority of the Board of Directors  determines to be fair to the shareholders of
the Company  (taking into account all factors that the Board of Directors  deems
relevant including, without limitation, prices that could reasonably be achieved
if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly  basis  designed to realize
maximum  value) and  otherwise  in the best  interests  of the  Company  and its
shareholders  (other than the Person or any  Affiliate or  Associate  thereof on
whose  behalf  the  offer  is  being  made);  provided,  however,  that (i) such
determination  is made by the Board of Directors prior to the purchase of shares
under such  tender or  exchange  offer and (ii) a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors are not Acquiring Persons or Affiliates, Associates, nominees
or representatives of an Acquiring Person.

            (k)  "Shareholder  Stand-Together  Agreement"  shall  mean  (i) that
certain  agreement  dated as of January 21, 1985, as extended,  supplemented  or
amended from time to time and (ii) any similar  agreement in which a majority of
the  individuals  who  are the  initial  "Representatives"  thereunder  (however
designated)  are  individuals  who, at any time,  constituted  a majority of the
Representatives  in office under the agreement  referred to in clause (i) above,
as extended, supplemented or amended from time to time.

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

            (m)  "Subsidiary"  shall mean,  with  reference  to any Person,  any
corporation  or other  entity  of  which  an  amount  of the  voting  securities
sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors of such  corporation or
the members of the governing  body of such other entity,  as the case may be, is
beneficially  owned,  directly  or  indirectly,  by  such  Person  or  otherwise
controlled by such Person.

            Section 2.  Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints
the Rights  Agent to act as agent for the  Company and the holders of the Rights
in accordance with the terms and conditions  hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby
accepts  such  appointment.  The  Company  may from  time to time  appoint  such
co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.

            Section 3.  Issuance of Right Certificates.

            (a) Until the earlier of the Close of  Business  (i) on the 10th day
after the  Shares  Acquisition  Date or (ii) on the 10th  Business  Day (or such
later date as may be determined by the 


                                      - 8 -

<PAGE>


Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person)
after the date of the  commencement  by any Person (other than the Company,  any
Subsidiary of the Company,  any Plan of the Company or of any  Subsidiary of the
Company,  or any entity  holding Common Shares of the Company for or pursuant to
the  terms of any such  Plan) of, or of the  first  public  announcement  of the
intention of any Person (other than the Company,  any Subsidiary of the Company,
any Plan of the  Company  or of any  Subsidiary  of the  Company,  or any entity
holding  Common  Shares of the  Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such
Plan) to commence,  a tender or exchange  offer (other than a Sanctioned  Tender
Offer)  the  consummation  of which  would  result in any  Person  becoming  the
Beneficial  Owner of 30 percent or more of the outstanding  Common Shares of the
Company,  including any such date which is after the date of this  Agreement and
prior to the  issuance of the Rights  (the  earlier of such dates  described  in
clauses (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution  Date"),  (x)
the Rights  will be  evidenced  by the  certificates  for  Common  Shares of the
Company (which  certificates shall also be deemed to be Right  Certificates) or,
as the  case may be,  certificates  issued  subsequent  to the  Record  Date and
bearing the legend set forth in Section 3(c) (and,  in neither case, by separate
Right  Certificates)  and the  record  holders of such  certificates  for Common
Shares shall be the record holders of the Rights represented thereby and (y) the
Rights and the right to receive Right  Certificates  will be  transferable  only
simultaneously  with and  together  with the  transfer  of Common  Shares of the
Company.  Until the Distribution  Date (or the earlier of the Redemption Date or
the Final Expiration  Date), the surrender for transfer of such certificates for
Common  Shares shall also  constitute  the  surrender for transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares  represented  thereby.  As soon as practicable
after the Distribution Date, after notification by the Company, the Rights Agent
will send, by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common
Shares of the Company as of the Close of Business on the  Distribution  Date, at
the  address  of such  holder  shown  on the  records  of the  Company,  a Right
Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, evidencing one Right
for each Common Share so held. As of the  Distribution  Date, the Rights will be
evidenced  solely  by such  Right  Certificates  and may be  transferred  by the
transfer of the Right  Certificates  as permitted  hereby,  separately and apart
from any  transfer  of one or more shares of Common  Shares,  and the holders of
such Right  Certificates as listed in the records of the Company or any transfer
agent or registrar for the Rights shall be the record holders thereof.

            (b) On the Record Date, or as soon as  practicable  thereafter,  the
Company  will send a copy of a Summary of the Rights in  substantially  the form
attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  C (the  "Summary  of  Rights"),  by  first-class,
postage-prepaid  mail,  to each record holder of Common Shares of the Company as
of the

                                      - 9 -

<PAGE>


close of business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company.

            (c) Rights  shall be issued in  respect of all Common  Shares of the
Company  which are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the
Distribution  Date,  the  Redemption  Date,  the  Exchange  Date  or  the  Final
Expiration Date.  Certificates for such Common Shares shall also be deemed to be
certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend:

      This  certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
      Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between  Willamette  Industries,
      Inc. (the  "Company"),  and First  Interstate  Bank of Oregon,  N. A. , as
      Rights Agent, dated as of February 26, 1990 (the "Rights Agreement"),  the
      terms of which are hereby  incorporated  herein by reference and a copy of
      which is on file at the principal executive offices of the Company.  Under
      certain circumstances,  as set forth in the Rights Agreement,  such Rights
      will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced
      by  this  certificate.  The  Company  will  mail  to the  holder  of  this
      certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of
      a  written  request   therefor.   Under  certain   circumstances,   Rights
      beneficially  owned by an Acquiring  Person or any  Affiliate or Associate
      thereof  (as such  terms are  defined  in the  Rights  Agreement)  and any
      subsequent holder of such Rights may become null and void.

            (d)  Certificates  for  Common  Shares,  if any,  issued  after  the
Distribution  Date but prior to the earlier of the Redemption  Date or the Final
Expiration Date shall bear the following legend:

      This  certificate does not evidence any Right issued pursuant to the terms
      of a Rights  Agreement  between  Willamette  Industries,  Inc. , and First
      Interstate Bank of Oregon, N. A. , dated as of February 26, 1990.

            Section 4. Form of Right  Certificates.  The Right Certificates (and
the forms of election to purchase,  assignment and  certificate to be printed on
the reverse thereof), when, as and if issued, shall be substantially the same as
Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of  identification  or designation  and
such legends,  summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not  inconsistent  with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be  required  to comply  with any  applicable  law or with any rule or
regulation  made  pursuant  thereto or with any rule or  regulation of any stock
exchange  on which the Common  Shares of the Company or the Rights may from time
to time be listed, or to conform to usage.  Subject to the provisions of Section
11 and Section 22 hereof,  the Right


                                     - 10 -
<PAGE>


Certificates,  whenever  issued,  which are issued in  respect of Common  Shares
which  were  issued  and  outstanding  as  of  the  Close  of  Business  on  the
Distribution  Date,  shall  be  dated  as  of  the  Close  of  Business  on  the
Distribution  Date,  and on their  face shall  entitle  the  holders  thereof to
purchase such number of Preferred Shares (including  fractional shares which are
integral  multiples  of one  one-hundredth  of a share)  as  shall be set  forth
therein  at the  price  per one  one-hundredth  of a  Preferred  Share set forth
therein, but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon exercise of each
Right and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.

            Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration.

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

            (b) Following the  Distribution  Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause  to be  kept,  at  one of its  offices  in  Portland,  Oregon,  books  for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books
shall  show the names  and  addresses  of the  respective  holders  of the Right
Certificates,  the number of Rights  evidenced  on its face by each of the Right
Certificates and the date of each of the Right Certificates.

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

            (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(f) and 14 hereof, at any
time after the Close of Business on the  Distribution  Date,  and at or prior to
the Close of Business on 

                                     - 11 -

<PAGE>


earlier  of the  Redemption  Date  or  the  Final  Expiration  Date,  any  Right
Certificate or Right  Certificates  may be  transferred,  split up,  combined or
exchanged for another Right  Certificate  or Right  Certificates,  entitling the
registered  holder to  purchase a like number of  Preferred  Shares as the Right
Certificate  or Right  Certificates  surrendered  then  entitled  such holder to
purchase.  Any  registered  holder  desiring to transfer,  split up,  combine or
exchange any Right  Certificate  shall make such request in writing delivered to
the  Rights  Agent,   and  shall  surrender  the  Right   Certificate  or  Right
Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of
the Rights  Agent with the form of  assignment  on the reverse  side thereof (or
with a written  instrument of transfer in form  satisfactory  to-the Company and
the  Rights  Agent  enclosed  with  such  Right  Certificate),  executed  by the
registered holder thereof or his attorney  authorized in writing,  and with such
signature  guaranteed.  Neither  the  Rights  Agent  nor the  Company  shall  be
obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such
surrendered Right Certificate until the certificate set forth following the form
of  assignment  on the reverse  side of such Right  Certificate  shall have been
completed  and  executed  by the  registered  holder  thereof  or  his  attorney
authorized in writing,  and the Company shall have been provided such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of
the Rights represented by such Right Certificate or the Affiliates or Associates
of such  Beneficial  Owner (or former  Beneficial  Owner) as the  Company  shall
reasonably  request.  Upon  receipt  of such  executed  form of  assignment  and
certificate  and of such  additional  evidence,  if requested,  the Rights Agent
shall countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Right Certificate
or Right  Certificates,  as the case may be, as so  requested.  The  Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that
may be  imposed  in  connection  with any  transfer,  split up,  combination  or
exchange of Right Certificates.

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

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


                                     - 12 -

<PAGE>


            (a) Until the Distribution Date, no Right may be exercised.

            (b) The registered  holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the
Rights  evidenced  thereby (except as otherwise  provided herein) in whole or in
part at any time  after  the  Distribution  Date  upon  surrender  of the  Right
Certificate,  with the form of election to purchase on the reverse  side thereof
and certificate thereon duly executed (with signatures duly guaranteed),  to the
Rights  Agent at the office or agency of the Rights  Agent  designated  for such
purpose,  together with payment of the Purchase Price with respect to each Right
exercised,  at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on February
25, 2000 (the "Final Expiration  Date"),  (ii) the consummation of a transaction
contemplated by Section 13(e), (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged
(the  "Exchange  Date") as provided in Section 24, or (iv) the time at which the
Rights are redeemed (the "Redemption Date") as provided in Section 23.

            (c) The  Purchase  Price for each one  one-hundredth  of a Preferred
Share pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall  initially be $175, and shall be
payable in lawful  money of the United  States of  America  in  accordance  with
Section 7(d) hereof. The Purchase Price and the number of Preferred Shares to be
acquired upon  exercise of a Right shall be subject to  adjustment  from time to
time as provided in Sections 11 and 13.

            (d) Upon  receipt of a Right  Certificate  representing  exercisable
Rights,  with the form of election to purchase and form of  certificate  thereon
duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares to be
purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid
by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 in cash, or
by bank certified  check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company,  and
such  additional  evidence of the  identity of the  Beneficial  Owner (or former
Beneficial  Owner) of the Rights  represented  by such Right  Certificate or the
Affiliates  or Associates  thereof as the Company may  reasonably  request,  the
Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) requisition from any transfer agent of
the  Preferred  Shares  certificates  for the number of  Preferred  Shares to be
purchased and the Company  hereby  irrevocably  authorizes its transfer agent to
comply with all such requests,  and/or,  as provided in Section 14,  requisition
from the depositary agent depositary  receipts  representing  such number of one
one-hundredths  of a  Preferred  Share as are to be  purchased  (in  which  case
certificates  for the Preferred  Shares  represented  by such receipts  shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary  agent) and the Company will
direct the depositary agent to comply with such request,  (ii) when appropriate,
requisition  from the  Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance
of fractional shares in accordance with


                                   - 13 -

<PAGE>


Section 14, (iii)  promptly  after  receipt of such  certificates  or depositary
receipts,  cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered
holder  of such  Right  Certificate,  registered  in such  name or  names as may
designated by such holder and (iv) when  appropriate,  after  receipt,  promptly
deliver  such cash to or upon the order of the  registered  holder of such Right
Certificate.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(d), the
Company may suspend the issuance of Preferred Shares upon exercise of Rights for
a reasonable period, not in excess of 90 days, during which the Company seeks to
register  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  and any  applicable
securities law of any  jurisdiction,  the Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant
to the Rights;  provided,  however,  that nothing contained in this Section 7(d)
shall relieve the Company of its obligations under Section 9(c).

            (e) In case the  registered  holder of any Right  Certificate  shall
exercise less than all the Rights  evidenced  thereby,  a new Right  Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his
duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14.

            (f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, upon
the occurrence of any of the events  described in Sections  ll(a)(ii) and 13(a),
any Rights  beneficially  owned by (i) an Acquiring  Person or any  Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person or of
any  Affiliate or Associate  of such  Acquiring  Person who becomes a transferee
after  the  Acquiring  Person  becomes  such  (other  than  a  transferee  in  a
transaction  described in Section 23(b)) or (iii) a transferee who acquired such
Rights from an  Acquiring  Person or an  Affiliate  or Associate of an Acquiring
Person prior to or  concurrently  with the Acquiring  Person  becoming such in a
transaction  which  the  Board  of  Directors  has  determined  to be part of an
arrangement  which has as a primary  purpose  or effect  the  avoidance  of this
Section 7(f), shall become null and void, and any holder of such Rights (whether
or not such holder is an  Acquiring  Person or an  Affiliate  or Associate of an
Acquiring  Person) shall  thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under
any  provision of this  Agreement or  otherwise.  Any Right  Certificate  issued
pursuant to Section 3 that represents Rights  beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof and any Right Certificate issued at
any time upon the transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate
or Associate  thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring  Person,  Affiliate or
Associate,  and any Right  Certificate  issued pursuant to Sections 6 or 11 upon
transfer,  exchange,  replacement  or adjustment of any other Right  Certificate
referred to in this sentence,  shall or shall be deemed to contain the following
legend:


                                   - 14 -

<PAGE>


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

The Company shall use all  reasonable  efforts to ensure that the  provisions of
this Section 7(f) are complied  with,  but shall have no liability to any holder
of  Rights  or  any  other  Person  as a  result  of its  failure  to  make  any
determination under this Section 7(f) with respect to an Acquiring Person or its
Affiliates, Associates or transferees.

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

            Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Shares.

            (a) The  Company  covenants  and  agrees  that it will  cause  to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued  Preferred Shares
(and, will use its best efforts, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
event,  to cause to be reserved and kept  available  out of its  authorized  and
unissued Common Shares and/or other securities),  the number of Preferred Shares
(and,  following the  occurrence  of a Section  11(a)(ii)  event,  the number of
Common Shares and/or other  securities)  as will from time to time be sufficient
to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.

            (b) So long as the Preferred  Shares (and,  following the occurrence
of a Section 11(a)(ii) event,  Common Shares and/or other  securities)  issuable
upon the exercise of Rights may be listed on any national  securities  exchange,
the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the
Rights become exercisable, all shares issued or reserved for such 


                                     - 15 -
<PAGE>


issuance to be listed on such  exchange  upon  official  notice of issuance upon
such exercise.

            (c) If  necessary  to permit the  issuance  of shares  and/or  other
securities  pursuant to the Rights,  the Company  will use its best efforts from
and after the time the Rights become  exercisable to register such shares and/or
other  securities  under  the  Securities  Act of  1933,  as  amended,  and  any
applicable  securities  laws and to keep such  registration  effective until the
Final Expiration Date.

            (d) The  Company  covenants  and  agrees  that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred  Shares (and,  following
the  occurrence  of a  Section  11(a)(ii)  event,  Common  Shares  and/or  other
securities)  delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of
the certificates for such shares or other securities  (subject to payment of the
Purchase  Price),  be duly and validly  authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable.

            (e) The Company  further  covenants and agrees that it will pay when
due and payable any and all federal and state  transfer  taxes and charges which
may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right  Certificates
or of any Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities as the case
may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required
to pay any  transfer  tax which may be payable in  respect  of any  transfer  or
delivery  of Right  Certificates  to a Person  other  than,  or the  issuance or
delivery of certificates for the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other
securities,  as the case may be) in a name other  than that of,  the  registered
holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to
issue or deliver any  certificates for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or
other securities,  as the case may be) upon the exercise of any Rights until any
such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being  payable by the holder of such
Right  Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to
the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.

            Section 10.  Preferred Shares Record Date. Each Person in whose name
any certificate for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other  securities,
as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes
be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares (or Common
Shares and/or other securities,  as the case may be) represented thereby on, and
such  certificate  shall be  dated,  the date upon  which the Right  Certificate
evidencing  such Rights was duly  surrendered  and payment of the Purchase Price
(and any applicable  transfer taxes) was made;  provided,  however,  that if the
date of such  surrender and payment is a date upon which the transfer  books for
the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities,  as the case may
be) are closed,  such Person


                                   - 16 -

<PAGE>


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  such
transfer books are open.

            Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number
of Rights.  The  Purchase  Price,  the  number  and kind of shares  which may be
purchased  upon  exercise  of a Right and the number of Rights  outstanding  are
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.

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

                  (ii)  Subject  to  Section  24, in the event  that any  Person
      (other than the Company,  any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company,  any
      Plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company,  any Person holding
      Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such Plan, or any Person
      who is a party to the Shareholder  Stand-Together Agreement but only while
      such  Person  remains  a  party  thereto),  alone  or  together  with  its
      Affiliates and Associates,  shall become an Acquiring  Person (except in a
      transaction to which the provisions of Section 13(a) hereof apply),  then,
      upon the occurrence of such event (a "Section  11(a)(ii)  event"),  proper
      provision shall be made so that each holder of a 


                                   - 17 -

<PAGE>


      Right, except as provided in Section 7(f) hereof,  shall thereafter have a
      right to receive for each Right,  upon exercise thereof in accordance with
      the terms of this  Agreement  and  payment  of the  then-current  Purchase
      Price, in lieu of one  one-hundredth of a Preferred Share,  such number of
      Common  Shares of the  Company  as shall  equal  the  result  obtained  by
      multiplying  the  then-current  Purchase  Price by the then  number of one
      one-hundredths  of a  Preferred  Share for  which a Right was  exercisable
      immediately  prior to the first  occurrence of a Section  11(a)(ii) event,
      and  dividing  that  product by 50 percent of the current per share market
      price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) for Common Shares on the date
      of such first occurrence (such number of shares being hereinafter referred
      to as the "Adjustment Shares"),  provided that such provision shall not be
      effective  until  such  time  as the  Rights  are  no  longer  subject  to
      redemption pursuant to Section 23(a).

                  (iii) In lieu of  issuing  Common  Shares in  accordance  with
      Section 11(a)(ii),  the Company may, if the Board of Directors  determines
      that such  action is  necessary  or  appropriate  and not  contrary to the
      interest of holders of Rights, and, in the event that the number of Common
      Shares which are authorized by the Company's Articles of Incorporation but
      not  outstanding  or reserved for  issuance  for purposes  other than upon
      exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of
      the Rights in accordance with Section  11(a)(ii),  the Company shall, with
      respect to each Right, make adequate  provision to substitute for all or a
      portion of the Adjustment  Shares upon payment of the applicable  Purchase
      Price (A) cash,  (B) other equity  securities  of the Company  (including,
      without limitation,  shares of preferred stock or units of preferred stock
      having the same value as Common  Shares (such shares or units of preferred
      stock, "common stock  equivalents")),  (C) debt securities of the Company,
      (D)  other  assets  or (E) any  combination  of the  foregoing,  having an
      aggregate value equal to the Adjustment  Shares for which  substitution is
      made. To the extent that the Company  determines that some action is to be
      taken  pursuant to this Section  11(a)(iii),  the Company  shall  provide,
      subject to Section 7(f) hereof,  that such action shall apply uniformly to
      all outstanding Rights.

            (b) In the event that the Company  shall at any time after the Close
of Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier
of the Redemption  Date or the Final  Expiration Date fix a record date prior to
the Redemption Date or Final Expiration Date for the issuance of rights, options
or warrants  to all holders of  Preferred  Shares  entitling  them (for a period
expiring  within 45 calendar  days after such record date) to  subscribe  for or
purchase  Preferred  Shares (or shares  having the same rights,  privileges  and
preferences  as  the  


                                   - 18 -

<PAGE>


Preferred Shares ("equivalent preferred shares")) or securities convertible into
Preferred Shares or equivalent  preferred shares, at a price per Preferred Share
or per share of  equivalent  preferred  share (or having an effective  price per
share on a converted basis in the case of a security  convertible into Preferred
Shares or  equivalent  preferred  shares) less than the current per share market
price of the Preferred  Shares (as determined in accordance  with Section 11(d))
on such record date,  then the Purchase  Price to be in effect after such record
date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such  record date by a fraction,  the  numerator  of which shall be the
number of Preferred  Shares  outstanding  on such record date plus the number of
Preferred  Shares  which the  aggregate  offering  price of the total  number of
Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate price of the  convertible  securities so to be offered) would purchase
at such current market price,  and the  denominator of which shall be the number
of  Preferred  Shares  outstanding  on such  record  date  plus  the  number  of
additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares to be offered for
subscription  or purchase  (or into which the  convertible  securities  so to be
offered are initially convertible).  In case such subscription price may be paid
by  delivery of  consideration  part or all of which may be in a form other than
cash,  the value of such  consideration  shall be as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors,  whose  determination  shall be set forth in a statement
filed  with the Rights  Agent and shall be  binding on the Rights  Agent and the
holders of the Rights.  Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the
Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation.
Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed;
and in the event that such rights,  options or warrants  are not so issued,  the
Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in
effect if such record date had not been fixed.

            (c) In the event that the Company  shall at any time after the Close
of Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier
of the Redemption  Date or the Final  Expiration  Date fix a record date for the
making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred  Shares  (including any
such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing  corporation)  of evidences of  indebtedness or assets
(other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in Preferred
Shares) or  subscription  rights or  warrants  (excluding  those  referred to in
Section 11(b)),  the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall
be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect  immediately  prior to
such record date by a fraction,  the numerator of which shall be the current per
share market price per one Preferred  Share (as  determined  in accordance  with
Section 11(d)) on such record date, less the fair market 


                                   - 19 -

<PAGE>


value of the  portion  of the  assets  or  evidences  of  indebtedness  so to be
distributed  or of  such  subscription  rights  or  warrants  applicable  to one
Preferred  Share,  and the  denominator of which shall be such current per share
market  price  per  one  Preferred  Share.   Such  adjustments   shall  be  made
successively  whenever  such a record date is fixed;  and in the event that such
distribution  is not so made,  the Purchase  Price shall again be adjusted to be
the  Purchase  Price  which  would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.

            (d) (i) For the  purpose of any  computation  hereunder,  other than
      computations made pursuant to Section  11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current per
      share market price" of the Common Shares on any date shall be deemed to be
      the average of the daily closing prices per Common Share on each of the 20
      consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) through and
      including  the  Trading Day  immediately  preceding  such date;  provided,
      however,  that in the event the  current  per  share  market  price of the
      Common Shares is determined  during a period following the announcement by
      the issuer of such Common Shares of (A) a dividend or distribution on such
      Common Shares payable in such Common Shares or securities convertible into
      such Common Shares or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification
      of such Common  Shares,  and prior to the  expiration  of 20 Trading  Days
      after the ex-dividend date for such dividend,  distribution,  subdivision,
      combination or reclassification,  then, and in each such case, the current
      market  price shall be  appropriately  adjusted to take into  account such
      event.  The  closing  price  for each day  shall be the last  sale  price,
      regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average
      of the  closing  bid and asked  prices,  regular  way,  in either  case as
      reported in the principal  consolidated  transaction reporting system with
      respect to securities  listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
      Exchange,  Inc.,  or, if the Common  Shares 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 Common
      Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common  Shares are not
      listed or admitted to trading on any  national  securities  exchange,  the
      last sale price  reported by the  National  Market  System of the National
      Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. Automated  Quotations  ("NASDAQ")
      System or such  other  system  then in use,  or, if no last sale  price is
      reported by any such system, the average of the representative closing bid
      and asked prices as quoted on the NASDAQ  System or such other system then
      in use,  or, if on any such date the  Common  Shares are not quoted by any
      such  organization,  the average of the  closing  bid and asked  prices as
      furnished  by a  professional  market  maker making a market in the Common


                                   - 20 -

<PAGE>


      Shares  selected by the Board of  Directors.  The term "Trading Day" shall
      mean a day on which the principal  national  securities  exchange on which
      the  Common  Shares  are  listed or  admitted  to  trading is open for the
      transaction  of  business  or,  if the  Common  Shares  are not  listed or
      admitted to trading on any national  securities  exchange,  a day on which
      the NASDAQ System or such other system is open.

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

            If neither the Common Shares nor the  Preferred  Shares are publicly
held or so listed or traded,  "current  per share  market  price" shall mean the
fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors based
upon such  appraisals or valuation  reports of such  independent  experts as the
Board  of  Directors  shall  in  good  faith  determine  appropriate.  Any  such
determination  of "current  per share  market  price"  shall be  described  in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent.

            (e) No  adjustment  in the Purchase  Price shall be required  unless
such  adjustment  would require an increase or decrease of at least 1 percent in
the Purchase Price;  provided,  however, that any adjustments which by reason of
this  Section  11(e) are not  required  to be made shall be carried  forward and
taken into account in any subsequent  adjustment.  All  calculations  under this
Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of
a Common Share or other share or  one-millionth of a Preferred Share as the case
may be.

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


                                     - 21 -

<PAGE>


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

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

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


                                   - 22 -

<PAGE>


the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment.  Right
Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in
the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company,  the
adjusted  Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of
record  of  Right  Certificates  on the  record  date  specified  in the  public
announcement.

            (j)  Irrespective  of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price
or the number of one  one-hundredths  of a  Preferred  Share  issuable  upon the
exercise of the Rights, as applicable,  the Right  Certificates  theretofore and
thereafter   issued  may  continue  to  express  the  Purchase   Price  per  one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share and the number of shares which were expressed
in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.

            (k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any, of the
Preferred  Shares  issuable upon exercise of the Rights,  the Company shall take
any  corporate  action  which may, in the advice or opinion of its  counsel,  be
necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable one  one-hundredths of a Preferred Share at such adjusted Purchase
Price.

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

            (m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such further  adjustments in the number of one
one-hundredths  of a Preferred  Share which may be acquired upon exercise of the
Rights,  and such  adjustments  in the  Purchase  Price,  in  addition  to those
adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that the
Board of Directors  in good faith shall  determine to be advisable in order that
any (i)  consolidation  or  subdivision of the Preferred  Shares,  (ii) issuance
wholly for cash of any Preferred  Shares at less than the current  market price,
(iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred  Shares or securities which by their
terms are convertible into or 


                                   - 23 -

<PAGE>


exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (iv) dividends on Preferred Shares payable in
Preferred Shares or (v) issuance of rights,  options or warrants  referred to in
Section 11(b),  hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares
shall not be taxable to such holders or shall  reduce the taxes  payable by such
holders.

            (n) The Company shall not, at any time after the  Distribution  Date
(i)  consolidate  with,  or merge with or into,  any other Person  (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction  which  complies with Section  11(o),
(ii) consummate a statutory plan of exchange with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o), or
(iii) sell or transfer (or permit any  Subsidiary to sell or  transfer),  in one
transaction,  or a series of transactions,  assets or earning power  aggregating
more than 50  percent  of the assets or  earning  power of the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons  (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies  with  Section  11(o)),  if at the time of or  immediately  after  such
consolidation,  merger,  consummation  of a  statutory  plan of exchange or sale
there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or
agreements in effect which would  substantially  diminish or otherwise eliminate
the  benefits  intended to be afforded by the Rights;  provided,  however,  this
Section  11(n) shall not affect the ability of any  Subsidiary of the Company to
consolidate  with,  merge with or into,  consummate a statutory plan of exchange
with, or sell or transfer  assets or earning  power to, any other  Subsidiary of
the Company.

            (o) After the  Distribution  Date, the Company shall not,  except as
permitted by Sections 23, 24 and 27, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any
action if at the time such  action is taken it is  reasonably  foreseeable  that
such action will  diminish  substantially  or otherwise  eliminate  the benefits
intended  to  be  afforded  by  the  Rights,  including,  without  limiting  the
generality of the foregoing,  any merger,  consolidation,  statutory exchange or
sale or transfer of assets or earning power.

            (p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary  notwithstanding,  in
the event that the  Company  shall at any time after the date of this  Agreement
and  prior  to the  Distribution  Date  (i)  declare  or pay a  dividend  on the
outstanding  Common  Shares  payable  in  Common  Shares,   (ii)  subdivide  the
outstanding  Common Shares,  (iii) combine the outstanding  Common Shares into a
smaller  number of shares,  or (iv) issue any shares of its  capital  stock in a
reclassification  of  the  outstanding  Common  Shares,  the  number  of  Rights
associated  with each  Common  Share then  outstanding,  or issued or  delivered
thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted
so that the  number of Rights  thereafter  associated  with  each  Common  Share


                                     - 24 -

<PAGE>


following any such event (including other Common Shares issued after the date of
such event, but prior to the Distribution  Date) shall equal the result obtained
by  multiplying  the  number  of  Rights   associated  with  each  Common  Share
immediately  prior to such event by a fraction  the  numerator of which shall be
the  total  number  of  Common  Shares  outstanding  immediately  prior  to  the
occurrence of the event and the  denominator  of which shall be the total number
of Common Shares outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.

            Section  12.  Certificate  of Adjusted  Purchase  Price or Number of
Shares.  Whenever an  adjustment  is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13, the
Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate  setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief statement of the facts giving rise to such adjustment,  (b) promptly
file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Shares
and the Common  Shares a copy of such  certificate  and (c) mail a brief summary
thereof to each holder of a Right  Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution
Date, to each holder of a certificate  representing Common Shares, provided that
no such summary need be mailed to such holders with respect to adjustments  made
pursuant to Section 11(p) prior to the  Distribution  Date) in  accordance  with
Section 25 hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing  sentence,  the failure of the
Company  to make such  certification  or give such  notice  shall not affect the
validity of or the force or effect of the requirement for such  adjustment.  Any
adjustment  to be made  pursuant to Sections 11 and 13 shall be  effective as of
the date of the event giving rise to such adjustment.  The Rights Agent shall be
fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein
contained.

            Section 13.  Consolidation,  Merger,  Statutory  Plan of Exchange or
Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.

            (a) in the event  that,  directly or  indirectly,  after there is an
Acquiring  Person,  (i) the Company  shall  consolidate  with, or merge with and
into,  any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction
that complies with Section  11(o)),  and the Company shall not be the continuing
or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (ii) any Person (other
than a Subsidiary  of the Company in a transaction  which  complies with Section
11(o)) shall  consolidate  with the Company,  or merge with and into the Company
and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving  corporation of such merger
and, in connection with such  consolidation or merger, all or part of the Common
Shares shall be changed into or exchanged  for stock or other  securities of any
other Person or cash or any other  property,  or (iii) any Person  (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction  which  complies with Section  11(o))
shall acquire all or a majority of the Common Shares of the Company  pursuant to
a  statutory  plan of  exchange,  or (iv) the  Company  shall sell or  otherwise
transfer (or one or more of its 

                                   - 25 -

<PAGE>


Subsidiaries  shall sell or otherwise  transfer),  in one or more  transactions,
assets or  earning  power  aggregating  more than 50  percent  of the  assets or
earning  power of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to any
other  Person or Persons  (other  than the  Company or one or more of its wholly
owned  Subsidiaries) (any event described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of
this  Section  13(a) being a "Section 13 event"),  then,  and in each such case,
proper  provision  shall be made so that (A) each  holder of a Right,  except as
provided in Section 7(f)  hereof,  shall  thereafter  have the right to receive,
upon the exercise thereof at the then-current  Purchase Price in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully
paid and  nonassessable  Common  Shares of the Principal  Party (as  hereinafter
defined)  which Common  Shares shall not be subject to any Liens,  encumbrances,
rights of first refusal, transfer restrictions or other adverse claims, as shall
be equal to the result  obtained by (1) multiplying  the  then-current  Purchase
Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right
was exercisable  immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 event
(or, if a Section  11(a)(ii)  event has occurred  prior to the Section 13 event,
multiplying the number of such one  one-hundredths  of a share for which a Right
was  exercisable  immediately  prior to the  first  occurrence  of such  Section
11(a)(ii) event by the Purchase Price in effect  immediately prior to such first
occurrence),  and  dividing  that  product by (2) 50 percent of the  current per
share market price  (determined in accordance with Section  11(d)(i)  hereof) of
the Common Shares of such Principal  Party on the date of  consummation  of such
Section 13 event;  (B) such Principal Party shall  thereafter be liable for, and
shall  assume,  by  virtue  of such  consolidation,  merger,  statutory  plan of
exchange,  sale or  transfer,  all the  obligations  and  duties of the  Company
pursuant to this Agreement; (C) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to
refer  to  such  Principal  Party,  it  being  specifically  intended  that  the
provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such  Principal  Party after
the first  occurrence of a Section 13 event; (D) such Principal Party shall take
such steps  (including,  but not limited  to, the  reservation  of a  sufficient
number of shares  of its  Common  Shares  in  accordance  with  Section 9 hereof
applicable  to the  reservation  of  capital  shares)  in  connection  with such
consummation  as may be  necessary  to assure that the  provisions  hereof shall
thereafter be  applicable,  as nearly as  reasonably  may be, in relation to its
Common Shares  thereafter  deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights;  and (E)
the provisions of Section  11(a)(ii) shall be of no further effect following the
first occurrence of any Section 13 event.

            (b)   "Principal Party" shall mean:

                  (i) in the case of any  transaction  described  in clause (i),
      (ii) or (iii) of Section  13(a),  (A) the Person that is the issuer of any
      securities  into which Common

                                   - 26 -

<PAGE>


      Shares of the Company are converted in such merger,  consolidation  or for
      which they are exchanged in such statutory plan of exchange,  or, if there
      is more than one such  issuer,  the issuer of Common  Shares  that has the
      highest  aggregate  current market price  (determined  in accordance  with
      Section 11(d)) and (B) if no securities are so issued,  the Person that is
      the  other  party  to such  merger,  consolidation  or  statutory  plan of
      exchange, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person the Common
      Shares of which has the highest aggregate current market price (determined
      in accordance with Section 11(d)); and

                  (ii) in the case of any  transaction  described in clause (iv)
      of Section  13(a),  the Person  that is the party  receiving  the  largest
      portion  of the  assets or  earning  power  transferred  pursuant  to such
      transaction  or  transactions,  or, if each Person that is a party to such
      transaction  or  transactions  receives  the same portion of the assets or
      earning power transferred  pursuant to such transaction or transactions or
      if the Person receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning power
      cannot be determined,  whichever Person the Common Shares of which has the
      highest  aggregate  current market price  (determined  in accordance  with
      Section 11(d));

provided,  however,  that in any such  case,  (A) if the  Common  Shares of such
Person are not at such time and have not been  continuously  over the  preceding
twelve-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act ("Registered
Common  Shares"),  or such  Person is not a  corporation,  and such  Person is a
direct or  indirect  Subsidiary  of another  Person that has  registered  Common
Shares  outstanding,  "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (B) if
the Common Shares of such Person are not Registered Common Shares or such Person
is not a  corporation,  and such  Person is a direct or indirect  Subsidiary  of
another  Person but is not a direct or  indirect  Subsidiary  of another  Person
which has Registered Common Shares outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to
the ultimate  parent entity of such  first-mentioned  Person;  (C) if the Common
Shares of such Person are not  Registered  Common Shares or such Person is not a
corporation,  and such Person is directly or indirectly  controlled by more than
one Person,  and one or more of such other Persons has Registered  Common Shares
outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such other Persons is
the issuer of the Registered  Common Shares having the highest aggregate current
market price  (determined  in  accordance  with Section  11(d));  and (D) if the
Common Shares of such Person are not Registered  Common Shares or such Person is
not a corporation,  and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more
than one Person,  and none of such other Persons have  Registered  Common Shares
outstanding,  "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever  ultimate parent entity
is the corporation having the greatest  shareholders'  equity or, if no such
ultimate  parent  entity is a

                                     - 27 -

<PAGE>


corporation,  shall  refer to  whichever  ultimate  parent  entity is the entity
having the greatest net assets.

            (c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
statutory  plan of exchange,  sale or transfer  unless prior thereto the Company
and  Principal  Party shall have  executed  and  delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental  agreement  confirming  that (i) such Principal  Party shall,  upon
consummation of such consolidation,  merger,  statutory plan of exchange or sale
or transfer of assets or earning power, assume this Agreement in accordance with
Sections 13(a) and (b), (ii) all rights of first refusal or preemptive rights in
respect of the issuance of Common Shares of such  Principal  Party upon exercise
of  outstanding  Rights have been waived,  (iii) any provision of the authorized
securities  of  such  Principal  Party  or  of  its  charter,  bylaws  or  other
instruments  governing its corporate affairs which would obligate such Principal
Party to issue in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a
transaction  referred to in Section 13(a), Common Shares of such Principal Party
at less than the then-current  per share market price  (determined in accordance
with Section 11(d)(i)) or securities  exercisable for, or convertible into, such
Common Shares at less than such  then-current per share market price (other than
to the  holders  of Rights  pursuant  to this  Section  13) have been  waived or
canceled,  and (iv)  such  transaction  shall not  result  in a default  by such
Principal  Party under this  Agreement  and further  providing  that, as soon as
practicable  after  the date of any  consolidation,  merger,  statutory  plan of
exchange or sale or transfer of assets or earning  power  referred to in Section
13(a), such Principal Party will:

                  (A)  prepare  and  file a  registration  statement  under  the
      Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  with  respect to the Rights and the
      securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form,
      use its best  efforts  to cause  such  registration  statement  to  become
      effective  as soon as  practicable  after  such  filing  and use its  best
      efforts to cause such  registration  statement to remain effective (with a
      prospectus at all times meeting the  requirements of the Securities Act of
      1933,  as amended)  until the Final  Expiration  Date of the  Rights,  and
      similarly comply with applicable state securities laws;

                  (B) use its best  efforts to list (or continue the listing of)
      the Rights and the securities  purchasable  upon exercise of the Rights or
      to meet the eligibility  requirements for quotation of the Rights and such
      securities on NASDAQ or other system then in use; and

                  (C)  deliver to holders  of the  Rights  historical  financial
      statements for such Principal  Party which comply


                                   - 28 -

<PAGE>


      in all respects with the  requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any
      successor form) under the Exchange Act.

            In the  event  that at any time  after the  occurrence  of a Section
11(a)(ii)  event hereof some or all of the Rights shall not have been  exercised
at the time of a Section 13 event,  the Rights which have not  theretofore  been
exercised  shal1  thereafter be exercisable  in the manner  described in Section
13(a)  (without  taking into  account any prior  adjustment  required by Section
1l(a)(ii)).

            (d) The  provisions  of this  Section  13 shall  similarly  apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers.

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

            Section 14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

            (a) The Company  shall not be required to issue  fractions of Rights
or to distribute Right  Certificates  which evidence  fractional Rights (i. e. ,
Rights to acquire  less than one  one-hundredth  of a Preferred  Share).  If the
Company shall determine not to issue such fractional Rights, there shall be paid
to the registered  holders of the Right  Certificates  with regard to which such
fractional  Rights would  otherwise be issuable,  an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right.  For the purposes of
this  Section  14(a),  the  current  market  value of a whole Right shall be the
closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on
which such  fractional  Rights would have been otherwise  issuable.  The closing
price for any day shall be determined in the same manner as set forth in Section
11(d)(i) with respect to the closing price for Common Shares.

            (b)  The  Company  shall  not be  required  to  issue  fractions  of
Preferred  Shares  (other than  fractions  which are  integral  multiples of one
one-hundredth  of a  Preferred  Share)  upon  exercise  of  the  Rights,  or  to
distribute  certificates which


                                     - 29 -

<PAGE>


evidence  fractional  Preferred  Shares (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one  one-hundredth  of a Preferred  Share).  Fractions of Preferred
Shares in integral  multiples of one  one-hundredth of a Preferred Share may, at
the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an
appropriate  agreement  between  the Company  and a  depositary  selected by it,
provided that such agreement  shall provide that the holders of such  depositary
receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are
entitled  as  beneficial  owners  of  the  Preferred  Shares.  With  respect  to
fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a  Preferred  Share,  if the  Company  does not  issue  fractional  shares or
depositary  receipts in lieu thereof,  the Company  shall pay to the  registered
holders of Right  Certificates  at the time such Rights are  exercised as herein
provided  an amount in cash equal to the same  fraction  of the  current  market
value of one  one-hundredth  of a Preferred  Share. For purposes of this Section
14(b), the current market value of one  one-hundredth of a Preferred Share shall
be one one-hundredth of the closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined in
accordance with Section  11(d)(ii)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the
date of such exercise.

            (c)  Following  the  occurrence  of a Section  11(a)(ii)  event or a
Section 13 event,  the  Company  shall not be  required  to issue  fractions  of
Common-Shares  upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute  certificates  which
evidence  fractional  Common Shares.  In lieu of fractional  Common Shares,  the
Company may pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such
Rights  are  exercised  as herein  provided  an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current  market value of one Common Share.  For purposes of this
Section 14(c), the current market value of one Common Share shall be the closing
price of one Common Share (as determined  pursuant to Section  11(d)(i)) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

            (d)  The  holder  of a  Right,  by the  acceptance  of  the  Rights,
expressly  waives his right to receive any  fractional  Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right except as permitted by this Section l4.

            Section  15.  Rights of  Action.  All rights of action in respect of
this  Agreement,  excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective  registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares),  without the consent of the Rights
Agent  or of the  holder  of any  other  Right  Certificate  (or,  prior  to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares),  may in his own behalf and for his own
benefit,  enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against  the Company to enforce,  or  otherwise


                                     - 30 -

<PAGE>


act in respect  of, his right to  exercise  the Rights  evidenced  by such Right
Certificate  in the  manner  provided  in  such  Right  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.

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

            (a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced by
the certificates for Common Shares  registered in the name of the holders of the
Common  Shares  (which  certificates  for Common  Shares  shall also  constitute
certificates for Rights) and each Right will be transferable  only in connection
with the transfer of the Common Shares;

            (b)  after  the  Distribution   Date,  the  Right  Certificates  are
transferable  only on the registry  books of the Rights Agent if  surrendered at
the principal  office of the Rights Agent,  duly  endorsed or  accompanied  by a
proper  instrument of transfer and with the appropriate  forms and  certificates
duly executed; and

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

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


                                     - 31 -

<PAGE>


reasonable efforts to have any such order,  decree or ruling lifted or otherwise
overturned as soon as possible.

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

            Section 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent.

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

            (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 Right Certificate
or certificate for the Preferred Shares or Common Shares or for other securities
of the  Company,  instrument  of  assignment  or  transfer,  power of  attorney,
endorsement,   affidavit,  letter,  notice,  direction,   consent,  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.

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


                                     - 32 -

<PAGE>



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

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

            Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.  The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and  obligations  imposed by this Agreement upon the following  terms and
conditions,  by all of which the Company and the holders of Right  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 advice or opinion of such counsel shall
be full and complete  authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any
action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in  accordance  with such advice
or opinion.

            (b) Whenever in the  performance  of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or  established  by the Company  prior to taking or suffering  any action
hereunder, such 


                                     - 33 -

<PAGE>


fact or matter  (including,  without  limitation,  the identity of any Acquiring
Person and the  determination of "current per share market price") may be deemed
to be conclusively  proved and established by a certificate signed by any one of
the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the
Secretary or any Assistant  Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate shall be full  authorization to the Rights Agent for
any action  taken or suffered in good faith by it under the  provisions  of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

            (c) The Rights  Agent shall be liable  hereunder  to the Company and
any other Person only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

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

            (e) The  Rights  Agent  shall  not be under  any  responsibility  in
respect of the validity of this  Agreement or the execution and delivery  hereof
(except  the due  authorization,  execution  and  delivery  hereof by the Rights
Agent) or in respect  of the  validity  or  execution  of any Right  Certificate
(except  its  countersignature  thereof);  nor shall it be  responsible  for any
breach by the Company of any covenant or condition  contained in this  Agreement
or in any Right  Certificate;  nor shall it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability  of the  Rights  (including  the  Rights  becoming  null and void
pursuant to Section 7(f)) or any  adjustment  required  under the  provisions of
Sections  11 or 13  (including  the  manner,  method or amount  thereof)  or the
ascertaining  of the  existence  of facts that would  require any such change or
adjustment  (except with  respect to the  exercise of Rights  evidenced by Right
Certificates after receipt by the Rights Agent of the certificate describing any
such  adjustment  as  contemplated  by  Section  12);  nor  shall  it by any act
hereunder  be  deemed  to  make  any   representation  or  warranty  as  to  the
authorization  or reservation of any Preferred  Shares to be issued  pursuant to
this Agreement or any Right  Certificate  or as to whether any Preferred  Shares
will,  when  issued,   be  validly   authorized  and  issued,   fully  paid  and
nonassessable.

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


                                     - 34 -

<PAGE>


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

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

            (i) The Rights  Agent may execute and  exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder  either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, 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  that  reasonable  care was  exercised  in the
selection and continued employment thereof.

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

            (k) If, with  respect to any Right  Certificate  surrendered  to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate included with the form of
assignment  or form of election to purchase,  as the case may be, has either not
been  completed,  not signed or  indicates an  affirmative  response to clause 1
and/or 2 thereof,  the  Rights  Agent  shall not take any  further  action  with
respect to such requested  exercise or transfer'  without first  consulting with
the Company. If such certificate has been completed and signed, the Rights Agent
may assume without further inquiry that the Right  Certificate is not owned by a
person  described in Section 7(f) and shall not be charged with any knowledge to
the contrary.

            Section  21.  Change  of  Rights  Agent.  The  Rights  Agent  or any
successor  Rights Agent may resign and be discharged  from 


                                     - 35 -

<PAGE>


its duties  under this  Agreement  upon 30 days notice in writing  mailed to the
Company and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares and Preferred  Shares by
registered or certified  mail, and to the holders of the Right  Certificates  by
first-class  mail.  The  Company  may remove the Rights  Agent or any  successor
Rights  Agent upon 30 days  notice in  writing,  mailed to the  Rights  Agent or
successor  Rights Agent,  as the case may be, and to each transfer  agent of the
Common Shares and Preferred  Shares by registered or certified  mail, and to the
holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall
resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting,  the Company
shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make
such appointment  within a period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal
or after it has been  notified in writing of such  resignation  or incapacity by
the  resigning  or  incapacitated  Rights  Agent  or by the  holder  of a  Right
Certificate  (who shall,  with such  notice,  submit his Right  Certificate  for
inspection by the  Company),  then the Company shall become the Rights Agent and
the  registered  holder  of any  Right  Certificate  may  apply to any  court of
competent  jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor
Rights Agent,  whether  appointed by the Company or by such a court,  shall be a
corporation  organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of the state of Oregon (or of any other  state of the  United  States so long as
such  corporation  is authorized to do business as a banking  institution in the
state of Oregon),  in good standing,  having a principal  office in the state of
Oregon, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock
transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority  and  which  has at the  time of its  appointment  as  Rights  Agent a
combined  capital and surplus of at least $50 million.  After  appointment,  the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers,  rights, duties and
responsibilities  as if it had been  originally  named as Rights  Agent  without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose.  Not later than the  effective  date of any such  appointment,  the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the  predecessor  Rights Agent
and each transfer  agent of the Common Shares and Preferred  Shares,  and mail a
notice thereof in writing to the registered  holders of the Right  Certificates.
Failure to give any notice  provided  for in this  Section 21,  however,  or any
defect therein,  shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or
removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as
the case may be.

            Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates.  Notwithstanding any
of the  provisions  of this  Agreement  or of the  Rights to the  contrary,  the
Company may, at its option,  issue new Right  Certificates  evidencing Rights in
such form as may be 

                                   - 36 -

<PAGE>


approved by the Board of  Directors to reflect any  adjustment  or change in the
Purchase  Price  per  share  and the  number or kind or class of shares or other
securities  or  property  purchasable  under  the  Right  Certificates  made  in
accordance  with the provisions of this  Agreement.  In addition,  in connection
with  the  issuance  or sale of  Common  Shares  of the  Company  following  the
Distribution Date and prior to the expiration,  termination or redemption of the
Rights,  the Company (a) shall,  with respect to Common Shares of the Company so
issued or sold  pursuant to the exercise of stock  options or under any Plan, or
upon the exercise,  conversion or exchange of securities  hereinafter  issued by
the Company,  and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate
by the Board of Directors, issue Right Certificates representing the appropriate
number of Rights in connection  with such issuance or sale;  provided,  however,
that (i) no such Right  Certificate  shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
the  Company  shall be advised  by counsel  that such  issuance  would  create a
significant  risk of  material  adverse tax  consequences  to the Company or the
Person to whom such Right  Certificate  would be issued,  and (ii) no such Right
Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,  appropriate  adjustment
shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.

            Section 23.  Redemption and Termination.

            (a) The  Company  may,  at its  option,  by  action  of the Board of
Directors  at any time prior to the Close of  Business on the earlier of (i) the
10th day  following  the Shares  Acquisition  Date or (ii) the Final  Expiration
Date,  redeem  all,  but not less than  all,  the then  outstanding  Rights at a
redemption price of $. 01 per Right as such amount may be appropriately adjusted
to reflect any stock  split,  stock  dividend or similar  transaction  occurring
after the date hereof (such  redemption price being  hereinafter  referred to as
the "Redemption Price").

            (b) In the  event  that if,  following  the  occurrence  of a Shares
Acquisition  Date and following the expiration of the right of redemption  under
Section  23(a),  but  prior to any  Section  13  event,  (i) a Person  who is an
Acquiring  Person  or an  Affiliate  or  Associate  of such  Person  shall  have
transferred  or  otherwise  disposed  of  a  number  of  Common  Shares  in  one
transaction, or a series of transactions (not directly or indirectly involving a
purchase by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), which did not result in the
occurrence of a Section  11(a)(ii)  event or a Section 13 event,  such that such
Person is thereafter a Beneficial Owner of 10 percent or less of the outstanding
Common  Shares of the  Company,  (ii)  there are no other  Persons,  immediately
following  the  transfer or other  disposition  described in clause (i), who are
Acquiring  Persons,  and (iii) the  transfer or other  disposition  described in
clause (i) was other than pursuant to a transaction,  or series of transactions,
which  directly or indirectly  involved the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries;
then the right of redemption  provided 


                                     - 37 -

<PAGE>


in Section 23(a) shall be reinstated and thereafter all outstanding Rights shall
again be subject to the provisions of this Section 23. Notwithstanding  anything
in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable while the
Rights  are  subject  to any  right of  redemption  by the  Company  under  this
Agreement.

            (c) Immediately  upon the action of the Board of Directors  ordering
the redemption of the Rights,  or at such time and date  thereafter as the Board
of Directors may specify, and without any further action and without any notice,
the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of
the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption  Price.  Promptly after
the action of the Board of Directors  ordering the redemption of the Rights, the
Company  shall  give  notice  of such  redemption  to the  holders  of the  then
outstanding  Rights by  mailing  such  notice to all such  holders at their last
addresses as they appear upon the  registry  books of the Rights Agent or, prior
to the  Distribution  Date, on the registry  books of the transfer agent for the
Common Shares Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein  provided shall be
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of
redemption  will state the method by which the payment of the  Redemption  Price
will be made.  Neither the Company nor any of its  Affiliates or Associates  may
redeem,  acquire or purchase  for value any Rights in any manner other than that
specifically set forth in this Section 23, and other than in connection with the
purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.

            Section 24.  Exchange.

            (a) The  Company  may,  at its  option,  by  action  of the Board of
Directors,  at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring  Person,  exchange
all or part of the then  outstanding  and  exercisable  Rights  (which shall not
include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(f))
for  Common  Shares  at an  exchange  ratio  of  one  Common  Share  per  Right,
appropriately  adjusted to reflect any stock  split,  stock  dividend or similar
transaction  occurring  after the date hereof (such  exchange ratio being herein
referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the Board
of Directors  shall not be  empowered to effect such  exchange at any time after
any Person (other than the Company,  any Subsidiary of the Company,  any Plan of
the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company,  any Person holding Common Shares
for or pursuant  to the terms of any such Plan,  or any Person who is a party to
the  Shareholder  Stand-Together  Agreement),  together with all  Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50 percent or more of
the Common Shares then outstanding.

            (b)  Immediately  upon the action of the Board of  Directors  of the
Company  ordering  the  exchange  of any Rights  pursuant  to Section  24(a) and
without any further  action and 

                                   - 38 -

<PAGE>


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

            (c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its
option, may substitute Preferred Shares (or equivalent preferred shares, as such
term is defined in Section 11(b)) for Common Shares  exchangeable for Rights, at
the  initial  rate of one  one-hundredth  of a  Preferred  Share (or  equivalent
preferred  share) for each Common Share,  as  appropriately  adjusted to reflect
adjustments in the voting rights of the Preferred  Shares  pursuant to the terms
thereof,  so that the  fraction of a Preferred  Share  delivered in lieu of each
Common Share shall have at least the same voting rights as one Common Share.

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

            Section 25.  Notice of Certain Events.

            (a) In case  the  Company  shall  propose,  at any  time  after  the
Distribution  Date,  (i) to declare or pay any dividend  payable in stock of any
class to the holders of its Preferred  Shares or to make any other  distribution
to the holders of its  Preferred  Shares  (other than a regular  quarterly  cash
dividend),  or (ii) to offer to the  holders of its  Preferred  Shares  options,


                                     - 39 -

<PAGE>


rights or warrants to  subscribe  for or to purchase  any  additional  Preferred
Shares  or  shares  of stock of any  class or any  other  securities,  rights or
options, or (iii) to effect any  reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other
than a reclassification  involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred
Shares),  or (iv) to effect any  consolidation or merger into or with, to effect
any exchange of the Common Shares of the Company pursuant to a statutory plan of
exchange with, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more
of its  Subsidiaries  to  effect  any  sale or other  transfer),  in one or more
transactions,  of more than 50 percent  of the  assets or  earning  power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to, any other Person or Persons
(other than the Company and/or any of its  Subsidiaries  in a transaction  which
complies with Section 11(o)),  or (v) to effect the liquidation,  dissolution or
winding up of the Company,  then,  in each such case,  the Company shall give to
each holder of a Right  Certificate,  in accordance with Section 26, a notice of
such  proposed  action,  which shall specify the record date for the purposes of
such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which
such reclassification,  consolidation, merger, statutory plan of exchange, sale,
transfer,  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up is to take place and the date
of participation  therein by the holders of record of the Preferred  Shares,  if
any such date is to be fixed,  and such notice  shall be so given in the case of
any  action  covered  by clause  (i) or (ii) above at least 20 days prior to the
record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such
action,  and in the case of any such other action, at least 20 days prior to the
date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation  therein
by the holders of the  Preferred  Shares,  whichever  shall be the earlier.  The
failure to give notice  required by this Section 25 or any defect  therein shall
not affect the  legality or  validity of the action  taken by the Company or the
vote upon any such action.

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

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


                                     - 40 -

<PAGE>


                  Willamette Industries, Inc.
                  3800 First Interstate Tower
                  1300 S. W.  Fifth Avenue
                  Portland, Oregon 97201
                  Attention:  Corporate Secretary

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


                  First Interstate Bank of Oregon, N. A.
                  1300 S. W. Fifth Avenue
                  Post Office Box 2971
                  Portland, Oregon 97208
                  Attention: Stock Transfer Department

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

            Section 27.  Supplements and Amendments.

            (a) Prior to the Distribution Date, the Company may by action of the
Board of  Directors,  and the Rights  Agent  shall if the  Company  so  directs,
supplement  or amend any provision of this  Agreement in any manner  without the
approval of any holders of Common Shares.  From and after the Distribution Date,
the Company may by action of the Board of Directors,  and the Rights Agent shall
if  directed  by the  Company,  from  time to time,  supplement  or  amend  this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order (i)
to cure any  ambiguity,  (ii) to correct or supplement  any provision  contained
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions  herein,
(iii) to  shorten  or  lengthen  any time  period  herein  or (iv) to  change or
supplement  any other  provisions,  hereunder  in any manner  which the Board of
Directors  may deem  necessary  or  desirable  so long as the  interests  of the
holders of the Rights or Right  Certificates  (other than an Acquiring Person or
any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring  Person) shall not be materially  and
adversely  affected  thereby;  provided,  however,  this  Agreement  may  not be
supplemented or amended to lengthen,  pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence,
(A) a time period governing  redemption of the Rights if the Rights are not then
redeemable,  or (B) any other time  period  unless such  lengthening


                                     - 41 -

<PAGE>


is for the purpose of protecting,  enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or
the  benefits to, the holders of Rights  (other than an Acquiring  Person or any
Affiliate  or  Associate  of  an  Acquiring  Person).  Upon  the  delivery  of a
certificate  from an  appropriate  officer of the Company  which states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section
27(a),  the Rights Agent shall execute such  supplement or amendment;  provided,
however,  that the Rights Agent may,  but shall not be obligated  to, enter into
any such  supplement  or  amendment  which  affects  its own  rights,  duties or
immunities under this Agreement.  Prior to the Distribution  Date, the interests
of the holders of Rights shall be deemed  coincident  with the  interests of the
holders of the Common Shares of the Company.

            (b) After the  Distribution  Date and  prior to the  earlier  of the
Redemption Date or the Final  Expiration  Date, the Company shall not effect any
amendment  to  the  provisions  of  the  Company's   Articles  of  Incorporation
respecting the Preferred  Shares which would materially and adversely affect the
preferences,  limitations and relative rights of the Preferred  Shares,  without
the prior approval of the holders of two-thirds or more of the then  outstanding
Rights.

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

            Section 29.  Benefits of Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company,  the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the Common Shares of the Company) any legal or equitable right,  remedy or
claim  under  this  Agreement;  but  this  Agreement  shall  be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Right  Certificates  (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares
of the Company).

            Section  30.  Severability.  If any  term,  provision,  covenant  or
restriction  of this Agreement is held by a court of competent  jurisdiction  or
other  authority  to be invalid,  void or  unenforceable,  the  remainder of the
terms, provisions,  covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected,  impaired or invalidated;
provided,  however,  that  notwithstanding  anything  in this  Agreement  to the
contrary, if any such term,  provision,  covenant or restriction is held by such
court  or  authority  to be  invalid,  void or  unenforceable  and the  Board of
Directors  determines  in its good faith  judgment  that  severing  the  invalid
language from this  Agreement  would  adversely  affect the purpose or effect of
this  Agreement,  the  right of  redemption  set  forth in  Section  23 shall be
reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of


                                     - 42 -

<PAGE>


Business on the tenth day following the date of such  determination by the Board
of Directors.

            Section 31.  Determinations  and Actions by the Board of  Directors,
etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common
Shares of the Company outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes
of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of which any
Person  is the  Beneficial  Owner,  shall  be made in  accordance  with the last
sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i)  under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date
hereof. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Board of Directors
shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to
exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors or
to the Company,  or as may be necessary  or advisable in the  administration  of
this  Agreement,  including,  without  limitation,  the  right  and power (a) to
interpret the  provisions of this  Agreement and (b) to 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 (ii) below,  all  omissions  with  respect to the  foregoing)
which  are done or made by the Board of  Directors  in good  faith  shall (i) be
final,  conclusive and binding on the Company,  the Rights Agent, the holders of
the Rights and all other parties, and (ii) not subject the Board of Directors or
any member thereof to any liability to the holders of the Rights.

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

            Section  33.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such  counterparts  shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original,  and all such counterparts  shall together  constitute
but one and the same instrument.

            Section  34.  Descriptive  Headings.  Descriptive  headings  of  the
several  sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience  only and shall
not  control or affect  the  meaning or  construction  of any of the  provisions
hereof.

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



                                     - 43 -

<PAGE>

                              WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.


                              By /s/ J. A. Parsons
                              Name: J. A. Parsons
                              Title: Executive Vice President

                              FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF OREGON, N. A.

                              By /s/ Peter M. Cullen
                              Name: Peter M. Cullen
                              Title: Vice President & Manager


                                      -44-

<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit A
                                                                       ---------

                              ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

                                       OF

                           WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.

            Pursuant to ORS 60.  134,  Willamette  Industries,  Inc. , an Oregon
corporation,  adopts the  following  Articles  of  Amendment  for the purpose of
determining  the terms of a series of shares of its Preferred  Stock,  $. 50 par
value:

            1. The name of the corporation is: Willamette Industries, Inc.

            2. The text of the  amendment  determining  the terms of a series of
shares of  Preferred  Stock,  $. 50 par value,  of the  corporation  is attached
hereto as Appendix I.

            3. The  amendment  was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the
corporation on ______________, 1990.


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

Dated:                              , 1990


Person to contact about this filing:            --------------------------------
                                                (Telephone Number):
                                                (S03) 224-5858




                                      - 1 -

<PAGE>



                                                                      Appendix I
                                                                      ----------

                            AMENDMENT ADOPTED BY THE
                              BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
                           WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.
                    ESTABLISHING A SERIES OF PREFERRED STOCK

            RESOLVED  that  pursuant  to the  authority  vested  in the Board of
Directors of the  corporation in accordance  with the provisions of its Articles
of Incorporation, as amended (the "Articles of Incorporation"),  a series of the
Preferred Stock, $. 50 par value ("Preferred Stock"), of the corporation be, and
it hereby is,  created,  and that the  designation  and amount  thereof  and the
preferences, limitations and relative rights of the shares of such series are as
follows:

            Section  1.  Designation  and  Amount.  There  shall be a series  of
Preferred Stock of the corporation which shall be designated as "Series A Junior
Participating  Preferred  Stock,  $. 50 par  value"  (the  "Series  A  Preferred
Stock"),  and the number of shares  constituting  such series  shall be 500,000.
Such number of shares may be  increased  or  decreased  by Articles of Amendment
adopted by the Board of Directors without shareholder action; provided, however,
that no decrease  shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock
to a number less than the shares  outstanding plus the number of shares issuable
upon exercise of outstanding  rights,  options or warrants or upon conversion of
outstanding securities issued by the corporation.

            Section 2.  Dividends and Distributions.

            (A) Subject to the prior and  superior  rights of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the Series
A Preferred  Stock with respect to dividends,  the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred  Stock,  in preference to the holders of shares of Common Stock, $. 50
par value  ("Common  Stock") of the  corporation  and of any other  junior stock
which may be outstanding, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared
by the Board of Directors  out of funds legally  available for the purpose,  (i)
quarterly  dividends payable in cash on the last day of March,  June,  September
and  December  in each  year  (each  such  date  being  referred  to herein as a
"Quarterly  Dividend Payment Date"),  commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment  Date  after the first  issuance  of a share or  fraction  of a share of
Series A Preferred  Stock,  in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent)
equal to the greater of (a) $1. 00 per share ($. 01 per one  one-hundredth  of a
share),  or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment  hereinafter  set forth,
100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash  dividends  declared on the
Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or,
with  respect to the first  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment  Date,  since the first
issuance of any share or fraction  of a share of Series A 


                                      - 1 -

<PAGE>


Preferred  Stock,  and (ii) subject to the provision for adjustment  hereinafter
set forth, quarterly  distributions (payable in kind) on each Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date in an amount per share equal to 100 times the  aggregate  per share
amount of all noncash  dividends or other  distributions  (other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding  shares of
Common Stock, by  reclassification  or otherwise),  declared on the Common Stock
since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or with respect
to the first  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date since the first  issuance of any
share or  fraction  of a share of  Series A  Preferred  Stock.  In the event the
corporation  shall at any time after February 26, 1990 (the "Rights  Declaration
Date"),  declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock,  or  effect  a  subdivision  or  combination  or   consolidation  of  the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification  or otherwise)  into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common  Stock,  then in each such case the
amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled under
clauses  (i)(b)  or  (ii)  of  the  preceding  sentence  shall  be  adjusted  by
multiplying  such amount by a fraction  the  numerator of which is the number of
shares  of  Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately  after  such  event  and the
denominator  of  which is the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  that  were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.

            (B) The corporation  shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series A  Preferred  Stock as  provided  in Section  2(A)  immediately  after it
declares a dividend or  distribution  on the Common Stock (other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common  Stock);  provided that, in the event no dividend or
distribution  shall have been  declared  on the Common  Stock  during the period
between any Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date and the next subsequent  Quarterly
Dividend  Payment  Date,  a  dividend  of  $1.  00 per  share  ($.  01  per  one
one-hundredth of a share) on the Series A Preferred Stock shall  nevertheless be
payable,  out of funds legally  available for such purpose,  on such  subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

            (C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A Preferred  Stock,  unless
the date of issue of such  shares  is  prior to the  record  date for the  first
Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date, in which case  dividends on such shares shall
begin to accrue  and be  cumulative  from the date of issue of such  shares,  or
unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after
the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock  entitled  to  receive a  quarterly  dividend  and before  such  Quarterly
Dividend  Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends  shall begin to
accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly  Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but
unpaid  dividends shall cumulate but shall not bear interest.  Dividends paid on


                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>


the shares of Series A Preferred  Stock in an amount less than the total  amount
of such  dividends  at the time  accrued  and  payable on such  shares  shall be
allocated pro rata on a  share-by-share  basis among all such shares at the time
outstanding.  The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination
of holders of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock entitled to receive payment of
a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more
than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

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

            (A) Subject to the provision for adjustment  hereinafter  set forth,
each share of Series A Preferred  Stock shall entitle the holder  thereof to 100
votes (and each one  one-hundredth  of a share of Series A Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder  thereof to one vote) on all matters  submitted  to a vote of
the shareholders of the corporation.  In the event the corporation  shall at any
time after the Rights  Declaration  Date  declare or pay any  dividend on Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,  or effect a subdivision or combination
or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification
or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in
each such case the  number  of votes  per  share to which  holders  of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock were entitled  immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock  outstanding  immediately  after such event and
the  denominator  of which is the  number of shares  of Common  Stock  that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.

            (B) Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or
in this amendment thereof or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class
on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the corporation.

            (C) Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or
in this amendment  thereof or by law,  holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall
have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required for taking
any corporate action.

            Section 4.  Certain Restrictions.

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


                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>


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

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

                  (iii)   redeem  or   purchase   or   otherwise   acquire   tor
      consideration  shares of any stock ranking  junior (either as to dividends
      or upon  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up)  with  the  Series  A
      Preferred  Stock,  provided that the  corporation  may at any time redeem,
      purchase or otherwise  acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange
      for shares of any stock of the  corporation  ranking  junior (either as to
      dividends or upon dissolution,  liquidation or winding up) to the Series A
      Preferred Stock; or

                  (iv)  purchase  or  otherwise  acquire for  consideration  any
      shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock,  or any share of stock  ranking on a
      parity  with the Series A Preferred  Stock,  except in  accordance  with a
      purchase  offer made in writing or by  publication  (as  determined by the
      Board of  Directors)  to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the
      Board of Directors,  after consideration of the respective annual dividend
      rates and other relative rights and  preferences of the respective  series
      and  classes,  shall  determine  in good  faith  will  result  in fair and
      equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

            (B)  The  corporation   shall  not  permit  any  subsidiary  of  the
corporation  to purchase or otherwise  acquire for  consideration  any shares of
stock of the  corporation  unless the  corporation  could,  under  Section 4(A),
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

            Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased  or otherwise  acquired by the  corporation  in any manner  whatsoever
shall be retired  and  canceled  promptly  after the  acquisition  thereof.  The
corporation  shall take all such action as is  necessary so that all such shares
shall  after  their  cancellation  become  authorized  but  unissued  shares  of
Preferred Stock,  without  designation as to series, and may be reissued as part
of a new  series of  Preferred  Stock to be  created by  Articles  of  Amendment
adopted by the Board of Directors  without  shareholder  action,  subject to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.



                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>


            Section  6.  Liquidation,   Dissolution  or  Winding  Up.  Upon  any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, no distribution shall
be made (A) to the  holders  of shares of stock  ranking  junior  (either  as to
dividends  or upon  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up) to the  Series A
Preferred  Stock  unless,  prior  thereto,  the  holders  of  shares of Series A
Preferred  Stock shall have  received  the higher of (i) $1. 00 per share ($. 01
per one  one-hundredth  of a share),  plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends and  distributions  thereon,  whether or not declared,  to the date of
such payment,  or (ii) an aggregate  amount per share,  subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to
be distributed per share to holders of Common Stock;  nor shall any distribution
be made (B) to the holders of stock ranking on a parity  (either as to dividends
or upon  liquidation,  dissolution  or winding  up) with the Series A  Preferred
Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all
other such parity stock in  proportion to the total amounts to which the holders
of all such shares are entitled upon such  liquidation,  dissolution  or winding
up. In the event the corporation shall at any time after the Rights  Declaration
Date  declare or pay any  dividend on Common  Stock  payable in shares of Common
Stock,  or  effect  a  subdivision  or  combination  or   consolidation  of  the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification  or otherwise)  into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common  Stock,  then in each such case the
aggregate  amount to which  holders  of shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock are
entitled  under clause  (A)(ii) of the preceding  sentence  shall be adjusted by
multiplying  such amount by a fraction  the  numerator of which is the number of
shares  of  Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately  after  such  event  and the
denominator  of  which is the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  that  were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.

            Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the corporation shall
enter into any consolidation,  merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common  Stock are  exchanged  for or changed  into other  stock or
securities,  cash and/or any other property,  or otherwise changed,  then in any
such  case the  shares  of Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall at the same time be
similarly  exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of
stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case
may be,  into  which or for which  each  share of  Common  Stock is  changed  or
exchanged.  In the  event the  corporation  shall at any time  after the  Rights
Declaration  Date declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock  payable in shares
of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or  consolidation of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification  or otherwise)  into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common  Stock,  then in each such case the
amount set forth in the  preceding  sentence  with  respect to the  exchange  or


                                      - 5 -

<PAGE>



change of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock  shall be adjusted by  multiplying
such  amount by a  fraction  the  numerator  of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock  outstanding  immediately  after such event and the  denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding  immediately
prior to such event.

            Section 8. No  Redemption.  The shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock
shall not be redeemable.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the  corporation  may
acquire shares of Series A Preferred Stock in any other manner permitted by law,
the Articles of Incorporation or this amendment thereof.

            Section  9. Rank.  Unless  otherwise  provided  in the  Articles  of
Incorporation  or an  amendment  thereof  relating  to a  subsequent  series  of
Preferred  Stock of the  corporation,  the Series A  Preferred  Stock shall rank
junior  to all  other  series  of the  corporation's  Preferred  Stock as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets on liquidation,  dissolution
or winding up, and senior to the Common Stock of the corporation.

            Section 10.  Amendment.  The Articles of Incorporation  shall not be
amended  in any  manner  which  would  materially  alter or change  the  powers,
preferences  or special  rights of the Series A Preferred  Stock so as to affect
them  adversely  without  the  affirmative  vote of the  holders  of at  least a
majority  of  the  outstanding  shares  of  Series  A  Preferred  Stock,  voting
separately as a class.

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


                                      - 6 -

<PAGE>



                                                                       Exhibit B
                                                                       ---------

                           [Form of Right Certificate]

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

            NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER February 26, 2000, OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED. THE
            RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $. O1 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET
            FORTH  IN  THE  RIGHTS   AGREEMENT.   UNDER  CERTAIN   CIRCUMSTANCES
            (SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN
            ACQUIRING  PERSON  (AS  DEFINED  IN  THE  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT)  OR ANY
            SUBSEQUENT  HOLDER OF SUCH  RIGHTS  MAY BECOME  NULL AND VOID.  [THE
            RIGHTS   REPRESENTED   BY  THIS  RIGHT   CERTIFICATE   ARE  OR  WERE
            BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON
            OR AN AFFILIATE  OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING  PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS
            ARE  DEFINED  IN THE  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT).  ACCORDINGLY,  THIS  RIGHT
            CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME VOID IN THE
            CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. ]1

                                Right Certificate

                           WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.

            This certifies that  ______________,  or registered  assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the registered owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights  Agreement  dated as of February 26, 1990 (the  "Rights  Agreement"),
between Willamette Industries, Inc. , an Oregon corporation (the "Company"), and
First  Interstate  Bank of Oregon,  N. A. (the "Rights  Agent," which term shall
include every successor  Rights Agent under the Rights  Agreement),  to purchase
from the  Company  at any time  after  the  Distribution  Date (as such  term is
defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5 p. m. (Portland, Oregon time) on
February 26, 2000,  at the office or agency of the Rights Agent or its successor
designated for such purpose,  one  one-hundredth  of a fully paid  nonassessable
share of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock,  $. 50 par value (the
"Preferred  Shares"),  of the Company, at a purchase price initially of $175 per
one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation
and  surrender of this Right  Certificate  with the Form of Election to Purchase
and related certificate duly executed. As provided in the Rights Agreement,

- --------
            1 That portion of the legend in brackets  shall be inserted  only if
applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.


                                      - 1 -

<PAGE>


the  Purchase  Price and the number of  Preferred  Shares which may be purchased
upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right  Certificate are subject
to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

            This Right  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 Right  Certificates.  Copies of
the  Rights  Agreement  are on file at the  principal  executive  offices of the
Company and are  available  from the Rights  Agent or the Company  upon  written
request.

            Upon the occurrence of certain  events  specified in Section 7(f) of
the Rights  Agreement,  if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are or
were  beneficially  owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an  Acquiring  Person (as such terms are  defined in the Rights  Agreement)  or,
under  certain  circumstances,  a  transferee  of  any  such  Acquiring  Person,
Affiliate  or  Associate,  such Rights shall become null and void and any holder
thereof  (whether or not such holder is an  Acquiring  Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring  Person)  shall  thereafter  have no right to exercise
such Rights.

            In certain  circumstances  described  in the Rights  Agreement,  the
Rights  evidenced hereby may entitle the holder hereof to purchase capital stock
of an entity  other than the  Company or receive  cash or other  assets,  all as
prescribed in the Rights Agreement.

            This Right  Certificate,  with or without other Right  Certificates,
upon  surrender at the office or agency of the Rights Agent  designated for such
purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of
like tenor and date  evidencing  Rights equal to the aggregate  number of Rights
evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right  Certificates  surrendered.  If this
Right  Certificate  shall be exercised in part,  the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender  hereof another Right  Certificate or Right  Certificates
for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

            Subject  to the  provisions  of the  Rights  Agreement,  the  Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate may, but are not required to, be redeemed by
the Company at a redemption price of $. 01 per Right or exchanged by the Company
at the rate of one Common Share per Right.

            Fractional  Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby only in 


                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>


fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
(which  may,  at the  election  of  the  Company,  be  evidenced  by  depositary
receipts).  In lieu of the issuance of fractional  shares other than in integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, a cash payment will be made
as provided in the Rights Agreement.

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

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

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

ATTEST:                                   WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.

- ----------------------------------        --------------------------------------
Secretary                                 President


Countersigned:

FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF OREGON, N. A.

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



                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>



                   [Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]


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


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

            FOR  VALUE  RECEIVED   --------------   hereby  sells,  assigns  and
transfers unto  ----------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Please print name and address of transferee)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby  irrevocably  constitute  and appoint  ______________  Attorney,  to
transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named  Company,
with full power of substitution.

Dated:  ---------------------------------, 19--


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


Signature Guaranteed:

                                   Certificate
                                   -----------

            The undersigned  hereby certifies by checking the appropriate  boxes
that:

            (1) this Right  Certificate  [ ] is [ ] is not being sold,  assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an  Affiliate  or  Associate  of any such  Acquiring  Person  (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement); and

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

Dated: -----------------, 19--            --------------------------------------
                                          Signature



                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>



            [Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued]

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

                                     NOTICE
                                     ------

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

            The signatures in the foregoing  Assignment  must be guaranteed by a
member  firm of a  registered  national  securities  exchange,  a member  of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. , or a commercial bank or trust
company having an office or correspondent in the United States.

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




                                      - 5 -

<PAGE>



            [Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued]

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
                          ----------------------------


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


To WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.

            The   undersigned    hereby    irrevocably    elects   to   exercise
____________________________  Rights  represented  by this Right  Certificate to
purchase  the  Preferred  Shares  issuable  upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares be issued in the name of:

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

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

Please insert social security or other identifying number:

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

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

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

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

Dated ----------------- , 19--

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


Signature Guaranteed:

                                   Certificate
                                   -----------

            The undersigned  hereby certifies by checking the appropriate  boxes
that:

            (1) the Rights  evidenced by this Right  Certificate [ ] are [ ] are
not  beneficially  owned by an Acquiring  Person or an Affiliate or an Associate
thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); and



                                      - 6 -

<PAGE>



            [Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued]

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

Dated:  ----------------, 19--            --------------------------------------
                                          Signature

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

                                     NOTICE
                                     ------

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

            The signatures in the foregoing Form of Election to Purchase must be
guaranteed  by a member firm of a registered  national  securities  exchange,  a
member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. , or a commercial
bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States.

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



                                      - 7 -

<PAGE>



                                                                       Exhibit C
                                                                       ---------


                           WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.
                  SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK

            On  February  7,  1990,   the  Board  of  Directors  of   Willamette
Industries, Inc. (the "Company"),  declared a dividend distribution of one Right
for each  outstanding  share of  common  stock,  $. 50 par  value  (the  "Common
Stock"),  of the Company to the  shareholders of record at the close of business
on February 26, 1990 (the "Record  Date").  Each Right  entitles the  registered
holder to  purchase  from the  Company  one  one-hundredth  of a share of Junior
Participating  Preferred Stock, $. 50 par value (the "Preferred  Shares"),  at a
price of $175 per share  (the  "Purchase  Price"),  subject to  adjustment.  The
description  and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights  Agreement  dated
February  26,  1990 (the  "Rights  Agreement"),  between  the  Company and First
Interstate Bank of Oregon, N. A. , as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

            Initially,   the  Rights  will  be  attached  to  all  Common  Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding,  and no separate certificates
evidencing  Rights (the "Right  Certificates")  will be  distributed.  Until the
earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public announcement that a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons (other than the Company,  its employee
benefit plans,  persons who are parties to a certain shareholder  stand-together
agreement  or any  successor  agreement or a person who acquires his shares in a
Sanctioned Tender Offer as defined below) (an "Acquiring Person"),  acquired, or
obtained  the  right  to  acquire,  beneficial  ownership  of 20% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock and (ii) 10 business days (or such later date
as may be  determined  by  action  of the  Board  of  Directors)  following  the
commencement of (or the  announcement of an intention to make) a tender offer or
exchange offer (other than a Sanctioned  Tender Offer) the consummation of which
would result in the beneficial  ownership by a person or group of 30% or more of
the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,  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.  The earlier of the dates  described in
clauses  (i) and  (ii)  above  is  referred  to as the  "Distribution  Date."  A
"Sanctioned  Tender  Offer" is a tender or  exchange  offer for all  outstanding
shares of Common  Stock at a price and on terms which a majority of the Board of
Directors determines to be fair and in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders,  other than the person  making such offer and his  affiliates  and
associates.

            The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred  with and only with the Common Stock.  As long as the
Rights are attached to the 


                                      - 1 -

<PAGE>


Common  Stock,  the Company will issue one Right with each share of Common Stock
that  becomes  outstanding  so that all  outstanding  shares will have  attached
Rights.  Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the
Rights),  (i)  Common  Stock  certificates  issued  after the  Record  Date upon
transfer or new issuance of Common  Stock will contain a notation  incorporating
the Rights  Agreement by reference  and (ii) the  surrender  for transfer of any
certificates  evidencing  Common Stock will also  constitute the transfer of the
Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon
as practicable  following the  Distribution  Date,  Right  Certificates  will be
mailed to holders of record of the Common  Stock as of the close of  business on
the Distribution Date and such separate Right  Certificates  alone will evidence
the Rights.

            The Rights are not  exercisable  until the  Distribution  Date.  The
Rights  will  expire  at the  earliest  of (i)  February  25,  2000,  (ii)  upon
consummation of certain  approved  merger or exchange  transactions as described
below, and (iii) upon redemption by the Company as described below.

            In the event that any person  becomes an  Acquiring  Person,  proper
provision  shall be made so that each  holder  of a Right  (except  as  provided
below) will  thereafter  have the right to receive upon  exercise that number of
shares of Common  Stock of the  Company  having a market  value of two times the
exercise price of the Right.

            In the event that, at any time following the Distribution  Date, the
Company is acquired in a merger or other business  combination  transaction,  or
more than 50% of its assets or earning power is sold,  proper provision shall be
made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided  below) will  thereafter
have the right to receive,  upon the exercise at the then current exercise price
of the  Right,  that  number  of  shares of  common  stock of the  acquiring  or
surviving  company  having a market value of two times the exercise price of the
Right.  The Rights will  expire in  connection  with a merger or other  business
combination  transaction following a Sanctioned Tender Offer if shareholders are
offered the same price and form of consideration in the merger or other business
combination transaction as that paid in the Sanctioned Tender Offer.

            Following  the  occurrence  of any of the  events  described  in the
preceding two  paragraphs,  any Rights that are or (under certain  circumstances
specified in the Rights  Agreement)  were,  beneficially  owned by any Acquiring
Person shall immediately become null and void.

            The Purchase  Price payable,  and the number of Preferred  Shares or
other securities or property  issuable,  upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution.



                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>



            No fractional  Preferred Shares other than fractions in multiples of
one one-hundredth of a share will be issued and, in lieu thereof,  an adjustment
in cash will be made based on the market  price of the  Preferred  Shares on the
last trading date prior to the date of exercise.

            At any time  prior to the  tenth  day  following  the  first  public
announcement of the existence of an Acquiring Person, the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $. 01 per Right (the "Redemption
Price"). Subject to certain conditions, the Company's right of redemption may be
reinstated  after  the  expiration  of the  ten-day  redemption  period  if each
Acquiring  Person  reduces  its  beneficial  ownership  to  10% or  less  of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock in a transaction  or series of  transactions
not involving the Company. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
ordering the  redemption  of the Rights (or at such time and date  thereafter as
the Board of  Directors  may  specify),  the right to  exercise  the Rights will
terminate  and the only right of the  holders of Rights  will be to receive  the
Redemption Price.

            At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring  Person and prior to
the  Acquisition  by such  Acquiring  Person  of 50% or more of the  outstanding
shares of Common  Stock,  the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights
beneficially  owned by such  Acquiring  Person which  became null and void),  in
whole or in part,  for Common Stock at the rate of one share per Right,  subject
to adjustment.

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

            The provisions of the Rights  Agreement may be amended in any manner
prior to the Distribution  Date. After the Distribution  Date, the provisions of
the Rights  Agreement may be amended in order to cure any  ambiguity,  defect or
inconsistency,  to make changes which do not  adversely  affect the interests of
holders of Rights  (excluding  the  interest  of any  Acquiring  Person),  or to
shorten  or  lengthen  any time  period  under the Rights  Agreement;  provided,
however,  that no amendment to adjust the time period governing redemption shall
be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.



                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>



                       Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement


            This Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement  ("Amendment")  dated as of
December 3, 1996, by Willamette  Industries,  Inc., an Oregon  corporation  (the
"Company");

            WHEREAS  the  Company is a party to that  certain  Rights  Agreement
dated as of February 26, 1990,  between the Company and First Interstate Bank of
Oregon, N.A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"); and

            WHEREAS,  the Company wishes to amend the Rights Agreement to permit
ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C.  ("ChaseMellon")  to serve as Rights
Agent under the Rights Agreement, and to appoint ChaseMellon as Rights Agent;

            NOW, THEREFORE,  pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, the
Company amends the Rights Agreement as follows:

            1. The  fifth  sentence  of  Section  21 is  hereby  amended  in its
entirety to read as follows:

      "Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a
      court,  shall either be ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C.,  or a
      corporation  organized  and doing  business  under the laws of the  United
      States or the state of Oregon (or of any other state of the United  States
      so long as such  corporation  is  authorized  to do  business as a banking
      institution in the state of Oregon), in good standing,  having a principal
      office in the state of  Oregon,  which is  authorized  under  such laws to
      exercise  corporate  trust or stock  transfer  powers and which has at the
      time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined  capital and surplus of
      at least $50 million."

            2.  ChaseMellon  is appointed as Rights Agent and all  references in
the Rights Agreement to the Rights Agent shall mean ChaseMellon.

            In Witness Whereof,  this Amendment has been duly executed as of the
date first written above.

                                    WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                    By  /s/ J. A. Parsons
                                    J. A. Parsons
                                    Executive Vice President and Chief
                                    Financial Officer, Secretary and
                                    Treasurer





<PAGE>


            ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., hereby accepts appointment
as Rights  Agent  under the Rights  Agreement  dated as of  February  26,  1990,
between Willamette Industries,  Inc., and First Interstate Bank of Oregon, N.A.,
as Rights  Agent,  and assumes all of the duties and  obligations  of the Rights
Agent under such Rights Agreement.

                                    CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES,
                                     L.L.C.


                                    By  /s/ Dennis Treibel
                                       Assistant Vice President




                                                                      Exhibit 12

WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Six Months Ended
                                     Year Ended December 31,                June 30,
                          --------------------------------------------  ----------------
                             1992     1993     1994     1995     1996     1996     1997
                          --------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
<S>                      <C>        <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>    
Fixed Charges:
 Interest cost           $  73,776   79,194   80,807   77,237  103,338   39,833   66,472

One-third rent
  expense                    4,495    4,819    5,227    5,976    6,906    3,351    3,747
                          --------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------

Total Fixed Charges      $  78,271   84,013   86,034   83,213  110,244   43,184   70,219
                          ========  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======

Add (Deduct):
 Earnings before
  income taxes           $ 129,452  189,168  288,923  823,804  306,086  197,122   49,469
 Interest capitalized       (7,354) (15,904)  (9,294)  (6,187) (10,534)  (4,641)  (7,900)
                          --------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------

Earnings for
 Fixed Charges           $ 200,369  257,277  365,663  900,830  405,796  235,665  111,788
                          ========  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======


Ratio of Earnings to
    Fixed Charges             2.56     3.06     4.25    10.83     3.68     5.46     1.59
                          ========  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======


</TABLE>







                                       17
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

                                                                      Exhibit 27

                           WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.
                             FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
<ARTICLE>         5
<LEGEND>          THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
                  FROM THE  COMPANY'S  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEETS AND RELATED
                  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED June
                  30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
                  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                              1,000
       
<S>                                                              <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                             6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                   DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                        JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                                                   43,845
<SECURITIES>                                                                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                           301,764
<ALLOWANCES>                                                             (4,718)
<INVENTORY>                                                             363,354
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                        804,501
<PP&E>                                                                5,740,338
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       (1,890,358)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                        4,738,440
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                   481,465
<BONDS>                                                               1,859,052
                                                         0
                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                 27,753
<OTHER-SE>                                                            1,951,927
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                          4,738,440
<SALES>                                                                 857,742
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                        857,742
<CGS>                                                                   738,927
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                           738,927
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                         61,123
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       29,429
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          28,263
<INCOME-TAX>                                                             10,513
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                      17,750
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             17,750
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              0.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              0.32
        

</TABLE>

                                   EXHIBIT 99
                                   ----------

                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

         The  authorized  capital  stock of  Willamette  Industries,  Inc.  (the
"Company"), consists of 5,000,000 shares of cumulative preferred stock, $.50 par
value ("Preferred  Stock") issuable in series,  and 150,000,000 shares of common
stock, $.50 par value ("Common Stock").

         The board of  directors  of the  Company  is  authorized  to divide the
Preferred  Stock into series and to determine the  preferences,  limitations and
relative rights of each series, including,  without limitation,  the designation
and seniority  and number of shares,  the rate and time of payment of dividends,
if any, thereon (or method of computing the same), the amount of any liquidation
preference, any rights of conversion or exchange, voting rights, if any, and any
optional or mandatory redemption provisions.

         The board of directors  has  established  a series of  Preferred  Stock
designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred
Stock"),  comprising  500,000  shares of  Preferred  Stock.  Subject to superior
rights  of any  other  outstanding  Preferred  Stock,  each  share  of  Series A
Preferred  Stock is entitled  to receive,  in  preference  to the Common  Stock,
quarterly  cumulative  dividends equal to 200 times the quarterly  dividend paid
with respect to each share of Common Stock, but not less than $1.00.  Each share
of Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to 200 votes on all matters submitted to
a vote of the  shareholders.  In the event of liquidation  of the Company,  each
share of Series A Preferred  Stock is entitled to receive,  in preference to the
Common Stock, a liquidation payment of the greater of (i) $1.00 plus all accrued
and unpaid dividends and distributions and (ii) an amount equal to 200 times the
aggregate  amount to be distributed  per share of Common Stock.  In the event of
any merger or other  transaction in which Common Stock is to be exchanged,  each
share of Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall be  entitled to receive 200 times the
amount  received  per share of Common  Stock.  Series A  Preferred  Stock is not
redeemable. The rights of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are subject to
adjustment under certain  circumstances to prevent dilution  including,  without
limitation, upon a stock split.

         The board of directors of the Company has declared a two-for-one  stock
split of the Common  Stock  ("Stock  Split") to be effected in the form of a 100
percent stock dividend payable September 12, 1997, on all shares of Common Stock
outstanding  as of the close of  business  on August 25,  1997.  After the Stock
Split, the rights of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be adjusted as
follows:  Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, in
preference  to the  Common  Stock,  quarterly  dividends  equal to 400 times the
quarterly dividend paid with respect to each share of Common Stock, but not less
than $1.00. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to 400 votes
on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders after the Stock Split. In
the event of  liquidation  of the Company  after the Stock Split,  each share of
Series A  Preferred  Stock will be entitled to  receive,  in  preference  to the
Common Stock, a liquidation payment of the greater of (i) $1.00 plus all accrued
and unpaid dividends and distributions and (ii) an



                                      - 1 -

<PAGE>



amount equal to 400 times the aggregate  amount to be  distributed  per share of
Common Stock.  In the event of any merger or other  transaction  after the Stock
Split in which Common Stock is to be exchanged, each share of Series A Preferred
Stock shall be entitled  to receive 400 times the amount  received  per share of
Common Stock.

         Shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred  Stock vote together as a
single class on all corporate  matters (except for certain matters affecting the
Series A Preferred  Stock or as  otherwise  required  by law).  Shares of Common
Stock  are  entitled  to  one  vote  per  share.  Voting  for  directors  is not
cumulative.  The board of  directors  is  divided  into  three  classes  serving
staggered three-year terms.

         Holders of Common  Stock are  entitled to  dividends  when,  as, and if
declared  by the board of  directors  out of funds  legally  available  therefor
(subject to the rights of holders of any Preferred  Stock).  Common Stock is not
convertible into any other class of security,  is not entitled to the benefit of
any  sinking  fund  provision,  and does not have  any  preemptive  rights.  All
outstanding  shares of  Common  Stock are  fully  paid and  nonassessable.  Upon
liquidation of the Company,  after payment or provision for all  liabilities and
payment of any  preferential  amount in respect of Preferred  Stock,  holders of
Common Stock are entitled to receive liquidating  distributions of any remaining
assets on a pro rata basis.

         Article VI of the  Company's  articles of  incorporation  provides that
certain business  combinations  involving the Company and any shareholder which,
together with its affiliates,  is the beneficial  owner of 20 percent or more of
the Company's  outstanding shares of capital stock, require the affirmative vote
of the  holders  of at least 80  percent  of the  outstanding  shares of capital
stock.  The 80 percent  voting  requirement  does not apply (i) in the case of a
business  combination  which  provides for conversion of Common Stock into cash,
securities  or  property  having a fair  market  value not less than the highest
per-share  price paid by such  shareholder  and its  affiliates  within one year
prior to the date of the vote,  (ii) if the vote is  required  by the  statutory
Business   Combination   provisions  discussed  below  or  (iii)  under  certain
circumstances,  if the  transaction  is approved by the board of directors.  The
articles of  incorporation  also  provide  that  directors of the Company may be
removed at a meeting called  expressly for that purpose by the affirmative  vote
of the holders of not less than 80 percent of the outstanding  shares of capital
stock.

         The  Company  has  distributed  to holders of Common  Stock,  rights to
purchase  shares of Series A Preferred  Stock  ("Rights")  which are held on the
basis of .5 Right for each share of Common  Stock held.  (After the Stock Split,
the Rights will be held on the basis of .25 Right for each share of Common Stock
held.) The Rights are not  exercisable and are attached to and trade with shares
of Common Stock until the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public announcement
that a person or group has  acquired  beneficial  ownership  (as  defined) of 20
percent or more of the  outstanding  Common Stock  (other than the Company,  any
subsidiary  of the  Company,  any  employee  benefit  plan of the Company or any
subsidiary  of the  Company,  any entity  holding  shares of Common Stock for or
pursuant  to the terms of any such plan,  or a person who  acquires  shares in a
tender offer  sanctioned  by the board of  directors)  and (ii) 10 business days
following the commencement or announcement of certain



                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>



offers to acquire beneficial  ownership of 30 percent or more of the outstanding
Common  Stock.  Upon such an event,  the Rights will trade  separately  and will
become exercisable.  Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company including,  without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.

         When the Rights  first become  exercisable,  one Right will entitle the
holder  to buy  from  the  Company  one  one-hundredth  of a share  of  Series A
Preferred Stock at a price of $175. Upon acquisition of beneficial  ownership of
20  percent  or more of the  outstanding  Common  Stock  by a  person  or  group
described  above,  each Right will entitle the holder (other than such person or
group) to buy from the Company for $175 shares of Common  Stock  having a market
value of $350.  If the  Company  is  acquired  in a business  combination,  or a
majority  of its assets is  acquired,  after a person or group  described  above
acquires  beneficial  ownership of 20 percent or more of the outstanding  Common
Stock, each Right will thereafter  entitle the holder (other than such person or
group) to acquire for $175 shares of common stock of the  acquiring or surviving
person  with a market  value of $350.  Following  the  occurrence  of any of the
events  described in the preceding two sentences,  any Rights that are or (under
certain circumstances) were beneficially owned by any such person or group shall
immediately  become  null and void.  The  purchase  price for Series A Preferred
Stock and the  number of Series A  Preferred  Stock  shares or other  securities
issuable upon exercise of Rights are subject to adjustment to prevent dilution.

         Outstanding Rights will expire at the close of business on February 25,
2000. The Rights will also expire upon  consummation  of a business  combination
with a person who acquires  shares of Common Stock in a tender offer  sanctioned
by the board of directors if shareholders  receive the same consideration as was
paid in the tender offer. Until the close of business on the tenth day following
public  announcement  that a  person  or  group  described  above  has  acquired
beneficial  ownership of 20 percent or more of the outstanding  shares of Common
Stock,  the Rights may be redeemed,  in whole but not in part,  at the Company's
election at a price of $.01 per right.  After a person or group  described above
acquires  beneficial  ownership of 20 percent or more of the outstanding  Common
Stock,  but before  the  person or group  acquires  beneficial  ownership  of 50
percent or more of the outstanding  Common Stock,  the Company may exchange some
or all of the then outstanding  Rights for two shares of Common Stock per Right,
subject to adjustment in certain circumstances  (including,  without limitation,
upon the Stock Split, which will result in an adjustment after which the Company
may  exchange  some or all of the then  outstanding  Rights  for four  shares of
Common Stock per Right).

         Before the Rights become exercisable,  the Company may amend the Rights
Agreement in any manner  without the approval of the holders of Common Stock and
thereafter  the Company may,  subject to certain  limitations,  amend the Rights
Agreement without the approval of the holders of Rights.

         The Company is subject to the Oregon  Control  Share Act (the  "Control
Share  Act").  The  Control  Share Act  provides  in  essence  that a person (an
"Acquiring  Person") who acquires voting stock in a transaction which results in
its holding more than 20 percent,



                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>


33-1/3  percent  or 50  percent  of the total  voting  power of the  Company  (a
"Control Share  Acquisition")  cannot vote the shares it acquires in the Control
Share Acquisition  ("control  shares") unless voting rights are accorded to such
control  shares by the holders of a majority of the  outstanding  voting shares,
excluding the Acquiring Person and the Company's  officers and inside directors.
The term  Acquiring  Person is broadly  defined to include  persons  acting as a
group.

         An Acquiring  Person may, but is not required to, submit to the Company
an "Acquiring Person Statement" which delineates  certain  information about the
Acquiring  Person and its plans for acquiring  the Company's  stock and requests
the Company to call a special  meeting of shareholders to act on the question of
its voting rights.  If an Acquiring Person does not request a special meeting of
shareholders,  the  matter  shall be  considered  at the next  annual or special
meeting of shareholders  otherwise held. If an Acquiring Person's control shares
are accorded  voting  rights and its shares  represent a majority or more of all
voting power, shareholders who do not vote in favor of the restoration of voting
rights  will have the right to  receive  the  appraised  "fair  value" for their
shares,  which  may not be less  than the  highest  price  paid per share by the
Acquiring Person for its shares in the Control Share Acquisition.

         The  Company is also  subject  to  provisions  of the  Oregon  Business
Corporation  Act (the  "Business  Combination  Provisions)  which  restrict  the
ability of an Oregon  corporation to engage in any business  combination with an
interested shareholder ("Interested  Shareholder"),  as defined, for three years
after  the  shareholder   becomes  an  Interested   Shareholder,   with  certain
exceptions. An Interested Shareholder is defined to include a shareholder owning
15 percent or more of a corporation's stock.  "Business  combination" is defined
to include any merger with,  any transfer of assets to and certain  transactions
involving the issuance of shares to, the Interested  Shareholder.  A corporation
may, however, engage in a business combination with an Interested Shareholder if
(i) the  corporation's  board  of  directors  approved  the  combination  or the
transaction by which the shareholder became an Interested Shareholder before the
shareholder became an Interested  Shareholder,  (ii) the Interested  Shareholder
acquired  at least 85 percent  of the voting  stock  (excluding  shares  held by
directors,   officers,  or  certain  employee  share  plans)  when  becoming  an
Interested Shareholder, or (iii) the board of directors and shareholders holding
66-2/3  percent  of the  voting  stock not owned by the  Interested  Shareholder
approve the business combination.  A corporation's articles of incorporation may
not require a greater vote of  shareholders  than that specified in the Business
Combination  Provisions  for  any  vote  required  by the  Business  Combination
Provisions.



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