COEUR D ALENE MINES CORP
8-A12B/A, 1999-05-24
GOLD AND SILVER ORES
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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                              AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

                                   FORM 8-A

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


                        COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


                      Idaho                           82-0109423
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      (STATE OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)      (IRS EMPLOYER
                                                  IDENTIFICATION NO.)


 505 Front Avenue, P.O. Box "I", Coeur d'Alene, Idaho            83814
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)                   (ZIP CODE)

       SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:

    Title of each class                      Name of each exchange on which
    to be so registered                      each class is to be registered
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Preferred Stock Purchase Rights              New York Stock Exchange
    and related Series B Junior Preferred        Pacific Stock Exchange
    Stock, $1.00 par value per share

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

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

      Securities  Act  registration  statement  file number to which this form
relates: not applicable

      Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None


<PAGE>

ITEM 1.     DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.

      On May  11,  1999,  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Coeur  d'Alene  Mines
Corporation (the "Company") declared a dividend  distribution of one Preferred
Stock Purchase Right  (collectively,  the "Rights") for each outstanding share
of Common  Stock,  $1.00 par value per  share  (the  "Common  Stock"),  of the
Company  (other than  shares held in the  Company's  treasury).  The  dividend
distribution is payable to the stockholders of record at the close of business
on May 25, 1999 (the "Record  Date").  Except as set forth below,  each Right,
when exercisable,  entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company
one  one-hundredth  of a share of a new  series  of  voting  preferred  stock,
designated as Series B Junior Preferred Stock,  $1.00 par value per share (the
"Preferred  Stock"),  at a price of $100.00 per one  one-hundredth  of a share
(the "Purchase  Price"),  subject to adjustment.  The description and terms of
the  Rights  are set  forth in a Rights  Agreement  (the  "Rights  Agreement")
between the Company and ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C., as Rights
Agent (the "Rights Agent").

      As of the Record  Date,  the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates   representing   shares  then  outstanding.   No  separate  Right
Certificate will be distributed until the earlier of:

            (i) the close of business on the date which is ten  business  days
following the first to occur of: (a) a public  announcement  that, without the
prior written approval of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company,
a person or group of  affiliated  or  associated  persons  (other than (1) the
Company, (2) any subsidiary of the Company or (3) any employee benefit plan of
the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or entity holding securities of the
Company  for or  pursuant to the terms of such a plan)  (each,  an  "Acquiring
Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, a number of shares of
the Company  representing  20% of the voting power (the "Voting Power") of all
the securities of the Company  entitled to vote for the election of directors;
provided,  however, that a person will not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person
if such person:  (x) becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Voting
Power of the  Company as a result of: (A) an  acquisition  of Common  Stock by
means  of  shares  issued   directly  by  the  Company  which   increased  the
proportionate  Voting  Power  of such  securities  beneficially  owned by such
person to 20% or more of the Voting Power, if such  transaction is approved by
a majority of the members of the Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  unless
such person was an Acquiring  Person prior to such  acquisition of shares from
the Company;  or (B) an  acquisition  by the Company of the  Company's  voting
securities,   unless  such  person  thereafter   acquires   additional  voting
securities  of the Company  (other than  pursuant to a stock  dividend,  stock
split,  recapitalization  or  similar  transaction);  or (y)  has  become  the
beneficial  owner  of  20%  or  more  of  the  Voting  Power  of  the  Company
inadvertently  (as  determined  by a majority of the Board of  Directors)  and
divests as promptly as practicable  such number of voting  securities so as to
no longer be an  Acquiring  Person;  or (b) the  Company's  first notice of or
other determination that a person has become an Acquiring Person (the first to
occur of the  events  in clause  (a) or (b)  above  being  called  the  "Stock
Acquisition Date"); or


                                      2

<PAGE>

            (ii) the  close of  business  on the date (or such  other  date as
determined by the Board of Directors  prior to the time any person  becomes an
Acquiring  Person) which is ten business days  following the  commencement  or
first public  announcement  of the intention of any person (other than (a) the
Company,  (b) any subsidiary of the Company,  or (c) any employee benefit plan
of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or entity holding  securities of
the  Company  for or  pursuant  to the  terms of such a plan) to make a tender
offer or exchange offer (if such  intention to commence  remains in effect for
five business days after such commencement or announcement), without the prior
written  approval of a majority of the Board of Directors,  for 30% or more of
the Voting  Power of the  Company  (the  earlier of the dates in clause (i) or
(ii) above being called the "Distribution Date").

      Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange, expiration
or termination of the Rights),  new Common Stock certificates issued after the
Record  Date,  upon  transfer,  new  issuance or issuance  from the  Company's
treasury,  will  contain a  notation  incorporating  the Rights  Agreement  by
reference.  Until the  Distribution  Date (or  earlier  redemption,  exchange,
expiration or termination  of the Rights),  the Rights may only be transferred
with the  Company's  Common  Stock and  surrender  for  transfer of any of the
Company's  Common Stock  certificates  outstanding  in respect of which Rights
have been issued will also  constitute  the transfer of the Rights  associated
with the Common Stock represented by such certificates. As soon as practicable
following the Company's notice to the Rights Agent that the Distribution  Date
has  occurred,  separate  certificates  evidencing  the Rights  (collectively,
"Right  Certificates")  will be mailed to holders  of record of the  Company's
Common  Stock as of the close of  business on the  Distribution  Date and such
Right Certificates alone will then evidence the Rights.

      The Rights are not exercisable  until the Distribution  Date. The Rights
will expire on May 24,  2009,  unless  earlier  redeemed or  exchanged  by the
Company, as described below.

      The Purchase  Price,  the number of shares of Preferred Stock covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a reclassification of the
Preferred  Stock,  (ii)  upon  the  determination  of a  record  date  for the
distribution  to holders of Preferred Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe
for shares of Preferred Stock or securities  convertible  into Preferred Stock
at less than the then current  market price of the Preferred  Stock,  or (iii)
upon the  determination  of a record date for the  distribution  to holders of
Preferred  Stock of  evidences  of  indebtedness,  cash or  assets  (excluding
regular  periodic  cash  dividends  out of earnings  or  retained  earnings or
dividends   payable  in  Preferred   Stock)  or  of  convertible   securities,
subscription  rights or warrants (other than those referred to in (ii) above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustments in the Purchase Price will be required
until  cumulative  adjustments  require an  adjustment  of at least 1% in such
Purchase Price.

      In the event that any person shall become an  Acquiring  Person,  proper
provision  shall  be made so that  each  holder  of a Right  (other  than  the
Acquiring Person) will thereafter have the right to receive, in lieu of shares
of Preferred  Stock,  upon the later of such event and the  effectiveness of a
registration statement with respect to such shares, upon exercise, that number


                                      3

<PAGE>

of shares (or fractional  shares) of Common Stock of the Company having a then
current market value of two times the Purchase Price of the Right,  subject to
the  availability of a sufficient  number of treasury shares or authorized but
unissued  shares of Common  Stock (such right being  called the  "Subscription
Right").

      In the event that,  following  the  Distribution  Date,  (i) the Company
consolidates  with  or  merges  into  another  person,  or  (ii)  such  person
consolidates  with or merges into the  surviving  corporation  in which all or
part of the Common Stock of the Company is exchanged for securities of another
person,  cash  or  other  property,  or  (iii)  the  Company  or  one  of  its
subsidiaries sells or otherwise transfers, in one or more transactions, 50% or
more of the Company and its subsidiaries' (taken as a whole) assets or earning
power,  proper  provision  shall be made so that each holder of a Right (other
than the Acquiring Person) shall thereafter have the right to receive, in lieu
of shares of  Preferred  Stock,  upon the exercise of the Right and payment of
the Purchase Price,  that number of shares of common stock of the surviving or
purchasing  company (or, in certain cases, one of its affiliates) which at the
time of such  transaction  would have a then current market value of two times
the Purchase Price (such right being called the "Merger Right"). The holder of
a Right will continue to have the Subscription Right until such holder becomes
entitled  to the Merger  Right;  provided,  however,  that if such  holder has
previously exercised the Subscription Right, such holder shall not be entitled
to the Merger Right.

      At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person but prior to such
time  as any  person  becomes  the  beneficial  owner  of 50% or  more  of the
outstanding  shares of the Company's  Common  Stock,  the Company may elect to
effect a full or partial  exchange of Rights (an "Exchange") for the Company's
Common Stock at an exchange  ratio of one share of Common Stock for each Right
owned.  Alternatively,  the  Company  may elect to effect  an  Exchange  using
Preferred  Stock  at an  exchange  ratio  of one  one-hundredth  of a share of
Preferred Stock for each Right owned.

      Any Rights  that are  beneficially  owned by an  Acquiring  Person or an
affiliate or an  associate  of an  Acquiring  Person will become null and void
upon the occurrence of any of the events giving rise to the  exercisability of
the Merger  Right or the  Subscription  Right.  Any holder of such Rights will
have no right to exercise such Rights from and after the occurrence of such an
event  insofar as they relate to the Merger Right or the  Subscription  Right.
Rights that are  beneficially  owned by an Acquiring  Person will also be null
and void for purposes of an Exchange.

      No fractional  shares of Common Stock or other securities  issuable upon
exercise of the Rights  (other  than,  in the case of an  Exchange,  fractions
which are  integral  multiples  of one  one-hundredth  of a share of Preferred
Stock) will be issued in  connection  with the  exercise of a Merger  Right or
Subscription Right or an Exchange. In lieu of fractional shares, an adjustment
in cash will be made based on the market price of such  securities on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise or exchange of such Right.


                                      4

<PAGE>

      At any time prior to a person  becoming an  Acquiring  Person or May 24,
2009,  a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company may elect to redeem
the  Rights  in  whole,  but not in part,  at a price of $.01 per  Right  (the
"Redemption Price"). In addition,  prior to an event giving rise to the Merger
Right,  a majority of the Board of Directors may elect to redeem the Rights in
whole,  but not in  part,  at the  Redemption  Price  if:  (i)  following  the
occurrence of a Stock  Acquisition  Date, either (a) an Acquiring Person shall
have  disposed of a number of shares of voting  securities of the Company in a
manner  satisfactory  to the Board of  Directors  such that such  person is no
longer the beneficial owner of more than 20% of the Company's Voting Power and
no other Acquiring Person exists immediately  thereafter or (b) the redemption
is in connection with a transaction not involving an Acquiring Person; or (ii)
following  a change  (resulting  from a proxy or  consent  solicitation)  in a
majority  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  in  office  at  the
commencement of such solicitation,  if any person who is a participant in such
solicitation has stated (or, if upon the commencement of such solicitation,  a
majority of the Board of  Directors  has  determined  in good faith) that such
person intends to take, or may consider taking,  any action which would result
in such person becoming an Acquiring  Person.  Immediately  upon the action of
the Board of Directors  electing to redeem the Rights,  the Company shall make
announcement  thereof, and the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the  holders of Rights  will be to  receive  the  Redemption
Price.

      The Preferred Stock  purchasable upon exercise of the Rights or issuable
upon an  Exchange  will be  nonredeemable  and  junior to any other  series of
preferred stock the Company may issue (unless otherwise  provided in the terms
of such  stock).  Each  share of  Preferred  Stock  will  have a  preferential
dividend in an amount equal to the greater of $1.00 per share or 100 times any
dividend (other than a dividend  payable in shares of Common Stock or due to a
subdivision of the outstanding  shares of Common Stock) declared on each share
of Common Stock. In the event of  liquidation,  the holders of Preferred Stock
will receive a preferred  liquidation  payment equal to the greater of $100.00
per share or 100 times the payment made per each share of Common  Stock.  Each
one  one-hundredth  of a share of  Preferred  Stock  will have one vote on all
matters submitted to the vote of stockholders of the Company and vote together
as one class with the holders of shares of Common Stock and the holders of any
other capital stock of the Company having general voting rights.  In the event
of any  merger,  consolidation  or other  transaction  in which  shares of the
Company's  Common Stock are  exchanged for or changed into stock or securities
of another person, cash or other property,  each share of Preferred Stock will
be entitled to receive 100 times the amount and type of consideration received
per share of Common Stock.  The rights of the Preferred Stock as to dividends,
liquidation and voting,  and in the event of mergers and  consolidations,  are
protected  by  customary  anti-dilution   provisions.   Fractional  shares  of
Preferred  Stock in  integral  multiples  of one  one-hundredth  of a share of
Preferred Stock will be issuable; however, the Company may elect to distribute
depositary  receipts in lieu of such fractional  shares. In lieu of fractional
shares  other than  fractions  that are  multiples of one  one-hundredth  of a
share,  an  adjustment  in cash will be made based on the market  price of the
Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise of such
Rights.

      Until a Right is exercised,  the holder  thereof,  as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder  of the Company,  including,  without  limitation,  no
rights to vote,  to receive  dividends or  distributions,  to give or withhold
consent to any  corporate  action or to receive  notice of  meetings  or other


                                      5

<PAGE>

actions  affecting  stockholders  (except for notice  with  respect to certain
actions  affecting the holders of Preferred  Stock, as more fully described in
the Rights Agreement).

      As of April 30, 1998,  the Company had a total of  60,000,000  shares of
Common  Stock  authorized,  of which  22,959,790  shares of Common  Stock were
outstanding.  Each  outstanding  share of Common  Stock on May 25, 1999 (other
than shares held in the Company's treasury) will receive one Right. As long as
the Rights are attached to the Common Stock,  the Company will issue one Right
with each new share of Common Stock and each share of Common Stock issued from
the Company's treasury so that all such shares will also have attached Rights.
As of April  30,  1999,  the  Company  had a total  of  10,000,000  shares  of
preferred  stock  authorized  of which  7,077,883  shares of  preferred  stock
entitled  "Mandatory  Adjustable  Redeemable   Convertible   Securities"  were
outstanding.  There have been reserved for issuance 500,000 shares of Series B
Junior Preferred Stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of the Rights.

      The Rights may have the  effect of  discouraging  a change in control of
the Company  without the prior  consent of the  Company's  Board of  Directors
because the Rights will cause  substantial  dilution to a person that attempts
to acquire the Company without  obtaining such consent.  The Rights should not
interfere  with  any  merger,  consolidation  or  other  business  combination
approved by the Board of Directors.

      A copy of the form of  Rights  Agreement  between  the  Company  and the
Rights Agent  specifying the terms of the Rights is attached hereto as Exhibit
1 and  incorporated  herein by  reference.  In  addition,  attached  hereto as
Exhibit 2 and Exhibit 3, respectively, are the form of Right Certificate and a
form of letter and summary which will be sent to the Company's stockholders in
connection  with the  adoption  of the  Rights  Plan and the  issuance  of the
Rights.  The foregoing  description of the Rights is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such exhibits.


ITEM 2.     EXHIBITS

      The following exhibits are included herewith:

Exhibit No.       Description

1                 Form of Rights Agreement,  dated as of May 11, 1999, between
                  Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation and ChaseMellon  Shareholder
                  Series, L.L.C.

2                 Form of Right Certificate  (included as Exhibit B to Exhibit
                  1 above)

3                 Form of summary  (included  as Exhibit C to Exhibit 1 above)
                  to be  sent  to the  shareholders  of  Coeur  d'Alene  Mines
                  Corporation  with  regard  to the  adoption  of  the  Rights
                  Agreement and the issuance of the Rights


                                      6

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 12 of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Registration  Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the under signed thereto duly authorized.

                                 COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION


Date:  May 12, 1999            By: /s/DENNIS E. WHEELER
                                   --------------------
                                   Dennis E. Wheeler
                                   Chairman of the Board, President and
                                   Chief Executive Officer



                                                                 Exhibit No. 1
                                                                 -------------

                               RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                           DATED AS OF MAY 11, 1999

                                    BETWEEN

                        COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION

                                      AND

                    CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES L.L.C.

                                AS RIGHTS AGENT


<PAGE>

                                     INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      PAGE
<S>          <C>                                                                      <C>
Section 1.   Certain Definitions                                                        1
Section 2.   Appointment of Rights Agent                                                5
Section 3.   Issue of Right Certificates                                                5
Section 4.   Form of Right Certificates                                                 7
Section 5.   Countersignature and Registration                                          7
Section 6.   Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates;
             Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates                    8
Section 7.   Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights              9
Section 8.   Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates                        10
Section 9.   Reservation and Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock                 10
Section 10.  Preferred Stock Record Date                                               11
Section 11.  Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights        12
Section 12.  Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares                18
Section 13.  Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power      18
Section 14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares                                   20
Section 15.  Rights of Action                                                          22
Section 16.  Agreement of Right Holders                                                22
Section 17.  Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder                         23
Section 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent                                               23
Section 19.  Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent                 23
Section 20.  Duties of Rights Agent                                                    24
Section 21.  Change of Rights Agent                                                    26
Section 22.  Issuance of New Right Certificates                                        27
Section 23.  Redemption and Termination                                                27
Section 24.  Exchange                                                                  29
Section 25.  Notice of Proposed Actions                                                30
Section 26.  Notices                                                                   30
Section 27.  Supplements and Amendments                                                31
Section 28.  Successors                                                                32
Section 29.  Benefits of this Agreement                                                32
Section 30.  Severability                                                              32
Section 31.  Governing Law                                                             32
Section 32.  Counterparts                                                              32
Section 33.  Descriptive Headings                                                      32
EXHIBIT A -  Form of Certificate of Designation                                       A-1
EXHIBIT B -  Form of Right Certificate                                                B-1
EXHIBIT C -  Form of Summary of Preferred Stock Purchase Rights                       C-1
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

                               RIGHTS AGREEMENT

      This Agreement,  dated as of May 11, 1999, is entered into between COEUR
D'ALENE  MINES  CORPORATION.,   an  Idaho  corporation  (the  "Company"),  and
CHASEMELLON  SHAREHOLDER  SERVICES  L.L.C.,  a New  Jersey  limited  liability
company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").


                              W I T N E S S E T H

      WHEREAS,  on May  11,  1999,  the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Company
authorized  and  declared a dividend  distribution  of one right  (hereinafter
referred to as a "Right") for each share of Common Stock,  $1.00 par value per
share,  of the  Company  outstanding  at the close of business on May 25, 1999
(the  "Record  Date")  (other  than  shares of such  Common  Stock held in the
Company's  treasury on such date) and has authorized the issuance of one Right
in respect of each share of Common  Stock of the  Company  issued  between the
Record Date (whether  originally issued or issued from the Company's treasury)
and the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in Section 3 hereof),  each
Right  representing  the right to  purchase  one  one-hundredth  of a share of
Series B Junior  Preferred Stock of the Company having the rights,  powers and
preferences  set  forth in the form of  Certificate  of  Designation  attached
hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions  hereinafter
set forth (the "Rights");

      WHEREAS,  the  Company  desires  to appoint  the Rights  Agent to act as
provided herein, and the Rights Agent is willing to so act;

      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 hereinafter  defined)
who or which,  together  with all  Affiliates  (as  hereinafter  defined)  and
Associates (as hereinafter defined) of such Person,  without the prior written
approval  of a majority  of the Board of  Directors,  shall be the  Beneficial
Owner (as hereinafter  defined) of securities of the Company  constituting 20%
or more of the Voting  Power (as  hereinafter  defined)  of the Company or was
such a Beneficial Owner at any time after the date hereof, whether or not such
Person continues to be the Beneficial Owner of securities  representing 20% or
more of the Voting  Power of the  Company,  but shall not include the Company,
any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, any entity holding securities of the Company to the
extent organized, appointed or established by the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such  employee  benefit  plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as
the result of (i) an  acquisition  of Common  Stock by means of shares  issued
directly by the Company which increases the proportionate Voting Power of such


                                      1

<PAGE>

securities  beneficially  owned by such  Person  to 20% or more of the  Voting
Power,  where such  acquisition  is  approved  by a  majority  of the Board of
Directors;  provided,  however,  that such Person was not an Acquiring  Person
prior to such  acquisition of shares from the Company;  (ii) an acquisition of
voting  securities of the Company by the Company which, by reducing the amount
of such securities  outstanding,  increases the proportionate  Voting Power of
such securities beneficially owned by such Person to 20% or more of the Voting
Power;  provided,  however,  that if a Person becomes the Beneficial  Owner of
securities constituting 20% or more of the Voting Power by reason of purchases
by the Company and shall,  after such  purchases  by the  Company,  become the
Beneficial  Owner of any  additional  voting  securities of the Company (other
than  pursuant to a stock  dividend,  stock split,  capitalization  or similar
transaction  that  does  not  affect  the  percentage  of  voting   securities
beneficially owned by such person),  then such Person shall be deemed to be an
Acquiring Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a majority of the Board of
Directors  then in office  determines  in good  faith  that a Person who would
otherwise be an "Acquiring  Person," as defined pursuant to this Section 1(a),
has  become  such  inadvertently,  and such  Person  divests  as  promptly  as
practicable a sufficient  number of shares of voting securities of the Company
so that such Person would no longer be an Acquiring  Person,  then such Person
shall  not  be  deemed  to be an  "Acquiring  Person"  for  purposes  of  this
Agreement.

      (b)   "Affiliate"  and  "Associate"  shall have the respective  meanings
ascribed  to such terms in Rule  l2b-2 of the  General  Rules and  Regulations
under 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;

            (ii)  which  such  Person or any of such  Person's  Affiliates  or

Associates  has (A) the right to acquire  (whether  such right is  exercisable
immediately  or only after the  passage of time)  pursuant  to any  agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements 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 these Rights),  warrants or options, or otherwise,
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of
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 payment or exchange;  or (B) the
right  to  vote  pursuant  to any  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding,
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of
any  security  under  this  clause  (B)  if  the  agreement,   arrangement  or
understanding to vote such securities (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy
or consent  given in response to a public proxy or consent  solicitation  made
pursuant to, and in accordance  with, the applicable  rules and regulations of
the  Exchange  Act and (2) is not  also  then  reportable  by such  person  on
Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any  comparable or successor  report);
or


                                      2

<PAGE>

            (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other  Person with which such  Person or any of such  Person's  Affiliates  or
Associates  has  any  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding  (other  than
customary  agreements 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 (except pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as
described  in  clause  (B) of  subparagraph  (ii)  of this  paragraph  (c)) 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 both the  States of Idaho and New
York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

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

      (f)   "Common  Stock" shall mean the Common  Stock,  $1.00 par value per
share, of the Company,  except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to
any  Person  other than the  Company  shall  mean the  capital  stock with the
greatest Voting Power of such Person or the equity  securities or other equity
interest  having power to control or direct the  management of such Person or,
if such Person is a Subsidiary (as hereinafter  defined) of another Person, of
the Person which ultimately controls such first-mentioned Person and which has
issued  and  outstanding  such  capital  stock,  equity  securities  or equity
interests.

      (g)   "Common  Stock  Equivalent"  shall have the  meaning  set forth in
Section 11(c) hereof.

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

      (i)   "Distribution  Date" shall have the  meaning  defined in Section 3
hereof.

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

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

      (l)   "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a)
hereof.

      (m)   "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
hereof.

      (n)   "Final  Expiration  Date"  shall  have the  meaning  set  forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.

      (o)   "Number of Adjustment  Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b) hereof.


                                      3

<PAGE>

      (p)   "Person"   shall   mean   any   individual,   firm,   corporation,
partnership,  limited liability company or other entity, and shall include any
successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such entity.

      (q)   "Preferred  Stock" shall mean the Series B Junior Preferred Stock,
$1.00 par value per share, of the Company.

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

      (s)   "Purchase  Price"  shall  have the  meaning  defined  in Section 4
hereof.

      (t)   "Record  Date"  shall  have the  meaning  set  forth in the  first
WHEREAS clause at the beginning of the Agreement.

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

      (v)   "Registrar"  shall  have the  meaning  set forth in  Section  5(a)
hereof.

      (w)   "Right" or "Rights"  shall have the meaning set forth in the first
WHEREAS clause at the beginning of the Agreement.

      (x)   "Right  Certificate"  shall have the  meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.

      (y)   "Securities  Act" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(c)
hereof.

      (z)   "Security"  shall  have the  meaning  set forth in  Section  11(f)
hereof.

      (aa)  "Stock  Acquisition  Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the first
date of public  announcement  by the  Company or an  Acquiring  Person that an
Acquiring  Person has become such, or (ii) the date on which the Company first
has notice,  direct or  indirect,  or otherwise  determines  that a Person has
become an Acquiring Person.

      (bb)  "Subsidiary"  shall mean any  corporation or other entity of which
the securities or other ownership  interests  having ordinary Voting Power, in
the absence of contingencies, to elect a majority of the board of directors or
other  persons  performing  similar  functions  are at the  time  directly  or
indirectly  owned by another  corporation  or other  entity and shall  include
Subsidiaries  of  Subsidiaries,   except  that  "Subsidiary"  when  used  with
reference to the Company shall mean any  corporation  or other entity of which
either a majority of the Voting  Power of the voting  equity  securities  or a
majority of the equity  interests  is owned,  directly or  indirectly,  by the
Company.

      (cc)  "Summary  of Rights"  shall have the  meaning set forth in Section
3(b) hereof.

      (dd)  "Trading  Day" shall have the meaning  set forth in Section  11(f)
hereof.


                                      4

<PAGE>

      (ee)  "Voting  Power" shall mean the Voting Power of all securities of a
Person  then  outstanding  generally  entitled  to vote  for the  election  of
directors of the Person (or,  where  appropriate,  for the election of persons
performing similar functions).

      SECTION 2.  APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT.

      The Company  hereby  appoints  the Rights  Agent to act as agent for the
Company in accordance  with the terms and  conditions  hereof,  and the Rights
Agent  hereby  accepts  such  appointment.  The  Company may from time to time
appoint such Co-Rights  Agents as it may deem  necessary or desirable.  In the
event the Company appoints one or more Co-Rights Agents, the respective duties
of the Rights Agent and any  Co-Rights  Agents  shall be as the Company  shall
determine.  The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise,  and in no event
shall be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.

      SECTION 3.  ISSUE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES.

      (a)   Until  the  earlier  of (i) the  Close of  Business  on the  tenth
Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the Close of Business on
the tenth business day (or such later date as may be determined by action of a
majority of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring  Person)  after the date of the  commencement  of,  or first  public
announcement  of the  intent  of any  Person  (other  than  the  Company,  any
Subsidiary of the Company,  any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company,  or any entity holding securities of the Company to
the  extent  organized,  appointed  or  established  by  the  Company  or  any
Subsidiary  of the Company  for or pursuant to the terms of any such  employee
benefit plan) to commence (which  intention to commence  remains in effect for
five  Business  Days  after  such  announcement),  without  the prior  written
approval of a majority of the Board of Directors,  a tender or exchange  offer
which would result in any Person  becoming the Beneficial  Owner of securities
representing  20% or more of the Voting  Power 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  being  herein  referred to as the
"Distribution  Date"):  (x) the  Rights  will  be  evidenced  (subject  to the
provisions  of paragraph  (b) of this Section 3) by the  certificates  for the
Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which
certificates  for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be Right  Certificates)
and not by separate Right Certificates, as more fully set forth below, and (y)
the  Rights  (and  the  right  to  receive  certificates   therefor)  will  be
transferable  only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of
Common Stock, as more fully set forth below. As soon as practicable  after the
Company has notified the Rights Agent of the  occurrence  of the  Distribution
Date,  the Company  shall  prepare  and  execute,  and the Rights  Agent shall
countersign  and send,  once provided with all  necessary  information  at the
expense of the Company, by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each
record  holder  of  the  Common  Stock  as of the  Close  of  Business  on the
Distribution  Date,  at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company,  a right  certificate,  in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto
(the "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock


                                      5

<PAGE>

so held. As of and after the  Distribution  Date, the Rights will be evidenced
solely by such Right Certificates.

      (b)   On the  Record  Date  or as soon as  practicable  thereafter,  the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase  Preferred  Stock,
in  substantially  the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"),  by
first-class postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as
of the Close of  Business  on the Record  Date,  at the address of such holder
shown on the records of the  Company.  With  respect to  certificates  for the
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date until the Distribution Date (or
the earlier  redemption,  exchange,  expiration or termination of the Rights),
the  Rights  will be  evidenced  by such  certificates  for the  Common  Stock
registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock and the  registered
holders of the Common Stock shall also be registered holders of the associated
Rights.  Until the  Distribution  Date (or the earlier  redemption,  exchange,
expiration or termination of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any of
the certificates  for the Common Stock  outstanding in respect of which Rights
have been  issued  (with or without a copy of the  Summary of Rights  attached
thereto) shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights  associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate.

      (c)   Certificates for the Common Stock issued after the Record Date but
prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the redemption, expiration or
termination of the Rights shall be deemed also to be  certificates  for Rights
and shall have impressed,  printed or written on, or otherwise affixed to them
the following legend:

      This  certificate  also  evidences  and  entitles  the holder  hereof to
      certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement  between Coeur d'Alene
      Mines Corporation (the "Company") and ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services
      L.L.C., as the Rights Agent, the terms of which are 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 promptly following receipt of a written request therefor.
      Under  certain  circumstances,  Rights  beneficially  owned by Acquiring
      Persons (as defined in the Rights  Agreement) and any subsequent  holder
      of such Rights, may become null and void and no longer transferable.

      With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until
the  Distribution  Date (or the earlier  redemption,  exchange,  expiration or
termination  of the  Rights),  the Rights  associated  with the  Common  Stock
represented  by such  certificates  shall be  evidenced  by such  certificates
alone, and the surrender for transfer of any of such  certificates  shall also
constitute  the  transfer  of the  Rights  associated  with the  Common  Stock
represented by such certificates.

      In the event that the Company  purchases  or acquires  any Common  Stock
after  the  Record  Date  but  prior  to the  Distribution  Date,  any  Rights
associated with such Common Stock shall be deemed canceled and retired so that
the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the


                                      6

<PAGE>

Common Stock which are no longer  outstanding.  Upon reissuance of such Common
Stock by the Company prior to the  Distribution  Date (or earlier  redemption,
exchange,  expiration or  termination  of the Rights),  the Rights shall again
attach to such Common Stock as set forth in this Section 3(c).

      SECTION 4.  FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES.

      (a)   The Right  Certificates  (and the forms of  election  to  purchase
shares and of  assignment  to be printed on the reverse  thereof)  shall be in
substantially  the same form 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,  which do not affect the
duties or  responsibilities  of the Rights  Agent and as are not  inconsistent
with the  provisions of this  Agreement,  or as may be required to comply with
any  applicable  law, rule or regulation or with any rule or regulation of any
stock  exchange  on which the Rights  may from time to time be  listed,  or to
conform  to  customary  usage.  Subject  to the  provisions  of Section 11 and
Section 22 hereof, the Right Certificates,  whenever issued, shall be dated as
of the Record  Date,  and on their face shall  entitle the holders  thereof to
purchase such number of one  one-hundredths  of a share of Preferred  Stock as
shall be set forth  therein at the price per one  one-hundredth  of a share as
set forth therein (the  "Purchase  Price"),  but the number of such shares and
the Purchase  Price shall be and remain  subject to  adjustment as provided in
Sections 11 and 13 hereof.

      (b)   Any Right Certificate  issued pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof that
represents  Rights  as to  which  an  Acquiring  Person  or any  Associate  or
Affiliate thereof is the Beneficial Owner and any Right Certificate  issued at
any time  upon the  transfer  of any  Rights  to an  Acquiring  Person  or any
Associate or  Affiliate  thereof or to any nominee of such  Acquiring  Person,
Associate or Affiliate, and any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6
hereof,  Section  11 hereof or  Section  22 hereof  upon  transfer,  exchange,
replacement or adjustment of any other Right  Certificate  referred to in this
sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:

      The Rights represented by this Right Certificate were issued to a Person
      who was an  Acquiring  Person  or an  Affiliate  or an  Associate  of an
      Acquiring  Person.  This Right  Certificate  and the Rights  represented
      hereby  may  become  null and  void in the  circumstances  specified  in
      Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.

The failure to print the foregoing legend on any such Right Certificate or any
defect therein shall not affect in any manner  whatsoever  the  application or
interpretation of the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof.

      SECTION 5.  COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION.

      (a)   The Right  Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by its  President  or any Vice  President,  either  manually  or by  facsimile
signature,  and shall have affixed  thereto the Company's  seal or a facsimile
thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary of
the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates


                                      7

<PAGE>

shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for
any purpose unless so countersigned.  In case any officer of the Company whose
manual or facsimile signature is affixed to 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,  issued and delivered
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.  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  Rights  Agreement  any  such  Person  was not such an
officer.

      (b)   Following the Distribution Date and receipt by the Rights Agent of
all  necessary  information,  the Rights  Agent will keep or cause to be kept,
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, the certificate number of 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.

      Subject to the  provisions  of Section 14 hereof,  at any time after the
Close of Business on the  Distribution  Date,  and at or prior to the Close of
Business  on the  Expiration  Date (as such term is defined  in  Section  7(a)
hereof),  any Right Certificate or Certificates (other than Right Certificates
representing Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof) 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  shares  of  Preferred  Stock  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 principal  office of the
Rights Agent. Thereupon, the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the
Person entitled  thereto a Right  Certificate or Rights  Certificates,  as the
case may be,  as so  requested.  The  Company  may  require  payment  of a sum
sufficient  to cover any tax or  governmental  charge  that may be  imposed in
connection  with any  transfer,  split up,  combination  or  exchange of Right
Certificates.

      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 the Company and the Rights  Agent,  and
reimbursement  to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable  expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right  Certificate  if mutilated,  the Company will make and deliver a new
Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for  countersignature  and


                                      8

<PAGE>

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.

      (a)   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
duly  executed,  to the  Rights  Agent  at the  office  of  the  Rights  Agent
designated  for such purpose  together with payment of the Purchase  Price for
each one  one-hundredth  of a share of Preferred  Stock as to which the Rights
are exercised,  at or prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) May
24, 2009 (the "Final Expiration Date"),  (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed  as  provided  in Section  23 hereof,  or (iii) the time at which the
Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof (such earlier date being
herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").

      (b)   The  Purchase  Price  for  each  one  one-hundredth  of a share of
Preferred  Stock  pursuant  to the  exercise  of a Right  shall  initially  be
$100.00,  subject to  adjustment  from time to time as provided in Sections 11
and 13 hereof,  and shall be payable in lawful  money of the United  States of
America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.

      (c)   Upon receipt of a Right Certificate,  with the form of election to
purchase duly and properly  executed,  accompanied  by payment of the Purchase
Price for each one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased
and an amount equal to any applicable tax or charge required to be paid by the
holder of the Rights  pursuant  hereto in accordance  with Section 9 hereof in
cash,  or by  certified  check  or money  order  payable  to the  order of the
Company,  the Rights Agent shall,  subject to Section 20(k) hereof,  thereupon
promptly (i) either (A)  requisition  from any transfer agent of the shares of
Preferred  Stock  (or make  available,  if the  Rights  Agent is the  transfer
agent),  certificates  for the  number  of  shares  of  Preferred  Stock to be
purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably  authorizes its transfer agent to
comply with all such requests,  or (B) if the Company, in its sole discretion,
shall have  elected to deposit the shares of  Preferred  Stock  issuable  upon
exercise  of the Rights  hereunder  into a  depositary,  requisition  from the
depositary  agent  depositary   receipts   representing  such  number  of  one
one-hundredths  of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which
case  certificates  for the  shares of  Preferred  Stock  represented  by such
receipts shall be deposited by the transfer  agent with the depositary  agent)
and the Company hereby  irrevocably  authorizes the depositary agent to comply
with all such requests,  (ii) when  appropriate,  requisition from the Company
the  amount of cash to be paid in lieu of  issuance  of  fractional  shares in
accordance  with  Section  14 hereof,  (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 be  designated  by such  holder,  and  (iv)  when
appropriate,  after receipt, promptly deliver such cash in lieu of issuance of
fractional  shares to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right
Certificate.  The Rights  Agent  shall have no duty or  obligation  under this
Section  unless and until it is satisfied  that all such taxes and/or  charges
have been paid.


                                      9

<PAGE>

      (d)   In case the  registered  holder  of any  Right  Certificate  shall
exercise  less  than  all  of  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 hereof.

      (e)   Notwithstanding  anything in this Agreement to the contrary,  upon
the  occurrence  of any of the events  listed in  Section  11(b) or in Section
13(a)  hereof,  any Rights of which an  Acquiring  Person or any  Associate or
Affiliate of the Acquiring  Person was the Beneficial  Owner at any time on or
after the earlier of the Stock Acquisition Date or the Distribution Date shall
become null and void with respect to the rights  provided  under Section 11(b)
and Section 13(a) hereof and any holder of such Rights shall  thereafter  have
no right to exercise  such rights under the  provisions  of Section  11(b) and
Section 13(a).

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

      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 in canceled
form,  or, if  surrendered  to the Rights Agent in uncanceled  form,  shall be
canceled by the Rights  Agent,  and no Right  Certificates  shall be issued in
lieu thereof  except as expressly  permitted by any of the  provisions of this
Rights  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 SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK.

      (a)   The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved
and kept  available  out of its  authorized  and unissued  shares of Preferred
Stock or its authorized and issued shares of Preferred Stock held in treasury,
the number of shares of Preferred  Stock that will be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all  outstanding  Rights and,  after the  occurrence of an
event specified in Section 11(b) hereof, shall so reserve and keep available a


                                      10

<PAGE>

sufficient  number of shares of  Preferred  Stock,  Common  Stock and/or other
securities  which may be required to permit the exercise in full of the Rights
pursuant to this Agreement.

      (b)   The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred  Stock 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 shares or securities.

      (c)   The  Company  shall use its best  efforts to (i) file,  as soon as
practicable following the first occurrence of an event which (with the passage
of the  prescribed  time  periods  set forth in  Section  3(a)  hereof)  would
establish the  Distribution  Date, a registration  statement on an appropriate
form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with
respect to the securities  purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, (ii) cause
such  registration  statement to become effective as soon as practicable after
such filing,  and (iii) cause such registration  statement to remain effective
(with a prospectus at all times  meeting the  requirements  of the  Securities
Act) until the date of the  expiration  of the Rights.  The Company  will also
take such action as may be appropriate  under the Blue Sky laws of the various
states.

      (d)   The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable  any and all  transfer  taxes and charges  which may be payable in
respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any shares
of Preferred Stock and/or other  securities  upon the exercise of Rights.  The
Company shall not, however,  be required to pay any tax or charge which may be
payable in respect of any  transfer  involved  in the  transfer or delivery of
Right  Certificates  or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary
receipts for Preferred Stock and/or other securities in a name other than that
of  the  registered  holder  of  the  Right   Certificate   evidencing  Rights
surrendered  for  exercise,  nor shall the  Company  be  required  to issue or
deliver any certificates or depositary  receipts for shares of Preferred Stock
and/or other  securities upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax or
charge  shall  have been paid (any  such tax or charge  being  payable  by the
holder  of such  Right  Certificate  at the time of  surrender)  or until  the
Company has established to its satisfaction that no such tax or charge is due.

      SECTION 10. PREFERRED STOCK RECORD DATE.

      Each Person (other than the Company) in whose name any  certificate  for
shares of Preferred Stock (or other securities) is issued upon the exercise of
Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of
the Preferred  Stock (or other  securities)  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 or charges) was made;  provided,  however,
that if the date of such  surrender  and  payment  is a date  upon  which  the
Preferred  Stock (or  other  securities)  transfer  books of the  Company  are
closed,  such Person shall be deemed to have become the record  holder of such
shares on, and such certificate  shall be dated, the next succeeding  Business
Day on which the Preferred Stock (or other  securities)  transfer books of the


                                      11

<PAGE>

Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced  thereby,  the
holder  as a Right  Certificate  shall  not be  entitled  to any  rights  of a
stockholder  of the Company  with respect to shares for which the Rights shall
be exercisable,  including,  without limitation, the right to vote, to receive
dividends or other  distributions  or to exercise any preemptive  rights,  and
shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company,
except as provided herein.

      SECTION 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE,  NUMBER OF SHARES OR NUMBER OF
                  RIGHTS.

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

      (a)   In the event the Company  shall at any time after the date of this
Agreement (ii) declare a dividend on the Preferred  Stock payable in shares of
Preferred Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (iii) combine
the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issue
any shares of its capital stock in a  reclassification  of the Preferred Stock
(including any such  reclassification  in connection with a  consolidation  or
merger in which the  Company  is the  continuing  or  surviving  corporation),
except as otherwise  provided in this Section 11, the Purchase Price in effect
at the time of the record date for such  dividend or the time of the effective
date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification,  and the number and
kind of shares of capital  stock,  including  Preferred  Stock,  issuable upon
exercise of a Right, shall be  proportionately  adjusted so that the holder of
any Right exercised  after such time,  upon payment of the aggregate  Purchase
Price such holder would have to pay to exercise such Right prior to such time,
shall be  entitled  to  receive  the  aggregate  number  and kind of shares of
capital  stock,  including  Preferred  Stock,  which,  if such  Right had been
exercised  immediately  prior to such  date and at a time  when the  Preferred
Stock  transfer  books of the Company were open,  such holder would have owned
upon such  exercise and been  entitled to receive by virtue of such  dividend,
subdivision, combination or reclassification.

      (b)   In the event any Person  shall become an  Acquiring  Person,  then
proper  provision  shall be made so that each  holder of a Right,  subject  to
Section  7(e) and  except  as  provided  below,  shall  after the later of the
occurrence of such event and the effective date of an appropriate registration
statement pursuant to Section 9 hereof, have a right to receive, upon exercise
thereof at the then current  Purchase  Price in  accordance  with the terms of
this Agreement, in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of
Common  Stock of the  Company  as  shall  equal  the  result  obtained  by (x)
multiplying   the  then   current   Purchase   Price  by  the  number  of  one
one-hundredths  of a share  of  Preferred  Stock  for  which  a Right  is then
exercisable  and dividing that product by (y) 50% of the Current  Market Price
per one share of Common Stock (determined  pursuant to Section 11(f) hereof on
the  date of the  occurrence  of any one of the  events  listed  above in this
subparagraph  (b)) (such number of shares being  referred to as the "Number of
Adjustment Shares").

      (c)   In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares in treasury
or  authorized  but unissued  shares of Common Stock to permit the exercise in
full of the Rights in  accordance  with the  foregoing  Section  11(b) and the


                                      12

<PAGE>

Rights  become so  exercisable,  notwithstanding  any other  provision of this
Agreement,  to the extent  necessary and  permitted by applicable  law and any
agreements in effect on the date hereof to which the Company is a party,  each
Right shall thereafter  represent the right to receive,  upon exercise thereof
at the then  current  Purchase  Price  in  accordance  with the  terms of this
Agreement, a number of shares, or unit of shares, of (x) Common Stock, and (y)
any class or series of  preferred  stock (or other equity  securities)  of the
Company, including, but not limited to Preferred Stock, equal in the aggregate
to the Number of Adjustment  Shares where the Board of Directors shall have in
good faith deemed such shares or units, other than the shares of Common Stock,
to have at least the same  value and  voting  rights  as the  Common  Stock (a
"Common  Stock  Equivalent");  provided  however,  if  there  are  unavailable
sufficient shares (or fractions of shares) of Common Stock and/or Common Stock
Equivalents,  then the Company  shall take all such action as may be necessary
to authorize additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents for
issuance  upon  exercise of the Rights,  including the calling of a meeting of
stockholders;  and provided,  further,  that if the Company is unable to cause
sufficient  shares of Common  Stock  and/or  Common  Stock  Equivalents  to be
available for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights,  then the Company,
to the extent necessary and permitted by applicable law, and any agreements or
instruments  in effect on the date thereof to which it is a party,  shall make
provision  to pay an amount  in cash  equal to twice  the  Purchase  Price (as
adjusted  pursuant to this  Section  11), in lieu of issuing  shares of Common
Stock  and/or  Common  Stock  Equivalents.  To the  extent  that  the  Company
determines  that some action needs to be taken pursuant to this Section 11(c),
a majority of the Board of  Directors  may suspend the  exercisability  of the
Rights for a period of up to sixty (60) days  following  the date on which the
event  described  in Section  11(b) hereof  shall have  occurred,  in order to
decide  the  appropriate  form of  distribution  to be made  pursuant  to this
Section  11(c) and to determine  the value  thereof.  In the event of any such
suspension,  the Company  shall issue a public  announcement  stating that the
exercisability  of the Rights  has been  temporarily  suspended.  The Board of
Directors may, but shall not be required to, establish  procedures to allocate
the right to receive Common Stock and Common Stock  Equivalents  upon exercise
of the Rights among holders of Rights,  which such  allocation  may be, but is
not required to be, pro rata.

      (d)   If the Company  shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights
or warrants to all holders of  Preferred  Stock  entitling  them (for a period
expiring  within 90 calendar  days after such record date) to subscribe for or
purchase  Preferred  Stock (or  securities  having the same or more  favorable
rights,  privileges  and  preferences  as  the  Preferred  Stock  ("Equivalent
Preferred   Stock"))  or  securities   convertible  into  Preferred  Stock  or
Equivalent  Preferred  Stock, at a subscription or purchase price per share of
Preferred  Stock  or per  share of  Equivalent  Preferred  Stock  or  having a
conversion  price per share,  as the case may be, less than the Current Market
Price per share of  Preferred  Stock (as defined in Section  11(f)  hereof) on
such record date,  the  Purchase  Price to be in effect after such record date
shall be determined by multiplying  the Purchase  Price in effect  immediately
prior to such date by a fraction,  the  numerator of which shall be the number
of shares of Preferred  Stock  outstanding on such record date plus the number
of shares of  Preferred  Stock which the  aggregate  subscription  or purchase
price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred
Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion  price  of  the  convertible   securities  so  to  be  offered  for


                                      13

<PAGE>

subscription or purchase) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the
denominator  of  which  shall be the  number  of  shares  of  Preferred  Stock
outstanding  on such  record  date  plus the  number of  additional  shares of
Preferred  Stock  and/or   Equivalent   Preferred  Stock  to  be  offered  for
subscription  or purchase (or into which the  convertible  securities so to be
offered are  initially  convertible).  In case such  subscription  or purchase
price (and/or the conversion price of convertible securities) may be paid in a
consideration,  part or all of which  shall be in a form other than cash,  the
value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by a majority
of the  Board  of  Directors,  whose  determination  shall be  described  in a
statement  filed with the Rights Agent.  Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or
held for the account of the Company  shall not be deemed  outstanding  for the
purpose of any such  computation.  Such adjustment shall be made  successively
whenever  such a record  date is fixed;  and in the event that such  rights or
warrants  are not so issued,  the  Purchase  Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase  Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.

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

      (f)   (i)   For the purpose of any  computation  hereunder, the "Current
Market  Price" of any  security (a  "Security"  for  purposes of this  Section
11(f)(i))  on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily  closing
prices per share of such  Security  for the 30  consecutive  Trading  Days (as
hereinafter  defined)  immediately  prior to,  but not  including,  such date;
provided,  however,  that in the event that the Current Market Price per share
of such Security is determined  during a period  following the announcement by
the issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Security
payable in shares of such  Security or securities  convertible  into shares of
such Security or (B) any subdivision,  combination or reclassification of such
Security,  and prior to the  expiration  of 30  Trading  Days  after,  but not
including,  the  ex-dividend  date for such  dividend or  distribution  or the
record date for such subdivision,  combination or reclassification,  then, and


                                      14

<PAGE>

in each such case, the "Current Market Price" shall be appropriately  adjusted
to reflect the Current Market Price per share equivalent of such Security. The
closing  price for each day shall be the last sale price,  regular way, or, in
case no such sale takes place on such day,  the average of the closing bid and
asked  prices,  regular  way,  in either  case as  reported  in the  principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock  Exchange or, if the Security is not
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock  Exchange,  as reported in
the  principal  consolidated  transaction  reporting  system  with  respect to
securities listed on the principal national  securities  exchange on which the
Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange,  the last transaction
price as reported by the NASDAQ  National  Market or, if not so reported,  the
average of the high bid and low asked prices in the  over-the-counter  market,
as reported by the NASDAQ  Stock  Market or such other system then in use, or,
if on any such date the Security is not reported by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked  prices as  furnished  by a  professional
market maker in the Security selected by a majority of the Board of Directors.
If on any such date no market  maker is making a market in the  Security,  the
fair  value of such  Security  on such date as  determined  in good faith by a
majority of the Board of Directors shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall
mean a day on which the principal  national  securities  exchange on which the
Security  is listed or  admitted  to  trading is open for the  transaction  of
business  or, if the  Security  is not  listed or  admitted  to trading on any
national securities  exchange, a Business Day. If the Security is not publicly
held or not so listed or traded,  "Current  Market  Price" shall mean the fair
value as  determined  in good faith by a majority  of the Board of  Directors,
whose  determination  shall be described in a statement  filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.

            (ii)  For the purposes of any computation hereunder,  the "Current
Market Price" per share (or one  one-hundredth  of a share) of Preferred Stock
shall be determined in the same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock
in clause (i) of this Section 11(f) (other than the last sentence thereof). If
the  Current  Market  Price  per share  (or one  one-hundredth  of a share) of
Preferred  Stock cannot be determined in the manner  provided  above or if the
Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described
in clause (i) of this Section 11(f),  the "Current  Market Price" per share of
Preferred Stock shall be conclusively  deemed to be an amount equal to 100 (as
such number may be  appropriately  adjusted  for such events as stock  splits,
stock  dividends  and  recapitalizations  with  respect  to the  Common  Stock
occurring after the date of this  Agreement)  multiplied by the Current Market
Price per share of the Common  Stock and the  "Current  Market  Price" per one
one-hundredth  of a share of  Preferred  Stock  shall be equal to the  Current
Market Price per share of the Common  Stock (as  appropriately  adjusted).  If
neither the Common Stock or the Preferred  Stock is publicly held or so listed
or traded,  "Current  Market  Price"  per share  shall mean the fair value per
share  as  determined  in  good  faith  by  the  Board  of  Directors,   whose
determination  shall be described  in a statement  filed with the Rights Agent
and shall be conclusive for all purposes.

      (g)   Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding,  no adjustment in
the Purchase Price shall be required unless such  adjustment  would require an
increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase Price; provided,  however,


                                      15

<PAGE>

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

      (h)   In the event that at any time, as a result of an  adjustment  made
pursuant  to Section  11(a) or (b)  hereof,  the holder of any Right  shall be
entitled to receive upon exercise of such Right any shares of capital stock of
the Company  other than shares of Preferred  Stock,  thereafter  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 shares  contained in Section
11(a) through (e) hereof,  inclusive,  and the provisions of Section 7, 9, 10,
13 and 14 hereof with respect to the shares of Preferred  Stock shall apply on
like terms to any such other shares.

      (i)   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 shares of Preferred
Stock or other  capital  stock of the  Company  purchasable  from time to time
hereunder  upon exercise of the Rights,  all subject to further  adjustment of
the Purchase Price.

      (j)   Unless the Company  shall have  exercised its election as provided
in Section  11(k)  hereof,  upon each  adjustment  of the Purchase  Price as a
result of the  calculations  made in Section 11(d) and (e) hereof,  each Right
outstanding   immediately  prior  to  the  making  of  such  adjustment  shall
thereafter  evidence the right to purchase,  at the adjusted  Purchase  Price,
that number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to
the nearest ten-thousandth)  obtained by (i) multiplying (A) the number of one
one-hundredths  of a share of Preferred  Stock covered by a Right  immediately
prior to the adjustment by (B) 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.

      (k)   The  Company may elect on or after the date of any  adjustment  of
the Purchase  Price to adjust the number of Rights,  in  substitution  for any
adjustment  in the number of shares of Preferred  Stock  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 share of Preferred Stock for which such Right was exercisable immediately
prior to such  adjustment.  Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment
of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights  (calculated to the
nearest  ten-thousandth)  obtained by dividing  the  Purchase  Price in effect
immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in
effect  immediately  after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall
make a public  announcement  of its  election  to adjust the number of Rights,
indicating the record date for the adjustment,  and, if known at the time, the
amount of the  adjustment to be made with prompt notice  thereof to the Rights


                                      16

<PAGE>

Agent.  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  10  days  later  than  the  date  of the  public
announcement. If the Right Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment
of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(k),  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 the Rights to which such holders shall be
entitled after such adjustment.  Right Certificates to be so distributed shall
be issued,  executed and  countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and
may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall
be registered in the names of the holders of record of Right  Certificates  on
the record date specified in the public announcement.

      (l)   Irrespective  of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of shares of  Preferred  Stock  issuable  upon the  exercise of the
Rights, the Right Certificates  theretofore and thereafter issued may continue
to express the Purchase Price and the number of shares which were expressed in
the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.

      (m)   Before taking any action that would cause an  adjustment  reducing
the Purchase  Price below the then par value,  if any, of the shares of Common
Stock or other  securities and below one  one-hundredth of the then par value,
if any, of the Preferred  Stock,  issuable  upon  exercise of the Rights,  the
Company  shall take any  corporate  action  which may,  in the  opinion of its
counsel,  be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue
fully paid and nonassessable  shares of such Preferred Stock,  Common Stock or
other securities at such adjusted  Purchase Price. If upon any exercise of the
Rights,  a holder is to receive a combination of Common Stock and Common Stock
Equivalents,  a portion of the consideration paid upon such exercise, equal to
at least the then par value of a share of Common Stock of the  Company,  shall
be  allocated  as the payment for each share of Common Stock of the Company so
received.

      (n)   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 with prompt notice thereof to
the Rights Agent until the  occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder
of any Right  exercised  after such record date the shares of Preferred  Stock
and other capital stock or  securities of the Company,  if any,  issuable upon
such exercise  over and above the shares of Preferred  Stock and other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the
basis of the  Purchase  Price in effect  prior to such  adjustment;  provided,
however,  that the  Company  shall  deliver to such holder a due bill or other
appropriate   instrument  evidencing  such  holder's  right  to  receive  such
additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.


                                      17

<PAGE>

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

      (p)   The  Company  covenants  and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the  Distribution  Date and so long as the Rights have not been redeemed
pursuant to Section 23 hereof or exchanged  pursuant to Section 24 hereof, (i)
consolidate  with, (ii) merge with or into, or (iii) sell or transfer,  in one
or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to,  any  other  Person,   if  at  the  time  of  or  immediately  after  such
consolidation,  merger  or  sale  there  are any  rights,  warrants  or  other
instruments  or  securities  outstanding  or  agreements in effect which would
substantially  diminish or otherwise  eliminate  the  benefits  intended to be
afforded by the Rights.

      (q)   The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Stock Acquisition
Date,  it will not,  except as  permitted  by  Section 23 hereof or Section 24
hereof,  take any  action  the  purpose  or  effect  of  which is to  diminish
substantially or otherwise  eliminate the benefits  intended to be afforded by
the Rights.

      SECTION 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF SHARES.

      Whenever an  adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 or 13 hereof,
the  Company  shall (a)  promptly  prepare a  certificate  setting  forth such
adjustment, and a brief statement of the facts and computations accounting for
such  adjustment,  (b)  promptly  file  with the  Rights  Agent  and with each
transfer  agent for the  Preferred  Stock and the Common  Stock a copy of such
certificate  and (c) mail a brief  summary  thereof to each  holder of a Right
Certificate  in accordance  with Section 26 hereof.  The Rights Agent shall be
fully  protected  in relying on any such  certificate  and on any  adjustments
therein  contained and shall not be obligated or responsible  for  calculating
any  adjustment nor shall the Rights Agent shall have any duty with respect to
and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment  unless and until
the Rights Agent shall have received such certificate.

      SECTION 13. CONSOLIDATION,  MERGER  OR SALE OR  TRANSFER  OF  ASSETS  OR
                  EARNING POWER.

      (a)   In  the  event  that,   directly  or  indirectly,   following  the
Distribution  Date, (x) the Company shall  consolidate with, or merge with and
into, any other Person,  (y) any Person shall  consolidate  with or merge with
and into the surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such


                                      18

<PAGE>

merger, all or part of the Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for
stock or other  securities of any other Person or cash or any other  property,
or (z) the Company  shall sell,  or otherwise  transfer (or one or more of its
Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise  transfer),  in one or more transactions,
assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power
of the Company  and its  Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to any other  Person
other than to the  Company or one or more of its  wholly  owned  Subsidiaries,
then, and in each such case,  proper  provision shall be made so that (i) each
holder of a Right, subject to Section 7(e), 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,  in lieu of Preferred Stock, such
number of shares of freely  tradable  Common Stock of the Principal  Party (as
hereinafter  defined),  free  and  clear  of  liens,  rights  of call or first
refusal, encumbrances or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result
obtained by (A) multiplying  the then current  Purchase Price by the number of
one  one-hundredths  of a share of  Preferred  Stock for which a Right is then
exercisable  and dividing that product by (B) 50% of the Current  Market Price
per share of the  Common  Stock of such  Principal  Party  (determined  in the
manner  described in Section 11(f) hereof) on the date of consummation of such
consolidation,  merger,  sale or  transfer;  (ii) the  Principal  Party  shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume,  by virtue of such  consolidation,
merger,  sale or  transfer,  all the  obligations  and  duties of the  Company
pursuant to this  Agreement;  (iii) the term  "Company"  shall  thereafter  be
deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being  specifically  intended that
the  provisions  of Section 11 hereof,  except for the  provisions  of Section
11(b),  shall apply to such Principal  Party;  and (iv) such  Principal  Party
shall take such steps  (including,  but not limited to, the  authorization and
reservation  of a  sufficient  number of shares of its Common  Stock to permit
exercise of all  outstanding  Rights in accordance with this Section 13(a)) 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 the shares of its Common Stock thereafter  deliverable upon
the exercise of the Rights.

      (b)   "Principal Party" shall mean"

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

            (ii)  in the case of any  transaction  described  in clause (z) of
the first  sentence  of Section  13(a)  hereof,  the Person  that is the party
receiving  the  greatest  portion of the assets or earning  power  transferred
pursuant to such transaction or transactions;  provided,  however, that in any
case described in clause (i) or (ii) in this Section 13(b),  (x) if the Common
Stock of such  Person is not at such time and has not been  continuously  over
the preceding 12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act,
and such Person is a direct or indirect  Subsidiary  or  Affiliate  of another
Person,  "Principal  Party"  shall refer to  whichever  of such Persons is the
issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest  market value,  and (z) in case


                                      19

<PAGE>

such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two
or more  Persons  that are not  owned,  directly  or  indirectly,  by the same
Person,  the rules set forth in (x) and (y) above  shall  apply to each of the
chains of ownership  having an interest in such joint venture as if such party
were a "Subsidiary"  of both or all of such joint  venturers and the Principal
Parties  in each  such  chain  shall  bear the  obligations  set forth in this
Section 13 in the same ratio as their  direct or  indirect  interests  in such
Person bear to the total of such interest.

      (c)   The Company shall not consummate any such  consolidation,  merger,
sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and each Principal Party and
each  other  Person  who may  become a  Principal  Party  as a result  of such
consolidation,  merger,  sale or transfer shall have executed and delivered to
the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further  providing that, as soon
as practicable after the date of any  consolidation,  merger or sale of assets
mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party will:

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

            (ii)  use its best  efforts to qualify or register  the Rights and
the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the Blue Sky laws
of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate; and

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

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

      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. In lieu of
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 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


                                      20

<PAGE>

system  with  respect to  securities  listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
the New  York  Stock  Exchange,  as  reported  in the  principal  consolidated
transaction  reporting  system  with  respect  to  securities  listed  on  the
principal  national  securities  exchange  on which the  Rights  are listed or
admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national  securities  exchange,  the last transaction price as reported by
the NASDAQ National  Market,  or, if not so reported,  the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the  over-the-counter  market,  as reported by the
NASDAQ  Stock  Market or such other system then in use or, if on any such date
the Rights  are not  reported  by any such  organization,  the  average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished  by a  professional  market maker in
the Rights  selected by a majority of the Board of  Directors.  If on any such
date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights,  the fair value of
the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by a majority of the Board
of Directors shall be used.

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

      (c)   Following  the  occurrence  of one of the  transactions  or events
specified  in Section  11 hereof  giving  rise to the right to receive  Common
Stock,  Common Stock  Equivalents  or other  securities  (other than Preferred
Stock)  upon the  exercise of a Right,  the  Company  shall not be required to
issue  fractions  of  shares  or  units of such  Common  Stock,  Common  Stock
Equivalents or other  securities  upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute
certificates  which evidence  fractional  shares of such Common Stock,  Common
Stock Equivalents or other  securities.  In lieu of fractional shares or units
of such Common  Stock,  Common  Stock  Equivalents  or other  securities,  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 a share or unit of such Common
Stock,  Common  Stock  Equivalent  or other  securities.  For purposes of this
Section 14(c),  the current market value shall be determined in the manner set


                                      21

<PAGE>

forth in Section 11(f)(i) hereof for the Trading Day immediately  prior to the
date of such exercise and, if such Common  Stock,  Common Stock  Equivalent or
other  securities  are not  traded,  each such  share or other  unit of Common
Stock, Common Stock Equivalent or other securities shall have the value of one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock.

      (d)   Except as  otherwise  expressly  provided in this  Section 14, the
holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights  expressly  waives his right
to receive any  fractional  Rights or any  fractional  share upon  exercise of
Rights.

      SECTION 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION.

      All rights of action in respect of this Agreement,  except for rights of
action  given to the  Rights  Agent  under this  Agreement,  are vested in the
respective  registered  holders of the Right  Certificates  (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, the registered holders of Common Stock); and any registered
holder of any Right  Certificate (or, prior to the  Distribution  Date, of the
Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any
other Right  Certificate  (or, prior to the  Distribution  Date, of the Common
Stock),  may,  on his own behalf  and for his own  benefit,  enforce,  and may
institute and maintain any suit,  action or proceeding  against the Company to
enforce,  or  otherwise  act in respect of, his right to  exercise  the Rights
evidenced  by such  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.
Holders of Rights  shall be  entitled  to  recover  the  reasonable  costs and
expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by them in any action to enforce
the provisions of this Agreement.

      SECTION 16. AGREEMENT OF 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 will be  transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;

      (b)   after  the   Distribution   Date,  the  Right   Certificates   are
transferable  only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office of the Rights Agent  designated for such purpose,  duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and

      (c)   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 Stock  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 Stock


                                      22

<PAGE>

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.

      SECTION 17. RIGHT CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER.

      No holder,  as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote,
receive  dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Preferred Stock,
Common Stock or any other  securities  of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained  herein or in any Right  Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Right  Certificate,  as such, any of the rights of a stockholder
of the Company or any right to vote for the  election of directors or upon any
matter  submitted  to  stockholders  at any  meeting  thereof,  or to  give or
withhold consent to any corporate  action, or to receive notice of meetings or
other  actions  affecting  stockholders  (except  as  provided  in  Section 25
hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription  rights, or otherwise,  until
the  Right or Rights  evidenced  by such  Right  Certificate  shall  have been
exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

      SECTION 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT.

      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, preparation, delivery, amendment
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,  damage,  judgment,  fine,
penalty, claim, demand,  settlement,  cost or expense (including the costs and
expenses of enforcing this right of  indemnification),  incurred without gross
negligence or bad faith, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction on
the part of the Rights Agent, for any action taken, suffered or omitted by the
Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance,  amendment and  administration
of this Agreement,  including  without  limitation,  the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability therefrom directly or indirectly. The
indemnity  provided for herein shall survive the  expiration of the Rights and
the termination of this Agreement.

      The Rights  Agent may  conclusively  rely upon and shall be  authorized,
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 Preferred
Stock,  Common Stock or for other  securities  of the Company,  instrument  of
assignment or transfer,  power of attorney,  endorsement,  affidavit,  letter,
notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed,  executed and, where necessary,
verified or  acknowledged,  by the proper  Person or Persons.  Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the Rights Agent
be liable for special,  punitive,  incidental loss,  indirect or consequential
loss or damage  of any kind  whatsoever  (including  but not  limited  to lost
profits),  even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such


                                      23

<PAGE>

loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action.  Any liability of the
Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement will be limited to the amount of fees
paid by the company to the Rights Agent.

      SECTION 19. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT.

      Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may
be merged or with which it may be  consolidated,  or any Person resulting from
any merger or  consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent shall be a party, or any Person  succeeding to the shareholder  services
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 Person  would be eligible  for  appointment  as a
successor  Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof.  In case at
the time such  successor  Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency  created by
this Agreement,  any of the 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 in case 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.

      In case 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 in case 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 only the duties and  obligations  expressly
imposed by this Agreement (and no implied duties or obligations  shall be read
into this  Agreement  against the Rights Agent) 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)   Before the Rights Agent acts or refrains  from acting,  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 act or matter be
proved or  established  by the Company prior to taking,  suffering or omitting


                                      24

<PAGE>

any action  hereunder,  such fact or matter  (unless other evidence in respect
thereof be herein  specifically  prescribed)  may be deemed to be conclusively
proved and  established  by a certificate  signed by the President or any Vice
President and by the Chief Financial  Officer,  the Chief Accounting  Officer,
Treasurer  or any  Assistant  Treasurer  or  the  Secretary  or any  Assistant
Secretary  of  the  Company  and  delivered  to the  Rights  Agent;  and  such
certificate shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and
the Rights  Agent  shall  incur no  liability  for or in respect of any action
taken,  suffered or omitted in good faith by it under the  provisions  of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

      (c)   The Rights Agent shall be liable  hereunder only for its own gross
negligence and bad faith as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

      (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, and 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   liability   or
responsibility  in respect of the validity of this  Agreement or the execution
and delivery  hereof (except the due execution  hereof by the Rights Agent) or
in respect of the validity or execution of any Right  Certificate  (except its
countersignature  thereof);  nor  shall it be liable  or  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 liable or  responsible  for any
adjustment  required  under the  provisions  of  Sections  11 and 13 hereof or
responsible  for the manner,  method or amount of any such  adjustment  or the
ascertaining  of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment
(except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates
after actual notice to the Rights Agent of any such adjustment);  nor shall it
by any act  hereunder be deemed to make any  representation  or warranty as to
the  authorization  or  reservation of any shares of Preferred  Stock,  Common
Stock or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right
Certificate  or as to whether any shares of Preferred  Stock,  Common Stock or
other securities 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.

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


                                      25

<PAGE>

application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may,
at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to
be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this  Agreement  and the date on
or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective.
The Rights  Agent  shall not be liable for any action  taken or suffered to be
taken or omitted by it in good faith  during the period  beginning on the date
on which the  Rights  Agent has  applied  for  written  instructions  from the
Company  and  ending on the date upon  which the Rights  Agent  receives  such
instructions  or for action  taken,  suffered  by, or omission  of, the Rights
Agent in accordance  with a proposal  included in any such  application  on or
after the date  specified  in such  application  (which date shall not be less
than ten  Business  Days after the date any  officer of the  Company  actually
receives such  application,  unless any such officer  shall have  consented in
writing to an earlier  date)  unless,  prior to taking any such action (or the
effective  date in the case of an  omission),  the  Rights  Agent  shall  have
received written  instructions in response to such application with respect to
the  proposed  action or omission  and/or  specifying  the action to be taken,
suffered or omitted.

      (h)   The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, affiliate, officer
or employee of the Rights Agent may buy,  sell or deal in any of the Rights or
other  securities  of  the  Company  or  have  a  pecuniary  interest  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 Person.

      (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,  absent gross  negligence  or bad
faith,  as determined by a court of competent  jurisdiction,  in the selection
and continued employment thereof.

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

      (k)   If,  with  respect  to any Right  Certificate  surrendered  to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been  completed  to  certify  the  holder is not an  Acquiring  Person  (or an
Affiliate or Associate  thereof),  the Rights Agent shall not take any further
action with  respect to such  requested  exercise of  transfer  without  first
consulting  with the  Company.  The Rights Agent shall not be required to take
notice  or be  deemed  to have  notice  of any  fact,  event or  determination
(including,  without limitation, any dates or events defined in this Agreement
or  the  designation  of any  Person  as an  Acquiring  Person,  Affiliate  or
Associate)  under this  Agreement  unless and until the Rights  Agent shall be


                                      26

<PAGE>

specifically  notified  in  writing  by the  Company  of such  fact,  event or
determination.

      SECTION 21. CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT.

      The  Rights  Agent or any  successor  Rights  Agent  may  resign  and be
discharged  from its  duties  under  this  Agreement  upon a 30-day  notice in
writing  mailed to the Company and to each transfer  agent of the Common Stock
and Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the
Right  Certificates  by  first-class  mail at the expense of the Company.  The
Company  may remove  the Rights  Agent or any  successor  Rights  Agent upon a
30-days  notice in writing,  mailed to the Rights  Agent or  successor  Rights
Agent,  as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and
Preferred  Stock 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  Rights  Agent.  If the  Company  shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of 30 days after such removal or after it has been
notified in writing of such  resignation  or  incapacity  by the  resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall,
with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the Company),
then the registered  holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of
competent  jurisdiction  for the appointment of a successor  Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent,  whether  appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be (a) a corporation  organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States or of any state, in good standing, 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
$25,000,000,  or (b) an affiliate of a corporation  described in clause (a) of
this sentence.  After appointment,  the successor Rights Agent shall be vested
with the same powers,  rights,  duties and  responsibilities as if it had been
originally  named as Rights Agent without further act or deed. 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 mail a written
notice  thereof in writing with the  predecessor  Rights Agent by certified or
registered  mail and each  transfer  agent of the Common  Stock and  Preferred
Stock,  and mail a written  notice  thereof to the  registered  holders of the
Right  Certificates  by first class mail.  Failure to give any notice provided
for this Section 21, 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  approved by a majority of the Board
of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the
number  or kind or class of shares of stock or other  securities  or  property


                                      27

<PAGE>

purchasable  under  the  Right   Certificates  made  in  accordance  with  the
provisions of this Agreement.

      SECTION 23. REDEMPTION AND TERMINATION.

      (a)   (i)   A majority of the Board of Directors of the Company  may, at
its  option,  at any time prior to the earlier of (x) the time that any Person
becomes an Acquiring  Person or (y) the Final Expiration Date, elect to redeem
all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price
of $.01 per Right, as 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"). The
redemption  of the Rights by the Board may be made  effective at such time, on
such basis and with such  conditions as the Board in its sole  discretion  may
establish.

            (ii)  In addition,  prior to any event described in Section 13(a),
a majority of the Board of  Directors  may redeem all but not less than all of
the  then  outstanding  Rights  at the  Redemption  Price  (A)  following  the
occurrence of a Stock  Acquisition  Date either:  (x) if each of the following
shall have  occurred  and remain in effect:  (1) a Person who is an  Acquiring
Person shall have  transferred or otherwise  disposed of a number of shares of
voting  securities  of the  Company in a manner  satisfactory  to the Board of
Directors such that such Person is thereafter a Beneficial Owner of securities
having less than 20% of the Voting Power of the  Company,  and (2) there is no
other Person,  immediately  following the occurrence of the event described in
(1), who is an Acquiring Person; or (y) in connection with any transaction not
involving  an  Acquiring  Person or an  Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person;  or (B)  following  a  change  (resulting  from  a  proxy  or  consent
solicitation)  in a majority of the directors in office at the commencement of
such  solicitation if any Person who is a participant in such solicitation has
stated (or, if upon the commencement of such  solicitation,  a majority of the
Board of  Directors  of the  Company has  determined  in good faith) that such
Person intends to take, or may consider taking,  any action which would result
in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person.

      (b)   In the case of a  redemption  permitted  under  Section  23(a)(i),
immediately  upon the action of a majority of the Board of Directors  electing
to redeem the  Rights,  evidence  of which  shall be  promptly  filed with the
Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any notice, the right
to exercise the Rights will  terminate  and the only right  thereafter  of the
holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption  Price.  In the case of a
redemption  permitted  under Section  23(a)(ii),  evidence of which shall have
been  filed with the  Rights  Agent,  the right to  exercise  the Rights  will
terminate and represent  only the right to receive the  Redemption  Price only
after ten (10)  business  days  following  the  giving of such  notice of such
redemption  to the holders of such Rights.  The Company  shall  promptly  give
public disclosure of any such redemption;  provided, however, that the failure
to give, or any defect in, any such  disclosure  shall not affect the validity
of such redemption.  Within 10 days 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 and to the Rights
Agent by mailing by first class mail such notice to all such  holders at their
last  addresses as they appear upon the registry  books of the transfer  agent


                                      28

<PAGE>

for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be deemed  given,  whether or not the holder  receives the notice.  Each
such  notice of  redemption  will state the method by which the payment of the
Redemption Price will be made.

      (c)   Neither the Company nor any of its  Affiliates or  Associates  may
redeem,  acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time or in any manner
other than that  specifically  set forth in this Section 23, and other than in
connection  with  the  purchase  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  prior  to  the
Distribution Date.

      SECTION 24. EXCHANGE.

      (a)   The Board of Directors  of the Company may, at its option,  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 null and void  pursuant to the  provisions of Section 7(e) hereof)
for Common Stock at an exchange  ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right,
appropriately  adjusted to reflect any stock split,  stock dividend or similar
transaction  occurring  after  the date  hereof  (such  exchange  ratio  being
hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  "Exchange  Ratio").   Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  the Board of  Directors  shall  not be  empowered  to effect  such
exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company,  any Subsidiary
of the  Company,  any  employee  benefit  plan  of  the  Company  or any  such
Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan),  together with all  Affiliates  and Associates of such Person,
becomes  the  Beneficial  Owner  of  50% or  more  of the  Common  Stock  then
outstanding.

      (b)   Immediately  upon the  action  of the  Board of  Directors  of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder
of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal
to the number of such Rights held by such holder  multiplied  by the  Exchange
Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange with
prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent; 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 Stock for Rights will be effected  and, in the event of
any  partial  exchange,  the  number of Rights  which will be  exchanged.  Any
partial  exchange  shall be  effected  pro rata  based on the number of Rights
(other than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to the  provisions
of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.

      (c)   In any exchange  pursuant to this Section 24, the Company,  at its
option,  may  substitute  Preferred  Stock for Common Stock  exchangeable  for
Rights,  at the  initial  rate of one  one-hundredth  of a share of  Preferred


                                      29

<PAGE>

Stock, as appropriately  adjusted to reflect  adjustments in the voting rights
of the Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms thereof,  so that the fraction of
a share of  Preferred  Stock  delivered  in lieu of each share of Common Stock
shall have the same voting rights as one share of Common Stock.

      (d)   In the event that there shall not be  sufficient  shares of Common
Stock or of Preferred  Stock issued but not  outstanding,  or  authorized  but
unissued,  to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with
this Section 24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize additional shares of Common Stock or of Preferred Stock for issuance
upon exchange of the Rights.

      (e)   The Company  shall not be required to issue  fractional  shares of
Common Stock or of Preferred  Stock (other than  fractions  which are integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) or to distribute
certificates  which  evidence  fractional  shares of such  Common  Stock or of
Preferred Stock. 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 as determined
by Section 14 hereof.

      SECTION 25.  NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTIONS.

      In case the Company  shall  propose (a) to pay any  dividend  payable in
stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred  Stock or to make any other
distribution  to the  holders of its  Preferred  Stock  (other  than a regular
periodic cash  dividend out of earnings or retained  earnings of the Company),
or (b) to offer to the holders of its  Preferred  Stock  rights or warrants to
subscribe  for or to purchase  any  additional  shares of  Preferred  Stock or
shares of stock of any other class or any other securities, rights or options,
or (c) to effect any  reclassification  of its  Preferred  Stock (other than a
reclassification  involving  only the  subdivision  of  outstanding  shares of
Preferred  Stock),  or (d) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with,
or to  effect  any sale or other  transfer  (or to  permit  one or more of its
Subsidiaries  to  effect  any  sales  or  other  transfer),  in  one  or  more
transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person, or (e) to effect the
liquidation,  dissolution  or winding up of the  Company,  then,  in each such
case, the Company shall mail by first class mail to each holder of a Right and
the Rights  Agent,  in  accordance  with  Section 26 hereof,  a notice of such
proposed action,  which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such
stock dividend,  distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such
reclassification,   consolidation,   merger,  sale,   transfer,   liquidation,
dissolution,  or  winding  up is to take  place and the date of  participation
therein  by the  holders  of the  Preferred  Stock,  if any such date is to be
fixed.  Such  notice  shall be so given in the case of any  action  covered by
clauses  (a) or (b)  above at  least  ten days  prior to the  record  date for
determining holders of the Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in
the case of any such other action,  at least ten days prior to the date of the
taking of such  proposed  action or the date of  participation  therein by the
holders of Preferred  Stock,  whichever  shall be the earlier.  The failure to
give notice  required by this  Section  25, or any defect  therein,  shall not
affect the legality or validity of the action taken by the Company or the vote
upon any such action.


                                      30

<PAGE>

      In case any of the events set forth in Section  11(b) of this  Agreement
shall occur,  then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable
thereafter mail by first class mail to each holder of a Right  Certificate and
the Rights  Agent,  in  accordance  with  Section  26 hereof,  a notice of the
occurrence of such event,  which shall specify the event and the  consequences
of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(b) hereof.

      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  (unless another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:

      COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION
      505 Front Avenue
      Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814
      Attention: 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  registered  or  certified  mail or
overnight  courier  with a  reputable  national  courier  service and shall be
deemed given upon receipt and addressed  (unless  another  address is filed in
writing with the Company) as follows:

      CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES L.L.C.
      520 Pike Street (#1220)
      Seattle, WA 98101
      Attention: Dennis Treibel

      Notices or demands  authorized by this  Agreement to be given or made by
the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right  Certificate  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 or the Rights Agent.

      SECTION 27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS.

      The Company  may from time to time  supplement  or amend this  Agreement
without the approval of any holders of Right Certificates in order to cure any
ambiguity,  to correct or supplement any provision  contained herein which may
be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions  herein, or to make any
other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder which the
Company may deem  necessary or desirable and which shall be  consistent  with,
and for the purpose of fulfilling, the objectives of the Board of Directors in
adopting this Agreement, any such supplement or amendment to be evidenced by a
writing signed by the Company and the Rights Agent;  provided,  however,  that


                                      31

<PAGE>

from and  after  such  time any  Person  becomes  an  Acquiring  Person,  this
Agreement shall not be amended in any manner which would adversely  affect the
interests of the holders of Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement
to the contrary, no supplement or amendment that changes the rights and duties
of the Rights Agent under this Agreement will be effective  against the Rights
Agent  without the  execution  of such  supplement  or amendment by the Rights
Agent.  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, and such supplement or amendment
does  not  change  or  increase  the  Rights  Agents  duties,  liabilities  or
obligations, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.

      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 THIS AGREEMENT.

      Nothing  in this  Agreement  shall be  construed  to give any  Person or
corporation  other  than the  Company,  the  Rights  Agent and the  registered
holders of the Right  Certificates  (and, prior to the Distribution  Date, the
Common  Stock)  any  legal or  equitable  right,  remedy or claim  under  this
Agreement.  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 Stock).

      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.  It is the  intent  of the
parties  hereto to enforce the remainder of the terms,  provisions,  covenants
and restrictions to the maximum extent permitted by law.


                                      32

<PAGE>

      SECTION 31. 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 Idaho 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;  provided,  however,  that all  provisions  regarding  the rights,
duties and  obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and construed
in accordance  with the laws of the State of New York  applicable to contracts
made and to be performed entirely within such State.

      SECTION 32. 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 33. 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.


                                      33

<PAGE>

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

Attest:                                  COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION

By _______________________________       By __________________________________
Name:  William F. Boyd:                  Dennis E. Wheeler
Title: Secretary                         Title: Chairman of the Board,
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer

Attest:                                  CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES,
                                         L.L.C AS, RIGHTS AGENT

By _______________________________       By __________________________________

Name:                                    Name:
Title:                                   Title:


                                      34

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A

                     [FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION]

                  CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES AND
                   RIGHTS OF SERIES B JUNIOR PREFERRED STOCK
                                      OF
                        COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION

      Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation (the "Company"), a corporation organized
and existing  under Idaho  Business  Corporation  Act, in accordance  with the
provisions of Section 30-1-602 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

      That, pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by
the Articles of Incorporation,  as amended, of the Company,  the said Board of
Directors on May 11, 1999 adopted the following  resolution  creating a series
of Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) shares of voting Preferred Stock designated
as Series B Junior Preferred Stock:

      RESOLVED,  that  pursuant  to  the  authority  vested  in the  Board  of
Directors of the Company in accordance  with the provisions of its Articles of
Incorporation,  as amended,  a series of voting Preferred Stock of the Company
be and it is hereby  created,  and that the designation and amount thereof and
the  powers,  preferences  and  relative,  participating,  optional  and other
special  rights  of  the  shares  of  such  series,  and  the  qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:

      SECTION 1.  DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT.

      There  shall be a series of the voting  preferred  stock of the  Company
which shall be designated as the "Series B Junior Preferred  Stock," $1.00 par
value per share,  and the number of shares  constituting  such series shall be
Five  Hundred  Thousand  (500,000).  Such number of shares may be increased or
decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;  provided, however, that no
decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series B Junior  Preferred Stock
to a number less than that of the shares then  outstanding  plus the number of
shares  issuable upon exercise of outstanding  rights,  options or warrants or
upon conversion of outstanding securities issued by the Company.

      SECTION 2.  DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.

      (A)   Subject to the  rights of the  holders of any shares of any series
of preferred  stock of the Company  ranking prior and superior to the Series B
Junior  Preferred  Stock with respect to  dividends,  the holders of shares of
Series B Junior  Preferred  Stock,  in  preference to the holders of shares of
Common Stock,  $1.00 par value per share (the "Common Stock"),  of the Company
and of any other junior stock,  shall be entitled to receive,  when, as and if
declared by the Board of  Directors  out of funds  legally  available  for the


                                     A-1

<PAGE>

purpose,  quarterly  dividends  payable in cash on or about March 31, June 30,
September  30 and  December 31 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 B Junior Preferred Stock, in an amount per share
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject
to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate
per share amount of all cash  dividends  and 100 times the aggregate per share
amount  (payable in kind) of all non-cash  dividends  or other  distributions,
other than a dividend  payable in shares of Common Stock or a  subdivision  of
the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification  or otherwise),
declared  on the  Common  Stock  since  the  immediately  preceding  Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series B
Junior  Preferred  Stock. In the event the Company shall at any time after May
25, 1998 (the "Rights  Declaration  Date")  declare or pay any dividend on the
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  than by payment  of a  dividend  in shares of
Common Stock) 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 B Junior
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b)
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 Company shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series
B  Junior  Preferred  Stock  as  provided  in  paragraph  (A) of this  Section
immediately  after it declares a dividend or  distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided,  however,
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 on the Series B Junior Preferred Stock shall  nevertheless be payable on
such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

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


                                     A-2

<PAGE>

determination of holders of shares of Series B Junior Preferred Stock entitled
to receive  payment of a dividend  or  distribution  declared  thereon,  which
record  date  shall be not more than 60 days  prior to the date  fixed for the
payment thereof.

      SECTION 3.  VOTING RIGHTS.

      The holders of shares of Series B Junior  Preferred Stock shall have the
following voting rights:

      (A)   Each share of Series B Junior  Preferred  Stock shall  entitle the
holder  thereof  to  100  votes  on all  matters  submitted  to a vote  of the
stockholders of the Company.

      (B)   Except as otherwise  provided herein, in the Company's Articles of
Incorporation  or by laws, the holders of shares of Series B Junior  Preferred
Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock, and the holders of shares of any
other capital  stock of the Company  having  general  voting rights shall vote
together as one class on all matters  submitted to a vote of  stockholders  of
the Company.

      (C)   Except as otherwise set forth herein or in the Company's  Articles
of Incorporation, and except as otherwise provided by law, holders of Series B
Junior  Preferred  Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent
shall not be  required  (except to the extent  they are  entitled to vote with
holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

      SECTION 4.  CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.

      (A)   Whenever dividends or distributions payable on the Series B Junior
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 B Junior Preferred Stock  outstanding shall have been paid
in full, the Company shall not:

            (i)   declare or pay  dividends  on, make any other  distributions
on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,  dissolution
or winding up) to the Series B Junior 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 B Junior  Preferred
Stock,  except  dividends paid ratably on the Series B Junior  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) except as permitted  in Section  4(A)(iv)  below,  redeem or
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on
a parity (either as to dividends or upon  liquidation,  dissolution or winding
up) with the Series B Junior  Preferred  Stock,  provided,  however,  that the


                                     A-3

<PAGE>

Company may at any time redeem,  purchase or otherwise  acquire  shares of any
such parity stock in exchange  for shares of any stock of the Company  ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up)
to the Series B Junior Preferred Stock; and

            (iv)  purchase or otherwise  acquire for  consideration any shares
of Series B Junior Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity
with the Series B Junior 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  Company  shall not permit any  subsidiary  of the  Company to
purchase or  otherwise  acquire for  consideration  any shares of stock of the
Company  unless the Company  could,  under  paragraph  (A) of this  Section 4,
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

      SECTION 5.  REACQUIRED SHARES.

      Any shares of Series B Junior  Preferred  Stock  purchased  or otherwise
acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled
promptly  after the  acquisition  thereof.  The  Company  shall cause all such
shares  upon  their  cancellation  to be  authorized  but  unissued  shares of
Preferred  Stock which may be  reissued  as part of a new series of  Preferred
Stock,  subject to the  conditions  and  restrictions  on  issuance  set forth
herein.

      SECTION 6.  LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP.

      (A)   Upon any  liquidation  (voluntary or  otherwise),  dissolution  or
winding up of the  Company,  no  distribution  shall be made to the holders of
shares of stock ranking  junior  (either as to dividends or upon  liquidation,
dissolution  or winding  up) to the Series B Junior  Preferred  Stock  unless,
prior thereto,  the holders of shares of Series B Junior Preferred Stock shall
have  received  $100.00 per share,  plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions  thereon,  whether or not declared, to the date of
such payment (the "Series B Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of
the  full  amount  of the  Series  B  Liquidation  Preference,  no  additional
distributions  shall  be made to the  holders  of  shares  of  Series B Junior
Preferred Stock,  unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock
shall have received an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to the
quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series B Liquidation  Preference by (ii)
100 (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in paragraph (C) of this Section 6
to reflect such events as stock dividends, and subdivisions,  combinations and
consolidations  with respect to the Common  Stock) (such number in clause (ii)
being referred to as the  "Adjustment  Number").  Following the payment of the
full amount of the Series B Liquidation  Preference and the Common  Adjustment
in respect of all  outstanding  shares of Series B Junior  Preferred Stock and
Common Stock,  respectively,  holders of Series B Junior  Preferred  Stock and


                                     A-4

<PAGE>

holders  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  shall   receive   their   ratable  and
proportionate  share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of
the  Adjustment  Number to 1 with  respect to such  Series B Junior  Preferred
Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.

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

      (C)   In the  event  the  Company  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 than
by payment of a dividend  in shares of Common  Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the Adjustment Number
in effect  immediately  prior to such event shall be  adjusted by  multiplying
such  Adjustment  Number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
shares  of Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately  after  such  event and the
denominator  of which  is the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  that are
outstanding immediately prior to such event.

      SECTION 7.  CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC.

      In  case  the  Company  shall  enter  into  any  consolidation,  merger,
combination  or other  transaction  in which the  shares  of Common  Stock are
exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other
property,  then in any such case the shares of Series B Junior 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 exchanged or changed.  In the event the Company 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  than by payment  of a  dividend  in shares of
Common Stock) 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 change of shares of Series B Junior  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 are
outstanding immediately prior to such event.


                                     A-5

<PAGE>

      SECTION 8.  REDEMPTION.

      The shares of Series B Junior Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

      SECTION 9.  RANKING.

      The  Series B Junior  Preferred  Stock  shall  rank  junior to all other
series of the Company's Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the
distribution  of assets,  unless the terms of any such  series  shall  provide
otherwise.

      SECTION 10. FRACTIONAL SHARES.

      Series B Junior  Preferred  Stock may be issued in  fractions  which are
integral  multiples of one  one-hundredth  of a share.  Fractions of shares of
Series B Junior  Preferred  Stock 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 the  Company.  The holders of such
depositary  receipts shall have all the rights,  privileges and preferences to
which they are entitled as beneficial  owners of the Series B Junior Preferred
Stock represented by such depositary receipts.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have executed and subscribed this Certificate and
do affirm and acknowledge the foregoing as true under the penalties of perjury
this 11th day of May, 1999.


                                       By: ___________________________________
                                       Name:  Dennis E. Wheeler
                                       Title: Chairman of the Board, President
                                              and Chief Executive Officer
Attest:


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


State of Idaho      )
                    ) ss:
County of Kootenai  )

      On this  11th day of May,  1999,  before  me,  _____________________,  a
Notary  Public in and for the State of Idaho,  personally  appeared  Dennis E.
Wheeler, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coeur
d'Alene  Mines  Corporation,  known to me to be the  person who  executed  the


                                     A-6

<PAGE>

foregoing  Certificate of Designation and  acknowledged to me that he executed
the same  pursuant  to  authority  given by the  Board  of  Directors  of such
corporation as their free and voluntary act, and as the free and voluntary act
and deed of such corporation, for the uses and purposes therein set forth.


                                            ----------------------------------
                                                        Notary Public
My commission expires:


                                     A-7

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT B

                       [FORM FACE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE]

Certificate No.________________                     ____________________Rights

NOT  EXERCISABLE  AFTER MAY 24,  2009 OR  EARLIER IF NOTICE OF  REDEMPTION  OR
EXCHANGE IS GIVEN. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION,  AT THE OPTION OF THE
COMPANY,  AT $.01 PER RIGHT OR  EXCHANGE  ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT.  [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED TO A
PERSON WHO WAS AN  ACQUIRING  PERSON OR AN  AFFILIATE  OR AN  ASSOCIATE  OF AN
ACQUIRING PERSON. THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID AND NO LONGER TRANSFERABLE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED
IN SECTION 7(E) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]


                               RIGHT CERTIFICATE

                        COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION

      This certifies that  ___________________,  or registered assigns, is the
registered  owner of the  number of  Rights  set  forth  above,  each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of May 11,  1999 (the  "Rights  Agreement"),
between Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation, an Idaho corporation (the "Company"),
and ChaseMellon  Shareholder Services L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase
from the  Company  at any time  after the  Distribution  Date (as such term is
defined in the Rights  Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M. (Central time) on May
24,  2009 (the  "Final  Expiration  Date") at the office of the  Rights  Agent
designated  for  such  purpose,   or  its  successor  as  Rights  Agent,   one
one-hundredth  of a fully  paid,  nonassessable  share of the  Series B Junior
Preferred  Stock,  $1.00  par  value per  share  ("Preferred  Stock"),  of the
Company,  at a purchase price of $100.00 per one one-hundredth of a share (the
"Purchase  Price"),  upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate
with  the Form of  Election  to  Purchase  on the  reverse  side  hereof  duly
executed.  The number of Rights  evidenced by this Right  Certificate (and the
number of shares which may be purchased  upon  exercise of each Right) and the
Purchase  Price set forth above,  are the number and Purchase  Price as of May
25, 1999, based on the shares of Preferred Stock of the Company as constituted
at such date.

      As provided in the Rights  Agreement,  the Purchase Price and the number
of shares of Preferred  Stock which may be purchased upon the exercise of each
of the Rights evidenced by this Right  Certificate are subject to modification


                                     B-1

<PAGE>

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  Company  and  the
above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent and are also available upon written
request to the Company.

      This Right Certificate,  with or without other Right Certificates,  upon
surrender at the office 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  entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate
number of shares  of  Preferred  Stock as the  Rights  evidenced  by the Right
Certificate or Right Certificates  surrendered shall have entitled such holder
to purchase.  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  Certificate  may be  redeemed  by the  Company  at its  option  at a
redemption  price of $.01 per Right  prior to the earlier of (i) the time that
any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or
(ii) the Final Expiration Date. Under certain terms and conditions, the Rights
may also be redeemed  following the time that any person  becomes an Acquiring
Person but prior to the Final  Expiration Date, as more fully described in the
Rights  Agreement.  In  addition,  subject  to the  provisions  of the  Rights
Agreement,  the Rights may be  exchanged  at the option of the  Company at any
time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person at an initial exchange ratio
of one share of Common  Stock (or one  one-hundredth  of a share of  Preferred
Stock) for each Right exchanged.

      No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise
of any Rights  evidenced  hereby  (other  than  fractions  which are  integral
multiples of one  one-hundredth of a share of Preferred  Stock,  which may, at
the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts).  In lieu of
fractions of a share that are not integral  multiples  of  one-hundredth  of a
share of Preferred  Stock,  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 shares of  Preferred
Stock, Common Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any
time be issuable on the exercise hereof,  nor shall anything  contained in the
Rights  Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof,  as
such,  any of the rights of a stockholder  of the Company or any right to vote
for the election of directors or upon any matter  submitted to stockholders at
any meeting thereof,  or to give or withhold consent to any corporate  action,
or to receive  notice of  meetings  or other  actions  affecting  stockholders


B-2

<PAGE>

(except as  provided  in the Rights  Agreement),  or to receive  dividends  or
subscription  rights,  or otherwise,  until the 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:                                  COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION

By _______________________________       By __________________________________
Name:                                    Dennis E. Wheeler
Title:                                   Title: Chairman of the Board,
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer

Countersigned:

CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES L.L.C.

By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:

                  [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: ______________, _____

                                            __________________________________
                                            Signature


                                     B-3

<PAGE>

                     (Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder
                           as specified on the face of this Right Certificate)

Signature Guaranteed:  ___________________

      The signature of the person(s)  signing this Right  Certificate  must be
guaranteed by a  participant  in the  Securities  Transfer  Agent's  Medallion
Program,  the Stock Exchange's  Medallion Program or the NYSE, Inc.  Medallion
Program.


                                  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 pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

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


Dated: ______________, _____

                                            __________________________________
                                            Signature

                     (Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder
                           as specified on the face of this Right Certificate)


                         FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

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

To  ChaseMellon Shareholder Services L.L.C.:

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


                                     B-4

<PAGE>

         Name: __________________________________________________

         Address: _______________________________________________

Social Security or
Taxpayer I.D. No.: ______________________________________________

      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 an delivered to:


         Name: __________________________________________________

         Address: _______________________________________________

Social Security or
Taxpayer I.D. No.: ______________________________________________


Dated: ___________, _____

                                            __________________________________
                                            Signature

                     (Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder
                           as specified on the face of this Right Certificate)

Signature Guaranteed:

      The signature of the person(s)  signing this Right  Certificate  must be
guaranteed by a  participant  in the  Securities  Transfer  Agent's  Medallion
Program,  the Stock Exchange's  Medallion Program or the NYSE, Inc.  Medallion
Program.


                                     B-5

<PAGE>

                                  CERTIFICATE

      The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

      (1)   the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring  Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of any such  Acquiring  Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

      (2)   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 pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

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

Dated: ___________, _____

                                            __________________________________
                                            Signature

                     (Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder
                           as specified on the face of this Right Certificate)


                                    NOTICE

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

      In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment
or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, the
Company  and the  Rights  Agent will deem the  beneficial  owner of the Rights
evidenced by this Right  Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate
or Associate  thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such Assignment
or Election to Purchase will not be honored.


                                     B-6

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT C

             [Form of Summary of Preferred Stock Purchase Rights]

                  SUMMARY OF SERIES B JUNIOR PREFERRED STOCK

                                PURCHASE RIGHTS
                                  ----------

                        COEUR D'ALENE MINES CORPORATION
                                  ----------

      On May  11,  1999,  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Coeur  d'Alene  Mines
Corporation (the "Company") declared a dividend  distribution of one Preferred
Stock Purchase Right  (collectively,  the "Rights") for each outstanding share
of common stock,  $.01 par value (the "Common  Stock"),  of the Company (other
than shares held in the  Company's  treasury).  The dividend  distribution  is
payable to the stockholders of record at the close of business on May 25, 1999
(the "Record Date").  Except as set forth below, each Right, when exercisable,
entitles the registered  holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth
of a share of a new series of voting preferred  stock,  designated as Series B
Junior Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share (the "Preferred  Stock"), at
a price of $100.00 per one  one-hundredth  of a share (the "Purchase  Price"),
subject to adjustment.  The  description and terms of the Rights are set forth
in a Rights  Agreement  (the  "Rights  Agreement")  between  the  Company  and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

      Initially,  the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding,  and no separate Right Certificates will
be distributed. Until the earlier of (i) ten business days following the first
to occur of (a) a public  announcement that, without the prior written consent
of the Board of Directors of the Company,  a person or group of  affiliated or
associated  persons other than the Company, a subsidiary of the Company or any
employee  benefit  plan of the  Company or a  subsidiary  of the  Company  (an
"Acquiring   Person")  has  acquired,   or  obtained  the  right  to  acquire,
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company  representing 20% or more of
the voting power of the Company or (b) the date on which the Company first has
notice or otherwise  determines  that a person has become an Acquiring  Person
(the  "Stock  Acquisition  Date")  or (ii) ten  business  days  following  the
commencement  or  announcement  of an  intention  to make a  tender  offer  or
exchange offer, without the prior written consent of the Board of Directors of
the Company,  for outstanding  shares of such Common Stock representing 20% or
more of the voting  power of the Company  (the  earlier of the dates in clause
(i) or (ii) above being called the  "Distribution  Date"),  the Rights will be
evidenced,  with respect to any of the  Company's  Common  Stock  certificates
outstanding  as of and after the Record  Date  (other  than shares held in the
Company's treasury),  by such Common Stock certificates.  The Rights Agreement
provides  that,  until the  Distribution  Date, the Rights will be transferred
with and only with the Company's Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or
earlier  redemption,  exchange or expiration of the Rights),  new Common Stock
certificates  issued after the Record  Date,  upon  transfer,  new issuance or
issuance from the  Company's  treasury of the  Company's  Common  Stock,  will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference.  Until the
Distribution  Date (or  earlier  redemption,  exchange  or  expiration  of the


                                     C-1

<PAGE>

Rights),  the  surrender  for  transfer of any of the  Company's  Common Stock
certificates  outstanding as of and after the Record Date will also constitute
the transfer of the Rights  associated  with the Common Stock  represented  by
such  certificates.  As soon as practicable  following the Distribution  Date,
separate  certificates  evidencing the Rights ("Right  Certificates")  will be
mailed to holders of record of the  Company's  Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution  Date and such separate  certificates  alone will
then evidence the Rights.

      Notwithstanding  the  above,  a  person  will  not  be  deemed  to be an
Acquiring Person if such person:  (x) becomes the owner of outstanding  Shares
of the  Common  Stock of the  Company  representing  20% or more of the voting
power of the  Company  by means of an  acquisition  of shares of Common  Stock
directly from the Company if such acquisition is approved by a majority of the
Board of Directors of the Company (unless such Person was an Acquiring  Person
prior to such acquisition); (y) becomes the owner of Common Stock representing
20% or more of the voting power of the Company following an acquisition of the
Company's voting  securities by the Company,  unless such person  subsequently
acquires additional voting securities of the Company (other than by means of a
stock dividend,  stock split,  recapitalization  or similar event); or (z) has
become an  Acquiring  Person  inadvertently  and divests  promptly a number of
voting securities so as to no longer be an Acquiring Person.

      The Rights are not exercisable  until the Distribution  Date. The Rights
will expire at the close of business on May 24, 2009,  unless earlier redeemed
or exchanged by the Company, as described below.

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

      In the event  that,  following  the  Distribution  Date,  the Company is
acquired in a merger or other  business  combination  transaction in which the
Company  is not the  surviving  corporation  or in which the  Common  Stock is
exchanged or changed or 50% or more of the  Company's  assets or earning power
is sold (in one  transaction or a series of  transactions),  proper  provision
shall be made so that each holder of a Right shall  thereafter  have the right
to receive,  in lieu of shares of  Preferred  Stock,  upon the exercise of the
Right and payment of the Purchase Price, that number of shares of common stock


                                     C-2

<PAGE>

of the  surviving  or  purchasing  company (or, in certain  cases,  one of its
affiliates) which at the time of such transaction would have a market value of
two times the Purchase Price (such right being called the "Merger Right").

      In the event  that any  person  shall  become an  Acquiring  Person  and
subject to the availability of Common Stock, proper provision shall be made so
that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, in lieu
of shares  of  Preferred  Stock,  upon  exercise  that  number  of shares  (or
fractional  shares)  of Common  Stock  having a market  value of two times the
Purchase Price, subject to the availability of a sufficient number of treasury
shares or  authorized  but  unissued  shares  (such  right  being  called  the
"Subscription  Right"). The holder of a Right will continue to have the Merger
Right unless and until such holder exercises the Subscription Right.

      Any Rights  that are  beneficially  owned by an  Acquiring  Person or an
Affiliate or an  Associate  of an  Acquiring  Person will become null and void
upon the occurrence of any of the events giving rise to the  exercisability of
the Merger Right or the Subscription  Right and any holder of such Rights will
have no right to exercise such Rights from and after the occurrence of such an
event insofar as they relate to the Merger Right or the Subscription Right.

      With certain  exceptions,  no  adjustments in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative  adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such  Purchase  Price.  No  fractional  shares  will  be  issued.  In  lieu of
fractional  shares,  an  adjustment  in cash will be made  based on the market
price of the  Preferred  Stock or the  Common  Stock as the case may be on the
last trading date prior to the date of exercise.

      At any time prior to a Person  becoming an  Acquiring  Person or May 24,
2009,  the  Company's  Board of  Directors  may elect to redeem  the Rights in
whole,  but not in part,  at a price of $.01 per  Right  and prior to an event
giving  rise to the Merger  Right (i)  following a change in a majority of the
Directors  of the  Company  or (ii)  following  the  Stock  Acquisition  Date,
provided that either (a) the Acquiring Person reduces its beneficial ownership
to less than 20% of the voting  power of the Company in a manner  satisfactory
to the Board of Directors and there are no more Acquiring Persons, or (b) such
redemption is incidental to a merger or other business  combination  involving
the Company but not  involving  the  Acquiring  Person.  Immediately  upon the
action of the Board of  Directors  electing to redeem the Rights,  the Company
shall make  announcement  thereof,  and 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 but prior to such
time  that  any  Person  becomes  the  beneficial  owner of 50% or more of the
outstanding  shares of the Company's  Common  Stock,  the Company may elect to
effect a full or partial  exchange of Rights for the Company's Common Stock at
an  initial  exchange  ratio  of one  share of  Common  Stock  for each  Right
exchanged.  Alternatively,  the  Company  may elect to effect the  exchange of
Rights using Preferred Stock at an initial exchange ratio of one one-hundredth
of a share of Preferred Stock for each Right exchanged.


                                     C-3

<PAGE>

      The  Preferred  Stock  purchasable  upon  exercise of the Rights will be
non-redeemable  and junior to any other series of preferred  stock the Company
may issue (unless otherwise  provided in the terms of such stock).  Each share
of Preferred Stock will have a preferential dividend in an amount equal to the
greater of $1.00 per share or 100 times any dividend declared on each share of
Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of Preferred Stock will
receive a preferred  liquidation  payment equal to the greater of $1.00 or 100
times the payment made per each share of Common Stock.  Each one one-hundredth
of a share of Preferred  Stock will have one vote,  voting  together  with the
shares of Common  Stock.  In the event of any merger,  consolidation  or other
transaction  in which  shares of Common  Stock are  exchanged,  each  share of
Preferred  Stock will be  entitled to receive 100 times the amount and type of
consideration  received per share of Common Stock. The rights of the Preferred
Stock as to dividends, liquidation and voting, and in the event of mergers and
consolidations,   are   protected  by  customary   anti-dilution   provisions.
Fractional   shares  of   Preferred   Stock  in  integral   multiples  of  one
one-hundredth  of a share of Preferred  Stock will be issuable;  however,  the
Company may elect to distribute depositary receipts in lieu of such fractional
shares.  In lieu of fractional  shares other than fractions that are multiples
of one  one-hundredth  of a share, an adjustment in cash will be made based on
the market price of the Preferred  Stock on the last trading date prior to the
date of exercise.

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

      A copy of the Rights  Agreement has been filed with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration  Statement on Form 8-A. A
copy of the Rights  Agreement  is  available  free of charge from the Company.
This summary  description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified  in its  entirety by  reference  to the Rights  Agreement,  which is
incorporated herein by reference.


                                     C-4



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