BERGER HOLDINGS LTD
8-A12G, 1998-09-15
SHEET METAL WORK
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, via EDGAR,
on September 15, 1998


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-A

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

                             Berger Holdings, Ltd.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Pennsylvania                        23-2160077
(State of incorporation or organization)       (I.R.S. Employer
                                               Identification  No.)
805 Pennsylvania Boulevard
Feasterville, Pennsylvania                            19053
(Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)


   If this  form  relates  to the            If this form relates to the
   registration  of a class of               registration  of a class of
   securities pursuant  to Section           securities  pursuant to Section
   12(b) of the  Exchange  Act and           12(g) of the Exchange Act  and
   and is  effective pursuant to             is  effective  pursuant  to
   General Instruction A.(c),                General Instruction A.(d)
   please check the following                please check the following
   box./ /                                   box. /X/
          
Securities Act registration statement file number to which
this form relates:   Not Applicable
                     (If applicable)

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

                                                 Name of Each Exchange on
         Title of Each Class                     Which Each Class is to be
         to be so Registered                     Registered

                 None                              Not Applicable

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

                                             Rights
                                        (Title of Class)

<PAGE>


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

         On August 21, 1998,  the Board of Directors  of Berger  Holdings,  Ltd.
(the "Company") declared a dividend  distribution of one right (each, a "Right")
for each share of the Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company (the "Common
Stock")  outstanding on September 17, 1998 (the "Record Date").  The description
and terms of the  Rights  are set forth in the  Rights  Agreement  (the  "Rights
Agreement"),  dated as of August  21,  1998,  between  the  Company  and  Oxford
Transfer & Registrar,  as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"). The distribution is
payable on the Record Date to shareholders of record as of the close of business
on such date.  Each Right entitles the registered  holder  thereof,  at any time
following the Distribution Date (as defined below), to purchase from the Company
a unit (each, a "Unit")  consisting of one ten-thousandth of a share of Series B
Junior Participating  Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value (the "Preferred Shares"),
at a price of $12.00 per Unit (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment.

         Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates representing
shares of Common Stock then  outstanding,  and no separate  Rights  Certificates
will be  distributed.  The Rights  will  separate  from the  Common  Stock and a
Distribution  Date will occur upon the  earlier of (i) the close of  business on
the tenth business day following a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated  or  associated  persons (an  "Acquiring  Person") has  acquired,  or
obtained  the  right  to  acquire,  beneficial  ownership  of 15% or more of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock (the "Stock  Acquisition  Date") (or, if the
tenth day after the Stock  Acquisition  Date occurs before the Record Date,  the
close of Business on the Record Date) or (ii) the close of business on the tenth
business  day (or such later  date as the Board of  Directors  shall  determine)
following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result
in a person or group beneficially  owning 15% or more of such outstanding shares
of Common Stock. The definition of Acquiring Person excludes any Exempted Person
(as  defined in the Rights  Agreement).  Until the  Distribution  Date,  (i) the
Rights  will be  evidenced  by the  certificates  for  shares  of  Common  Stock
registered  in the names of the holders of Common Stock and will be  transferred
with and only with such  certificates  for  shares  of  Common  Stock,  (ii) new
certificates  for shares of Common Stock will  contain a notation  incorporating
the Rights  Agreement by reference  and (iii) the  surrender for transfer of any
certificates  for shares of Common Stock  outstanding  will also  constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by
such certificate.

         The Rights are not  exercisable  until the  Distribution  Date and will
expire at the close of business on September 17, 2008 unless earlier redeemed by
the  Company as  described  below.  At no time will the  Rights  have any voting
power.

         As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates
will be mailed to  holders  of  record  of the  Common  Stock as of the close of
business  on  the  Distribution  Date  and,  thereafter,   the  separate  Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Only shares of Common Stock issued
prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.


                                       2
<PAGE>

         In the event that an Acquiring  Person becomes the beneficial  owner of
15% or  more of the  then  outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock  (unless  such
acquisition is made pursuant to a tender or exchange  offer for all  outstanding
shares of Common  Stock,  at a price and on terms  determined by at least 80% of
the members of the Board of  Directors of the Company,  after  receiving  advice
from one or more investment  banking firms, to be fair and otherwise in the best
interest of the Company  and its  shareholders  (a  "Qualifying  Offer")),  each
holder of a Right will  thereafter  have the right to  receive,  upon  exercise,
shares of Common Stock (or, in certain  circumstances,  cash,  property or other
securities of the  Company),  having a value  determined in accordance  with the
Rights Agreement. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence
of an Acquiring Person becoming such ("Flip-In Event"),  all Rights that are, or
(under  certain   circumstances   specified  in  the  Rights   Agreement)  were,
beneficially  owned by any  Acquiring  Person  will be null and  void.  However,
Rights may not be exercisable  following the occurrence of a Flip-In Event until
such time as the Rights  are no longer  redeemable  by the  Company as set forth
below.

         In the event that,  following the Stock Acquisition  Date,  directly or
indirectly,  (i)  the  Company  engages  in a  merger  or  business  combination
transaction  in which the  Company  is not the  successor  (other  than a merger
consummated  pursuant to a  Qualifying  Offer);  (ii) the  Company  engages in a
merger or business combination transaction in which the Company is the successor
and the shares of Common Stock are changed or exchanged; or (iii) 50% or more of
the assets or earning  power of the  Company  and its  subsidiaries  (taken as a
whole) is sold or transferred,  each holder of a Right (except Rights which have
previously  been voided as set forth above) shall  thereafter  have the right to
receive,  upon exercise of the Right,  common  shares of the  acquiring  company
having a value determined pursuant to the Rights Agreement.

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

         With certain  exceptions,  no adjustments in the Purchase Price will be
required  unless  such  adjustment  would  require an increase or decrease of at
least 1% of the Purchase Price. No fractional  Units will be issued and, in lieu
thereof,  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.

         At any  time  after  the  Stock  Acquisition  Date  (but  prior  to the
acquisition  by the  Acquiring  Person  of 50% or more of the  then  outstanding
shares of Common  Stock),  the  Company  may,  upon  resolution  by the Board of
Directors  of the Company,  exchange  the Rights  (other than Rights owned by an
Acquiring Person),  in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio

                                       3
<PAGE>

equal to one share of Common  Stock per Right  (subject to  adjustment).  Any
such  exchange  shall require  the  concurrence  of at  least  80% of the
members  of  the  Board  of Directors.

         At any time  until the close of  business  on the  tenth  business  day
following  the Stock  Acquisition  Date,  the  Company  may redeem the Rights in
whole,  but  not in  part,  at a  price  of  $0.001  per  Right.  Under  certain
circumstances,  the decision to redeem shall require the concurrence of at least
80% of the members of the Board of Directors of the  Company.  Immediately  upon
the action of the Board of  Directors  ordering  redemption  of the Rights,  the
Rights  will  terminate  and the only right of the  holders of Rights will be to
receive the $0.001 redemption price.

         Until a Right is exercised,  the holder thereof,  as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive  dividends.  While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to shareholders or to the Company,  shareholders may,  depending upon
the circumstances,  recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for shares of Common Stock (or other  consideration)  of the Company
as set forth above or in the event the Rights are redeemed.

         Other than those provisions relating to the principal economic terms of
the Rights,  any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board of  Directors of the Company  prior to the  Distribution  Date.  After the
Distribution  Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board of Directors (in certain circumstances,  with the approval of at least 80%
of the members of the Board of  Directors)  in order to cure any  ambiguity,  to
correct  or  supplement  any  provision  in the  Rights  Agreement  which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provision therein, to make changes that
do not  adversely  affect the  interests  of holders  of Rights  (excluding  the
interests of any  Acquiring  Person),  or to shorten or lengthen any time period
under the Rights Agreement;  provided,  however, that no amendment to adjust the
time period  governing  redemption  shall be made at such time as the Rights are
not redeemable.

         This Summary of 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.




                                       4
<PAGE>



Item 2.  Exhibits.

         Number                     Exhibit

            1              Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") dated as of
                           August 21,  1998,  by and between the Company and the
                           Rights  Agent  (including  as  Exhibit A thereto  the
                           Articles of  Amendment to the  Company's  Articles of
                           Incorporation  setting  forth  the  terms  of  the of
                           Series B Junior Participating  Preferred Stock of the
                           Company,  as  Exhibit  B  thereto  the Form of Rights
                           Certificate  and as Exhibit C thereto  the Summary of
                           Rights).










































                                       5
<PAGE>


                                                SIGNATURES

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


                                            BERGER HOLDINGS, LTD.



Dated:  August 25, 1998              By: /s/ Joseph F. Weiderman
                                        ------------------------
                                        Name:  Joseph F. Weiderman
                                        Title:    President









































                                       6
<PAGE>


                                INDEX OF EXHIBITS



Number            Exhibit

   1              Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") dated
                  as of August 21, 1998, by and between the Company
                  and the Rights Agent (including as Exhibit A thereto
                  the Articles of Amendment to the Company's Articles
                  of Incorporation setting forth the terms of the of Series
                  B Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company,
                  as Exhibit B thereto the Form of Rights Certificate and
                  as Exhibit C thereto the Summary of Rights).








































                                       7
<PAGE>


                              BERGER HOLDINGS, LTD.

                                       and

                           OXFORD TRANSFER & REGISTRAR

                                       as

                                  Rights Agent



                                Rights Agreement

                           Dated as of August 21, 1998



































                                       8
<PAGE>


                                Table of Contents

                                                                 Page

Section 1.        Certain Definitions                              1

Section 2.        Appointment of Rights Agent                      4

Section 3.        Issue of Rights Certificates                     5

Section 4.        Form of Rights Certificates                      6

Section 5.        Countersignature and Registration                7

Section 6.        Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of
                  Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost
                  or Stolen Rights Certificates                    8

Section 7.        Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration
                  Date of Rights                                   8

Section 8.        Cancellation and Destruction of Rights
                  Certificates                                    10

Section 9.        Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock   11

Section 10.       Preferred Stock Record Date                     12

Section 11.       Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind
                  of Shares or Number of Rights                   12

Section 12.       Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or
                  Number of Shares                                20

Section 13.       Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
                  Assets or Earning Power                         20

Section 14.       Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares         23

Section 15.       Rights of Action                                24

Section 16.       Agreement of Rights Holders                     24

Section 17.       Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
                  Stockholder                                     25

Section 18.       Concerning the Rights Agent                     25

Section 19.       Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name
                  of Rights Agent                                 26

                                       9
<PAGE>

Section 20.       Duties of Rights Agent                          26

Section 21.       Change of Rights Agent                          28

Section 22.       Issuance of New Rights Certificates             29

Section 23.       Redemption and Termination                      30

Section 24.       Notice of Certain Events                        31

Section 25.       Notices                                         31

Section 26.       Supplements and Amendments                      32

Section 27.       Exchange                                        33

Section 28.       Successors                                      34

Section 29.       Determinations and Actions by the Board of
                  Directors, etc.                                 34

Section 30.       Benefits of this Agreement                      35

Section 31.       Severability                                    35

Section 32.       Governing Law                                   35

Section 33.       Counterparts                                    35

Section 34.       Descriptive Headings                            35


Exhibit A --   Articles of Amendment

Exhibit B --   Form of Rights Certificate

Exhibit C --   Summary of Rights to Purchase Series B
                  Junior Participating Preferred Stock






                                       10
<PAGE>


                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         RIGHTS  AGREEMENT,  dated as of  August  21,  1998  (the  "Agreement"),
between Berger Holdings, Ltd., a Pennsylvania  corporation (the "Company"),  and
Oxford Transfer & Registrar, an Oregon corporation (the "Rights Agent"),

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

         WHEREAS,  on August 21, 1998 (the "Rights Dividend  Declaration Date"),
the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  authorized  and  declared  a  dividend
distribution of one Right  ("Rights") for each share of Common Stock,  par value
$0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding at the close of
business on  September  17, 1998 (the "Record  Date"),  and has  authorized  the
issuance of one Right (as such number may  hereinafter  be adjusted  pursuant to
the  provisions  of Section  11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock issued
between  the  Record  Date  (whether  originally  issued or  delivered  from the
Company's  treasury) and the Distribution Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof),
each Right initially  representing the right to purchase one ten-thousandth of a
share  (a  "Unit")  of  Series  B  Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  (the
"Preferred Stock") of the Company having the rights,  powers and preferences set
forth in the form of Articles of Amendment,  amending the Company's  Articles of
Incorporation,  as  amended,  attached  hereto as  Exhibit A, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth.

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

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

                  (a)  "Acquiring  Person"  shall  mean any Person who or which,
together  with  all  Affiliates  and  Associates  of such  Person,  shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then  outstanding,
but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii)
any employee  benefit plan of the Company or of any  Subsidiary  of the Company,
(iv) any Person  organized,  appointed  or  established  by the  Company  for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or (v) any Exempted Person.

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

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

                           (i)      which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly  or  indirectly,  has the  right  to  acquire

                                       1
<PAGE>

(whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of
an event) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or
not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person
shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," (A)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person
or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities
are accepted for purchase or exchange, (B) securities issuable upon exercise of
Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, (C) securities
issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a Triggering
Event, which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section
3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i)
hereof in connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original
Rights, or (D) securities issued or issuable pursuant to any employee benefit
plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any employment
agreement, arrangement or other understanding between the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company and any Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates; or

                           (ii)     which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly,  has the right to vote or
dispose of or has  "beneficial ownership"  of (as  determined  pursuant to Rule
13d-3 of the General  Rules and Regulations  under the  Exchange  Act),
including  pursuant  to any  agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or
not in writing; provided, however, that a Person  shall not be deemed the
"Beneficial  Owner"  of, or to  "beneficially  own,"  any  security  under  this
subparagraph (ii) as a result of (A) an agreement,  arrangement or understanding
to vote such  security if such  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding:  (1)
arises  solely  from a revocable  proxy  given in response to a public  proxy or
consent  solicitation  made pursuant to, and in accordance  with, the applicable
provisions of the General Rules and Regulations  under the Exchange Act, and (2)
is not also then  reportable  by such Person on Schedule  13D under the Exchange
Act (or any  comparable  or  successor  report),  or (B)  securities  issued  or
issuable  pursuant to any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company or any employment  agreement,  arrangement or other understanding
between  the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the Company and any Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates; or

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

provided,  however,  that  nothing in this  paragraph  (c) shall  cause a Person
engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner"
of, or to  "beneficially  own," any  securities  acquired  through such Person's
participation  in  good  faith  in a  firm  commitment  underwriting  until  the
expiration of forty (40) days after the date of such acquisition;  and provided,
further,  however,  that  any  stockholder  of  the  Company,  with  Affiliates,
Associates or

                                       2
<PAGE>

other Person(s) who may be deemed representatives of it serving as
director(s)  or officer(s) of the Company,  shall not be deemed to  beneficially
own  securities  held by other Persons as a result of (i) Persons  affiliated or
otherwise  associated with such stockholder serving as director(s) or officer(s)
or taking any action in connection therewith,  (ii) discussing the status of its
shares with the Company or other  stockholders of the Company similarly situated
or (iii) voting or acting in a manner similar to other stockholder(s)  similarly
situated,  absent a  specific  finding by the Board of  Directors  of an express
agreement  among  such  stockholders  to act in  concert  with  one  another  as
stockholders  so as to  cause,  in the  good  faith  judgment  of the  Board  of
Directors,  each such  stockholder to be the Beneficial Owner of the shares held
by the other stockholder(s).

                  (d)  "Business  Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday  or a day on  which  banking  institutions  in the  State of 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., New York City time, on such date; provided,  however, that if such date is
not a  Business  Day it shall mean 5:00  P.M.,  New York City time,  on the next
succeeding Business Day.

                  (f)  "Common  Stock"  shall have the  meaning set forth in the
recital to this  Agreement,  except that "Common Stock" when used with reference
to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person
with the  greatest  voting  power,  or the  equity  securities  or other  equity
interest having power to control or direct the management, of such Person.

                  (g) "Exempted Person" shall mean any Person who, together with
all  Affiliates  and  Associates  of such  Person,  (i) on the  Rights  Dividend
Declaration  Date is the Beneficial  Owner of securities (as disclosed in public
filings with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on the Rights  Dividend
Declaration  Date),  representing  15% or more of the  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding  on such date;  or (ii) becomes the  Beneficial  Owner of securities
representing 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding  because
of a  reduction  in the  number  of  outstanding  shares of  Common  Stock  then
outstanding  as a result of the purchase by the Company or a  Subsidiary  of the
Company  of shares of Common  Stock;  provided,  however,  that any such  Person
described in clause (ii) shall no longer be deemed to be an Exempted  Person and
shall be deemed an Acquiring Person if such Person, together with all Affiliates
and Associates of such Person,  becomes the Beneficial  Owner, at any time after
the date such Person became the Beneficial  Owner of (and so long as such Person
continues  to be the  Beneficial  Owner of) 15% or more of the then  outstanding
shares of  Common  Stock of  additional  securities  representing  1,000 or more
shares of Common  Stock,  except  (x)  pursuant  to the  exercise  of options or
warrants to purchase  Common Stock  outstanding and  beneficially  owned by such
Person as of the date such Person became the Beneficial  Owner of 15% or more of
the then  outstanding  shares of Common Stock or as a result of an adjustment to
the number of shares of Common  Stock for which such  options  or  warrants  are
exercisable  pursuant to the terms thereof, or (y) as a result of a stock split,
stock dividend or the like. A purchaser, assignee

                                       3
<PAGE>

or transferee of the shares of Common Stock (or warrants or options  exercisable
for Common Stock) from an Exempted  Person shall not thereby  become an Exempted
Person,  except  that a  transferee  from the  estate  of an Exempt  Person  who
receives Common Stock as a bequest or inheritance from an Exempt Person shall be
an Exempt Person so long as such Person  continues to be the Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock.

                  (h) "Person"  shall mean any  individual,  firm,  corporation,
limited liability company, partnership or other entity.

                  (i)  "Preferred  Stock"  shall mean  shares of Series B Junior
Participating  Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company,  and,
to the  extent  that  there  are not a  sufficient  number of shares of Series B
Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of
the Rights,  any other series of Preferred  Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
the Company designated for such purpose containing terms  substantially  similar
to the terms of the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

                  (j)  "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described
in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

                  (k)  "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.

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

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

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

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




                                       4
<PAGE>

         Section 3.    Issue of Rights Certificates.

                  (a) Until the  earlier  of (i) the  close of  business  on the
tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day after the Stock
Acquisition  Date occurs  before the Record  Date,  the close of business on the
Record Date),  or (ii) the close of business on the tenth  business day (or such
later date as the Board of  Directors  of the Company  shall  determine  without
reference to Section 26 hereof)  after the date that a tender or exchange  offer
by any Person (other than any Exempted  Person,  the Company,  any Subsidiary of
the Company,  any employee  benefit plan of the Company or of any  Subsidiary of
the Company,  or any Person  organized,  appointed or established by the Company
for or  pursuant  to the terms of any such plan) is first  published  or sent or
given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General  Rules and  Regulations
under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation  thereof,  such Person would be the
Beneficial  Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then  outstanding
(the  earlier  of (i) and (ii) being  herein  referred  to as the  "Distribution
Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph
(b) of this Section 3) by the  certificates  for the Common Stock  registered in
the names of the  holders of the Common  Stock  (which  certificates  for Common
Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates  for Rights),  and not by separate
certificates,  and (y) the Rights will be  transferable  only in connection with
the transfer of the underlying  shares of Common Stock  (including a transfer to
the Company).  As soon as practicable  after the  Distribution  Date, the Rights
Agent will send by  first-class,  insured,  postage prepaid mail, to each record
holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date,
at the address of such holder shown on the records of the  Company,  one or more
rights certificates, in substantially the forms of Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights
Certificates"),  evidencing  one right for each  share of Common  Stock so held,
subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the
number of Rights  per share of Common  Stock has been made  pursuant  to Section
11(p)  hereof,  at the time of  distribution  of the  Rights  Certificates,  the
Company  shall make the  necessary  and  appropriate  rounding  adjustments  (in
accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights  Certificates  representing
only whole  numbers of Rights  are  distributed  and cash is paid in lieu of any
fractional  Rights.  As of and after the  Distribution  Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.

                  (b) As promptly as practicable  following the Record Date, the
Company  will send a copy of a Summary  of  Rights,  in  substantially  the form
attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class,  postage
prepaid  mail,  to each  record  holder of 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, the Rights will be evidenced by
such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered  holders of the Common
Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated  Rights.  Until the
earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (as such term is defined
in Section 7 hereof),  the transfer of any certificates  representing  shares of
Common Stock in respect of which  Rights have been issued shall also  constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.



                                       5

<PAGE>

                  (c) Rights  shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common
Stock  which  are  issued  (whether  originally  issued  or from  the  Company's
treasury)  after the Record  Date but prior to the  earlier of the  Distribution
Date or the Expiration  Date.  Certificates  representing  such shares of Common
Stock shall also be deemed to be  certificates  for  Rights,  and shall bear the
following legend: This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement  between Berger Holdings,
Ltd. (the "Company") and Oxford Transfer & Registrar (the "Rights Agent"), dated
as of August 21, 1998 (the  "Rights  Agreement"),  the terms of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal
offices of the Rights Agent.  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 Rights Agent will mail to
the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights  Agreement,  as in effect on
the date of mailing,  without charge promptly after receipt of a written request
therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement,  Rights
issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring  Person or
any  Affiliate  or  Associate  thereof  (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement),  whether  currently  held by or on behalf  of such  Person or by any
subsequent  holder,  may become null and void. With respect to such certificates
containing the foregoing legend,  until the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date
or (ii) the  Expiration  Date,  the  Rights  associated  with the  Common  Stock
represented by such certificates  shall be evidenced by such certificates  alone
and registered  holders of Common Stock shall also be the registered  holders of
the associated  Rights,  and the transfer of any of such certificates shall also
constitute  the  transfer  of  the  Rights  associated  with  the  Common  Stock
represented by such certificates.

         Section 4.    Form of Rights Certificates.

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

                  (b) Any Rights  Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring
Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring  Person,  (ii) a transferee
of an Acquiring  Person (or of any such  Associate or  Affiliate)  who becomes a
transferee  after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or

                                       6
<PAGE>

(iii)  a  transferee  of an  Acquiring  Person  (or of  any  such  Associate  or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently  with the Acquiring
Person  becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether  or not for  consideration)  from the  Acquiring  Person to  holders of
equity  interests  in such  Acquiring  Person  or to any  Person  with whom such
Acquiring  Person has any continuing  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding
regarding the transferred  Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors
of the Company has determined is part of a plan,  arrangement  or  understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect  avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof,  and
any Rights  Certificate  issued  pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon
transfer,  exchange,  replacement or adjustment of any other Rights  Certificate
referred  to in this  sentence,  shall  contain  (to the  extent  feasible)  the
following legend:  The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially  owned by a Person  who was or  became  an  Acquiring  Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring  Person (as such terms are defined in the
Rights  Agreement).   Accordingly,   this  Rights  Certificate  and  the  Rights
represented  hereby may become null and void in the  circumstances  specified in
Section 7(e) of such Agreement.

         Section 5.    Countersignature and Registration.

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

                  (b) Following the  Distribution  Date,  the Rights Agent shall
keep or cause to be kept, at its principal  office or offices  designated as the
appropriate  place  for  surrender  of  Rights  Certificates  upon  exercise  or
transfer,  books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder.  Such books  shall  show the names and  addresses  of the  respective
holders of the Rights  Certificates,  the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by  each  of the  Rights  Certificates  and  the  date  of  each  of the  Rights
Certificates.







                                       7
<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

                  (a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof,  the registered  holder of
any Rights  Certificate  may exercise the Rights  evidenced  thereby  (except as
otherwise  provided herein including,  without  limitation,  the restrictions on
exercisability  set forth in Section 9(c),  Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof)  in  whole or in part at any  time  after  the  Distribution  Date  upon
surrender of the Rights  Certificate,  with the form of election to purchase and
the  certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed,  to the Rights Agent
at the  principal  office or  offices of the Rights  Agent  designated  for such
purpose,  together with payment of the aggregate  Purchase

                                       8
<PAGE>

Price with  respect  to the total  number of one  ten-thousandths  of a share of
Preferred Stock (or other securities,  cash or other assets, as the case may be)
as to which such  surrendered  Rights are then  exercisable,  at or prior to the
earlier  of (i) the  close  of  business  on  September  17,  2008  (the  "Final
Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided
in Section 23 hereof (the  earlier of (i) and (ii) being  herein  referred to as
the "Expiration Date").

                  (b) The Purchase Price for each one  ten-thousandth of a share
of  Preferred  Stock  pursuant to the  exercise of a Right  shall  initially  be
$12.00,  and shall be subject to  adjustment  from time to time as  provided  in
Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance  with  paragraph
(c) below.

                  (c)  Upon  receipt  of  a  Rights   Certificate   representing
exercisable  Rights,  with the form of election to purchase and the  certificate
duly executed,  accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised,
of the Purchase Price per one  ten-thousandth  of a share of Preferred Stock (or
other  shares,  securities,  cash or  other  assets,  as the  case may be) to be
purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax,
the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof,  thereupon promptly (i)
(A)  requisition  from any transfer  agent of the shares of Preferred  Stock (or
make  available,  if the Rights  Agent is the  transfer  agent for such  shares)
certificates for the total number of one ten-thousandths of a share 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 shall have elected
to deposit the total number of shares of Preferred  Stock issuable upon exercise
of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary
agent depositary  receipts  representing such number of one ten-thousandths 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 shall direct the
depositary agent to comply with such request,  (ii) requisition from the Company
the  amount  of  cash,  if any,  to be paid in  lieu  of  fractional  shares  in
accordance with Section 14 hereof,  (iii) after receipt of such  certificates or
depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to, or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights  Certificate,  registered in such name or names
as may be designated by such holder,  and (iv) after  receipt  thereof,  deliver
such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered  holder of such Rights
Certificate.  The payment of the  Purchase  Price (as such amount may be reduced
pursuant to Section  11(a)(iii)  hereof)  shall be made in cash or by  certified
bank check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company.  In the event that
the Company is obligated to issue other securities  (including  Common Stock) of
the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof,  the Company  will make all  arrangements  necessary  so that such other
securities,  cash and/or other  property are available for  distribution  by the
Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. The Company reserves the right to require
prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of Rights,
a number of Rights be exercised  so that only whole  shares of  Preferred  Stock
would be issued.

                  (d) In case the  registered  holder of any Rights  Certificate
shall  exercise  less  than  all the  Rights  evidenced  thereby,  a new  Rights
Certificate  evidencing  Rights  equivalent to the Rights remaining  unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent and  delivered to, or upon

                                       9
<PAGE>

the order of, the registered  holder of such Rights  Certificate,  registered in
such  name  or  names  as may be  designated  by  such  holder,  subject  to the
provisions of Section 14 hereof.

                  (e)   Notwithstanding   anything  in  this  Agreement  to  the
contrary,  from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any
Rights  beneficially  owned  by (i)  an  Acquiring  Person  or an  Associate  or
Affiliate of an Acquiring  Person,  (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or
of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person  becomes such,  or (iii) a transferee  of an Acquiring  Person (or of any
such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee  prior to or  concurrently
with the Acquiring  Person  becoming  such and receives such Rights  pursuant to
either (A) a transfer  (whether  or not for  consideration)  from the  Acquiring
Person to holders of equity  interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person
with whom the Acquiring  Person has any  continuing  agreement,  arrangement  or
understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board
of Directors of the Company has  determined  is part of a plan,  arrangement  or
understanding  which has as a primary  purpose or effect the  avoidance  of this
Section  7(e),  shall  become null and void  without  any further  action and no
holder of such  Rights  shall have any rights  whatsoever  with  respect to such
Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise.  The Company
shall use all  reasonable  efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section
7(e) and Section  4(b) hereof are  complied  with but shall have no liability to
any holder of Rights  Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to
make any  determinations  with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder.

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

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



                                       10

<PAGE>

         Section 9.    Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.

                  (a) The Company  covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved  and kept  available  out of its  authorized  and  unissued  shares  of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its
authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities or out of
its authorized and issued shares held in its treasury),  the number of shares of
Preferred  Stock (and,  following the occurrence of a Triggering  Event,  Common
Stock and/or other  securities)  that, as provided in this Agreement,  including
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof,  will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of
all outstanding Rights.

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

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

                  (d) The  Company  covenants  and agrees  that it will take all
such  action as may be  necessary  to ensure that all one  ten-thousandths  of a
share of Preferred Stock (and,  following

                                       11
<PAGE>

the  occurrence  of a Triggering  Event,  Common Stock and/or other  securities)
delivered  upon  exercise  of  Rights  shall,  at the  time of  delivery  of the
certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly
and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

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

         Section 10.   Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name
any  certificate  for a number of one  ten-thousandths  of a share of  Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or  other  securities,  as the case may be) is issued
upon the  exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the
holder of record of such  fractional  shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other  securities,  as the case may be) represented  thereby on, and such
certificate  shall  be  dated,  the  date  upon  which  the  Rights  Certificate
evidencing  such Rights was duly  surrendered  and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable  transfer taxes) was made;  provided,  however,  that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred  Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities,  as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares  (fractional  or  otherwise)  on, and such  certificate  shall be
dated, the next succeeding  Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights  Certificate  shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company  with  respect  to shares  for which the  Rights  shall be  exercisable,
including,  without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.

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

                                       12
<PAGE>

                  (a) (i) In the event the  Company  shall at any time after the
date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred  Stock payable in
shares of Preferred  Stock,  (B) subdivide the outstanding  Preferred Stock, (C)
combine the outstanding  Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D)
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(a) and  Section  7(e)  hereof,  the
Purchase  Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of
the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the
number and kind of shares of Preferred  Stock or capital stock,  as the case may
be, issuable on such date, shall be proportionately  adjusted so that the holder
of any Right  exercised  after  such time shall be  entitled  to  receive,  upon
payment of the Purchase Price then in effect,  the aggregate  number and kind of
shares of Preferred  Stock or capital stock,  as the case may be, which, if such
Right had been exercised  immediately  prior to such date and at a time when the
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. If an event occurs which
would  require  an  adjustment  under both this  Section  11(a)(i)  and  Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment  provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be
in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment  required pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

                    (ii)     In the event any Person (other than an Exempted
Person, the Company,
any  Subsidiary of the Company,  any employee  benefit plan of the Company or of
any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person organized, appointed or established
by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), alone or together
with its Affiliates and Associates, shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration  Date,  become the Beneficial  Owner of 15% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding,  unless the event causing the 15% threshold to be
crossed is a transaction  set forth in Section 13(a) hereof or is an acquisition
of shares of Common Stock  pursuant to a tender  offer or an exchange  offer for
all outstanding  shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms determined by at
least  80% of the  members  of the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  after
receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms, to be (a) at a price
which is fair to  stockholders  (taking  into  account  all  factors  which such
members of the Board deem relevant,  including, without limitation, prices which
could  reasonably  be  achieved  if the  Company or its  assets  were sold on an
orderly basis  designed to realize  maximum value) and (b) otherwise in the best
interests  of the  Company  and  its  stockholders  (hereinafter  a  "Qualifying
Offer"), then, promptly following the occurrence of such event, proper provision
shall be made so that each holder of a Right  (except as  provided  below and in
Section 7(e) hereof) shall  thereafter have the right to receive,  upon exercise
thereof at the then current  Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement,  in lieu of a number of one  ten-thousandths  of a share 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 then
number of one  ten-thousandths  of a share of Preferred  Stock for which a Right
was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event,  and (y) dividing that product (which,  following such first  occurrence,
shall  thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase  Price" for each Right and for
all purposes of this  Agreement) by

                                       13
<PAGE>

50% of the Current  Market Price  (determined  pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
per share of Common Stock on the date of such first  occurrence  (such number of
shares, the "Adjustment Shares").

                           (iii) In the  event  that the  number  of  shares  of
Common Stock which are authorized by the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation
but not  outstanding  or reserved  for  issuance  for  purposes  other than upon
exercise of the Rights are not  sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the
Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a),
the Company shall (A) determine the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon
the  exercise of a Right (the  "Current  Value"),  and (B) with  respect to each
Right  (subject to Section 7(e) hereof),  make adequate  provision to substitute
for the  Adjustment  Shares,  upon the  exercise  of a Right and  payment of the
applicable  Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3)
Common  Stock or other  equity  securities  of the Company  (including,  without
limitation,  shares,  or  units  of  shares,  of  preferred  stock,  such as the
Preferred Stock,  which the Board of Directors of the Company has deemed to have
essentially  the same value or economic  rights as shares of Common  Stock (such
shares of preferred stock being referred to as "Common Stock Equivalents")), (4)
debt securities of the Company,  (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the
foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount
of any reduction in the Purchase  Price),  where such  aggregate  value has been
determined  by the  Board  based  upon the  advice  of a  nationally  recognized
investment banking firm selected by the Board;  provided,  however,  that if the
Company  shall not have made  adequate  provision to deliver  value  pursuant to
clause (B) above within  thirty (30) days  following  the later of (x) the first
occurrence of a Section  11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company's
right of redemption  pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y)
being  referred to herein as the "Section  11(a)(ii)  Trigger  Date"),  then the
Company  shall be obligated  to deliver,  upon the  surrender  for exercise of a
Right and without  requiring  payment of the  Purchase  Price,  shares of Common
Stock (to the extent  available)  and then,  if  necessary,  cash,  which shares
and/or cash have an  aggregate  value equal to the Spread.  For  purposes of the
preceding  sentence,  the term "Spread" shall mean the excess of (i) the Current
Value over (ii) the  Purchase  Price.  If the Board of  Directors of the Company
determines in good faith that it is likely that sufficient  additional shares of
Common  Stock could be  authorized  for  issuance  upon  exercise in full of the
Rights,  the  thirty-day  period set forth  above may be  extended to the extent
necessary,  but not more than  ninety  (90) days  after  the  Section  11(a)(ii)
Trigger  Date, in order that the Company may seek  stockholder  approval for the
authorization of such additional  shares (such thirty-day  period,  as it may be
extended, is herein called the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that action
is to be taken  pursuant to the first  and/or  third  sentences  of this Section
11(a)(iii),  the Company (1) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that
such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (2) may suspend
the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period
in order to seek such stockholder  approval for such authorization of additional
shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant
to such first sentence and to determine the value  thereof.  In the event of any
such suspension,  the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes
of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of each

                                       14
<PAGE>

Adjustment Share shall be the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock
on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the per share or per unit value of any
Common Stock  Equivalent  shall be deemed to equal the Current  Market Price per
share of the Common Stock on such date.

                  (b) In case  the  Company  shall  fix a  record  date  for the
issuance  of rights,  options or  warrants  to all  holders of  Preferred  Stock
entitling  them to  subscribe  for or  purchase  (for a period  expiring  within
forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) Preferred Stock (or shares
having the same rights,  privileges  and  preferences as the shares of Preferred
Stock ("equivalent  preferred stock")) or securities  convertible into Preferred
Stock or equivalent  preferred  stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or
per share of equivalent preferred stock (or having a conversion price per share,
if a security  convertible  into Preferred Stock or equivalent  preferred stock)
less than the Current  Market  Price (as  determined  pursuant to Section  11(d)
hereof) per share of Preferred  Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to
be in effect  after such  record date shall be  determined  by  multiplying  the
Purchase  Price in effect  immediately  prior to such record date by a fraction,
the  numerator  of which  shall be the  number  of  shares  of  Preferred  Stock
outstanding  on such record date,  plus the number of shares of Preferred  Stock
which the  aggregate  offering  price of the total number of shares of Preferred
Stock and/or  equivalent  preferred stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial  conversion price of the convertible  securities so to be offered) would
purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of which shall be the
number of shares of 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 price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or all of which
may be in a form other than cash,  the value of such  consideration  shall be as
determined  in good  faith  by the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  whose
determination  shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be binding on the Rights  Agent and the holders of the  Rights.  Shares of
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.

                  (c)  In  case  the  Company  shall  fix a  record  date  for 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 corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular
quarterly  cash  dividend  out of  the  earnings  or  retained  earnings  of the
Company),  assets  (other  than a  dividend  payable  in  Preferred  Stock,  but
including  any  dividend  payable  in  stock  other  than  Preferred  Stock)  or
subscription  rights or warrants  (excluding  those referred to in Section 11(b)
hereof),  the  Purchase  Price to be in effect  after such  record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction,  the  numerator of which shall be the Current  Market
Price (as  determined  pursuant to Section  11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred
Stock on such record  date,  less the fair market

                                       15
<PAGE>

value (as  determined  in good faith by the Board of  Directors  of the Company,
whose  determination  shall be  described  in a statement  filed with the Rights
Agent) of the portion of the cash,  assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be
distributed or of such subscription  rights or warrants applicable to a share of
Preferred  Stock and the denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price
(as determined  pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per 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 be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.

                  (d) (i) For the purpose of any  computation  hereunder,  other
than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Market
Price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of
the daily  closing  prices per share of such  Common  Stock for the thirty  (30)
consecutive  Trading Days  immediately  prior to such date,  and for purposes of
computations  made pursuant to Section  11(a)(iii)  hereof,  the Current  Market
Price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of
the  daily  closing  prices  per  share of such  Common  Stock  for the ten (10)
consecutive  Trading Days immediately  following such date;  provided,  however,
that in the event that the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock is
determined  during a period  following  the  announcement  by the issuer of such
Common Stock of (A) a dividend or  distribution  on such Common Stock payable in
shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common
Stock  (other  than  the  Rights),  or  (B)  any  subdivision,   combination  or
reclassification  of such  Common  Stock,  and the  ex-dividend  date  for  such
dividend or distribution,  or the record date for such subdivision,  combination
or  reclassification  shall not have occurred prior to the  commencement  of the
requisite  thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period,  as set forth
above,  then,  and in each such case, the Current Market Price shall be properly
adjusted to take into account  ex-dividend  trading.  The closing price for each
day shall be the last sale price,  regular  way,  or, in case no such sale takes
place on such day,  the average of the high  closing  bid and low asked  prices,
regular  way,  in  either  case  as  reported  by the  National  Association  of
Securities  Dealers,  Inc. Automated  Quotation System ("NASDAQ") Stock Market's
National Market ("NNM") or SmallCap Market  ("SCM"),  as applicable,  or, if the
shares of such Common Stock are not included for quotation on the NNM or SCM, as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed on the principal national  securities exchange on which the
shares of such Common  Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares
of such  Common  Stock are not listed or  admitted  to  trading on any  national
securities exchange,  the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by
NASDAQ or such other  system then in use,  or, if on any such date the shares of
such Common  Stock are not quoted by any such  organization,  the average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional  market maker making
a market in such Common Stock selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.
If on any such date no market maker is making a market in such Common Stock, the
fair value of such shares on such date as  determined in good faith by the Board
shall be used.  The term  "Trading  Day" shall mean a day on which the principal
national  securities  exchange  (which,  for purposes of this  Agreement,  shall
include  the NNM and SCM) on which  the  shares of  Common  Stock are  listed or
admitted to trading is open for the


                                       16

<PAGE>

transaction  of  business  or, if the  shares of Common  Stock are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities  exchange, a Business Day. If the
Common Stock is not  publicly  held or not so listed or traded,  Current  Market
Price per share shall mean the fair value per share as  determined in good faith
by the Board, whose  determination  shall be described in a statement filed with
the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.

                      (ii)     For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
Current  Market Price per 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(d) (other than the last  sentence  thereof).  If the Current  Market
Price per 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(d),  the Current Market Price
per share of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively  deemed to be an amount equal
to 10,000 (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.  If  neither  the  Common  Stock nor the
Preferred  Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded,  Current  Market Price
per  share  of the  Preferred  Stock  shall  mean the fair  value  per  share as
determined  in good  faith  by the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  whose
determination  shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes.  For all purposes of this  Agreement,  the
Current Market Price of a Unit shall be equal to the Current Market Price of one
share of Preferred Stock divided by 10,000.

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

                  (f) If as a result of an  adjustment  made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter  exercised
shall  become  entitled  to  receive  any  shares of  capital  stock  other than
Preferred  Stock,  thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon
exercise  of any  Right and the  Purchase  Price  thereof  shall be  subject  to
adjustment  from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly  equivalent  as
practicable to the provisions  with respect to the Preferred  Stock contained in
Sections  11(a),  (b),  (c),  (e),  (g),  (h),  (i),  (j),  (k) and (m), and the
provisions  of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred
Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.

                                       17
<PAGE>

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

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

                  (i)  The  Company  may  elect  on or  after  the  date  of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights,  in lieu of any
adjustment in the number of one  ten-thousandths  of a share of Preferred  Stock
purchasable upon the exercise of a Right.  Each of the Rights  outstanding after
the  adjustment in the number of Rights shall be  exercisable  for the number of
one  ten-thousandths  of a share  of  Preferred  Stock  for  which  a Right  was
exercisable  immediately  prior to such  adjustment.  Each  Right held of record
prior to such  adjustment  of the number of Rights  shall  become that number of
Rights (calculated to the nearest one  ten-thousandth)  obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect  immediately  prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price
by the Purchase  Price in effect  immediately  after  adjustment of the Purchase
Price.  The Company shall make a public  announcement  of its election to adjust
the number of Rights,  indicating  the record date for the  adjustment,  and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may
be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter,  but,
if the Rights  Certificates  have been  issued,  shall be at least ten (10) days
later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been
issued,  upon each  adjustment of the number of Rights  pursuant to this Section
11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing,  subject to Section 14 hereof,  the additional  Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such  adjustment,  or, at the option of
the  Company,  shall  cause to be  distributed  to such  holders  of  record  in
substitution  and replacement for the Rights  Certificates  held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment,  and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall  be  entitled  after  such  adjustment.   Rights  Certificates  so  to  be
distributed  shall be issued,  executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein (and may bear,  at the option of the Company,  the adjusted  Purchase
Price) and shall be  registered  in the names of the holders of record of Rights
Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.

                                       18

<PAGE>

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

                  (k) Before  taking any action that would  cause an  adjustment
reducing the Purchase  Price below the then stated value,  if any, of the number
of one  ten-thousandths  of a share of 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 such number of one ten-thousandths of
a share of Preferred Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.

                  (l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment  in the  Purchase  Price be made  effective as of a record date for a
specified  event,  the Company may elect to defer until the  occurrence  of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right  exercised  after such record date
the  number  of one  ten-thousandths  of a share of  Preferred  Stock  and other
capital stock or securities of the Company,  if any, issuable upon such exercise
over and above the number of one  ten-thousandths  of a share 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 (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of
the event requiring such adjustment.

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

                  (n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the  Distribution  Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other
than a Subsidiary  of the Company in a transaction  which  complies with Section
11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary
of the Company in a transaction  which complies with Section 11(o)  hereof),  or
(iii) sell or transfer (or permit any  Subsidiary to sell or  transfer),  in one
transaction,  or a series  of  related  transactions,  assets or  earning  power
aggregating  more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons  (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or

                                       19
<PAGE>

more transactions  each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof),  if (x) at
the time of or immediately  after such  consolidation,  merger or sale there are
any  rights,   warrants  or  other  instruments  or  securities  outstanding  or
agreements in effect which would  substantially  diminish or otherwise eliminate
the  benefits   intended  to  be  afforded  by  the  Rights  or  (y)  prior  to,
simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the
stockholders of the Person who constitutes,  or would constitute, the "Principal
Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have  received a  distribution
of  Rights  previously  owned  by  such  Person  or any of  its  Affiliates  and
Associates.

                  (o)  The  Company   covenants  and  agrees  that,   after  the
Distribution  Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26
hereof,  take (or permit any  Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is  reasonably  foreseeable  that such action  will  diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.

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

         Section 12.   Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number
of Shares.  Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section
13 hereof,  the Company shall (a) promptly  prepare a certificate  setting forth
such  adjustment  and a  brief  statement  of  the  facts  accounting  for  such
adjustment,  (b) promptly  file with the Rights  Agent,  and with each  transfer
agent for the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such  certificate,
and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or,
if prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate  representing
shares of Common Stock) in accordance  with Section 25 hereof.  The Rights Agent
shall  be  fully  protected  in  relying  on  any  such  certificate  and on any
adjustment therein contained.

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

                  (a) In the event that,  following the Stock  Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly,  (x) the Company shall  consolidate  with, or merge with
and into,  any  other  Person  (other  than a  Subsidiary  of the  Company  in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o)

                                       20
<PAGE>

hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such  consolidation  or merger,  (y) any Person  (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a  transaction  which  complies  with  Section  11(o)  hereof)  shall
consolidate  with, or merge with or into, the Company,  and the Company shall be
the continuing or surviving  corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in
connection  with such  consolidation  or merger,  all or part of the outstanding
shares of Common  Stock shall be changed  into or  exchanged  for stock or other
securities of any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company
shall sell or otherwise  transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell
or otherwise transfer),  in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons
(other  than  the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  of the  Company  in one or  more
transactions  each of which  complies with Section 11(o)  hereof),  then, and in
each such case (except as may be contemplated  by Section 13(d) hereof),  proper
provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right,  except as provided
in Section 7(e) hereof,  shall  thereafter  have the right to receive,  upon the
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
of this  Agreement,  such number of validly  authorized and issued,  fully paid,
non-assessable  and freely  tradeable  shares of Common  Stock of the  Principal
Party  (as  such  term  is  hereinafter  defined),  not  subject  to any  liens,
encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal
to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the
number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or,
if a Section  11(a)(ii)  Event has occurred  prior to the first  occurrence of a
Section 13 Event,  multiplying the number of such one ten-thousandths of a share
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section  11(a)(ii)  Event by the Purchase Price in effect  immediately  prior to
such first  occurrence),  and dividing that product (which,  following the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event,  shall be referred to as the "Purchase  Price"
for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by (2) 50% of the Current
Market Price  (determined  pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share of the
Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section
13 Event;  (ii) such Principal  Party shall  thereafter be liable for, and shall
assume,  by virtue of such Section 13 Event,  all the  obligations and duties of
the  Company  pursuant  to  this  Agreement;  (iii)  the  term  "Company"  shall
thereafter be deemed to refer to such  Principal  Party,  it being  specifically
intended  that the  provisions  of  Section 11 hereof  shall  apply only to such
Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event;  (iv) such
Principal  Party  shall  take such steps  (including,  but not  limited  to, the
reservation of a sufficient  number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection
with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that
the provisions  hereof shall  thereafter be applicable,  as nearly as reasonably
may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock  thereafter  deliverable  upon
the exercise of the Rights;  and (v) the provisions of Section  11(a)(ii) hereof
shall be of no effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.

                                       21

<PAGE>

                  (b)      "Principal Party" shall mean:

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

                           (ii)     in the case of any transaction described in
clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a),  the Person that is the party
receiving  the  greatest  portion  of the assets or  earning  power  transferred
pursuant to such transaction or  transactions;  provided,  however,  that in any
such case,  (1) if the Common  Stock of such  Person is not at such time and has
not been  continuously over the preceding  twelve-month  period registered under
Section  12 of the  Exchange  Act,  and  such  Person  is a direct  or  indirect
Subsidiary  of  another  Person  the  Common  Stock  of which is and has been so
registered,  "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; and (2) in case
such Person is a Subsidiary,  directly or  indirectly,  of more than one Person,
the  Common  Stocks  of two or more of which  are and have  been so  registered,
"Principal  Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the
Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.

                  (c) The Company shall not consummate  any such  consolidation,
merger,  sale or transfer  unless the  Principal  Party shall have a  sufficient
number of authorized  shares of its Common Stock,  which have not been issued or
reserved  for  issuance,  to  permit  the  exercise  in  full of the  Rights  in
accordance  with this Section 13 and unless  prior  thereto the Company and such
Principal  Party  shall  have  executed  and  delivered  to the  Rights  Agent a
supplemental  agreement  providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and
(b) of this Section 13 and further  providing that, as soon as practicable after
the date of any  consolidation,  merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph
(a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party will:

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

                           (ii)     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 (or any successor form).

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

                                       22

<PAGE>

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

         Section 14.   Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

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

                  (b) The Company  shall not be required to issue  fractions  of
shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral  multiples of
one ten-thousandth 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  ten-thousandth  of a
share of Preferred  Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that
are not integral  multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock,
the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein

                                       23
<PAGE>

provided  an amount in cash equal to the same  fraction  of the  current  market
value of one  ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this
Section  14(b),  the current  market value of one  ten-thousandth  of a share of
Preferred Stock shall be one  ten-thousandth  of the closing price of a share of
Preferred  Stock (as determined  pursuant to Section  11(d)(ii)  hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

                  (c)  Following  the  occurrence  of a  Triggering  Event,  the
Company shall not be required to issue  fractions of shares of Common Stock upon
exercise of the Rights or to distribute  certificates which evidence  fractional
shares of Common  Stock.  In lieu of  fractional  shares  of Common  Stock,  the
Company may pay to the  registered  holders of Rights  Certificates  at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction  of the  current  market  value of one (1) share of Common  Stock.  For
purposes of this  Section  14(c),  the current  market value of one (1) share of
Common  Stock  shall be the closing  price of one (1) share of Common  Stock (as
determined  pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise.

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

         Section 15.   Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement  are  vested  in the  respective  registered  holders  of  the  Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution  Date, of the Common Stock),  without the consent of the Rights
Agent  or of the  holder  of any  other  Rights  Certificate  (or,  prior to the
Distribution  Date, of the Common  Stock),  may, in such holder's own behalf and
for such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit,
action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect
of,  such  holder's  right to  exercise  the  Rights  evidenced  by such  Rights
Certificate  in the  manner  provided  in such  Rights  Certificate  and in this
Agreement.  Without  limiting the  foregoing  or any  remedies  available to the
holders of Rights,  it is specifically  acknowledged  that the holders of Rights
would not have an adequate  remedy at law for any breach of this  Agreement  and
shall be entitled to  specific  performance  of the  obligations  hereunder  and
injunctive  relief  against actual or threatened  violations of the  obligations
hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.

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

                  (a)      prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;

                  (b) after the Distribution  Date, the Rights  Certificates are
transferable  only on the registry  books of the Rights Agent if  surrendered at
the  principal  office  or  offices  of the

                                       24
<PAGE>

Rights Agent  designated  for such  purposes,  duly endorsed or accompanied by a
proper  instrument of transfer and with the appropriate  forms and  certificates
fully executed;

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

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

         Section 17.   Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Rights  Certificate  shall be entitled to vote,  receive
dividends  or be  deemed  for  any  purpose  the  holder  of the  number  of one
ten-thousandths  of a share of Preferred  Stock or any other  securities  of the
Company  which  may at any  time  be  issuable  on the  exercise  of the  Rights
represented  thereby,  nor shall  anything  contained  herein  or in any  Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter  submitted to  stockholders  at any
meeting thereof,  or to give or withhold consent to any corporate  action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions  affecting  stockholders  (except as
provided in Section 24 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription  rights,
or  otherwise,  until the Right or Rights  evidenced by such Rights  Certificate
shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

         Section 18.   Concerning the Rights Agent.

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

                                       25
<PAGE>

connection with the acceptance and  administration of this Agreement,  including
the costs and  expenses  of  defending  against  any claim of  liability  in the
premises.

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

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

                  (a)  Any  corporation  into  which  the  Rights  Agent  or any
successor  Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be  consolidated,  or
any corporation  resulting from any merger or  consolidation to which the Rights
Agent  or any  successor  Rights  Agent  shall be a  party,  or any  corporation
succeeding to the corporate trust or 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,  however,  that  such
corporation  would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under
the provisions of Section 21 hereof.  In case at the time such successor  Rights
Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this  Agreement,  any of the Rights
Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor
Rights Agent may adopt the  countersignature  of a predecessor  Rights Agent and
deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned;  and in case at that time any
of the Rights  Certificates  shall not have been  countersigned,  any  successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights  Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor or in the name of the successor  Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such  Rights  Certificates  shall  have the full  force  provided  in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.

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

         Section 20.   Duties of Rights Agent. The  Rights  Agent  undertakes
the duties and  obligations  imposed by this Agreement upon the following  terms
and  conditions,  by  all of  which  the  Company  and  the  holders  of  Rights
Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

                  (a) The Rights Agent may consult  with legal  counsel (who may
be legal counsel for the Company),  and the advice of such counsel shall be full
and complete

                                       26
<PAGE>

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

                  (b)  Whenever  in the  performance  of its  duties  under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (including,  without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and
the  determination  of "Current  Market  Price") be proved or established by the
Company prior to taking or suffering any action  hereunder,  such fact or matter
(unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may
be deemed to be conclusively  proved and established by a certificate  signed by
the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any
Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full  authorization
to the Rights  Agent for any action  taken or suffered in good faith by it under
the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

                  (c) The Rights  Agent shall be liable  hereunder  only for its
own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

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

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

                                       27
<PAGE>

President,  any Vice  President,  the Secretary,  any Assistant  Secretary,  the
Treasurer  or any  Assistant  Treasurer  of the  Company,  and to  apply to such
officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties,  and it shall
not be liable for any action  taken or  suffered to be taken by it in good faith
in accordance with instructions of any such officer.

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

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

                  (j) No provision of this  Agreement  shall  require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability
in the  performance  of any of its duties  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 Rights Certificate  surrendered to
the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer,  the certificate attached to the form
of  assignment  or form of election to purchase,  as the case may be, has either
not been  completed or indicates  an  affirmative  response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the Company.

         Section 21.   Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor  Rights Agent may resign and be discharged  from its duties under this
Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to
each transfer  agent of the Common Stock and Preferred  Stock,  by registered or
certified  mail,  and to the holders of the Rights  Certificates  by first-class
mail.  The Company may, in its sole  discretion,  remove the Rights Agent or any
successor  Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing,  mailed to the
Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Stock and Preferred  Stock, by registered or certified mail,
and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights
Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise  become incapable of acting,
the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.  If the Company shall
fail to make such  appointment  within a period of thirty (30) days after giving
notice  of such  removal  or after  it has  been  notified  in  writing  of such
resignation or incapacity by the resigning or  incapacitated  Rights Agent or by
the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such

                                       28
<PAGE>

notice,  submit his Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company),  then any
registered holder of any Rights  Certificate may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction  for the  appointment of a new Rights Agent.  Any successor  Rights
Agent,  whether  appointed  by the  Company  or by  such  a  court,  shall  be a
corporation  organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of any state of the United States,  in good standing,  which is authorized under
such laws to exercise  corporate  trust powers and is subject to  supervision or
examination  by  federal  or state  authority  and  which has at the time of its
appointment  as  Rights  Agent  a  combined  capital  and  surplus  of at  least
$100,000,000. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with
the  same  powers,  rights,  duties  and  responsibilities  as  if it  had  been
originally  named  as  Rights  Agent  without  further  act  or  deed;  but  the
predecessor  Rights  Agent shall  deliver and transfer to the  successor  Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance,  conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such  appointment,  the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor  Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Stock and the Preferred  Stock,  and mail a notice thereof in writing
to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice
provided  for in this  Section 21,  however,  or any defect  therein,  shall not
affect the  legality  or validity  of the  resignation  or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

         Section 22.   Issuance of New Rights Certificates.  Notwithstanding
any of the  provisions of this  Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary,  the
Company may, at its option,  issue new Rights Certificates  evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change  in the  Purchase  Price and the  number or kind or class of shares or
other securities or property  purchasable under the Rights  Certificates made in
accordance  with the provisions of this  Agreement.  In addition,  in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock  following the  Distribution
Date and prior to the  redemption or  expiration of the Rights,  the Company (a)
shall,  with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the
exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement,  granted or
awarded  as of the  Distribution  Date,  or upon  the  exercise,  conversion  or
exchange of securities  hereinafter  issued by the Company,  and (b) may, in any
other case, if deemed  necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights
in connection with such issuance or sale;  provided,  however,  that (i) no such
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall
be advised by counsel  that such  issuance  would create a  significant  risk of
material  adverse  tax  consequences  to the  Company or the Person to whom such
Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be
issued if, and to the extent that,  appropriate  adjustment shall otherwise have
been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.

         Section 23.   Redemption and Termination.

                  (a) The Board of  Directors of the Company may, at its option,
at any time prior to the  earlier of (i) the close of  business on the tenth day
following the Stock  Acquisition  Date (or, if the Stock  Acquisition Date shall
have occurred  prior to the Record Date,  the close of

                                       29
<PAGE>

business on the twentieth  day  following  the Record  Date),  or (ii) the Final
Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at
a  redemption  price of $0.001 per Right,  as such  amount may be  appropriately
adjusted  to reflect any stock  split,  stock  dividend  or similar  transaction
occurring  after  the date  hereof  (such  redemption  price  being  hereinafter
referred  to as the  "Redemption  Price");  provided,  however,  if the Board of
Directors of the Company  authorizes  redemption  of the Rights in either of the
circumstances set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) below, such authorization  shall
require the  approval  of at least 80% of the members of the Board of  Directors
then in  office:  (i) such  authorization  occurs  on or after the time a Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, or (ii) such  authorization  occurs (A) on or after
the  date of a change  (resulting  from a proxy or  consent  solicitation  or an
action by written consent of stockholders,  whether or not made pursuant to, and
in  accordance  with,  the  applicable  provisions  of  the  General  Rules  and
Regulations  under the Exchange Act) in a majority of the directors in office at
the commencement of such solicitation or action by written consent, or (B) prior
to  such  written  consent,   if  any  Person  who  is  a  participant  in  such
solicitation,  or  who  signed  such  consent,  has  stated  (or,  if  upon  the
commencement  of such  solicitation,  a majority  of the members of the Board of
Directors of the Company has  determined in good faith) that such Person (or any
of its Affiliates or Associates)  intends to take, or may consider  taking,  any
action which would result in such Person  becoming an Acquiring  Person or which
would cause the occurrence of a Triggering  Event unless,  concurrent  with such
solicitation,  such Person (or one or more of its  Affiliates or  Associates) is
making a cash tender offer pursuant to a Schedule 14D-1 (or any successor  form)
filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission for all outstanding shares of
Common  Stock not  beneficially  owned by such Person (or by its  Affiliates  or
Associates).  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this  Agreement  to  the
contrary,  the Rights shall not be exercisable  after the first  occurrence of a
Section  11(a)(ii)  Event until such time as the  Company's  right of redemption
hereunder has expired.  The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price
in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on the "Current Market Price," as defined
in Section  11(d)(i)  hereof,  of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or
any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.

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

                                       30
<PAGE>

         Section 24.   Notice of Certain Events.

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

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

         Section 25.   Notices. Notices or demands  authorized  by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently  given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid,  addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

                                       31

<PAGE>

                  Berger Holdings, Ltd.
                  805 Pennsylvania Avenue
                  Feasterville, PA  19053
                  Attention:  Chairman

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

                  Oxford  Transfer  &  Registrar
                  317  SW  Alders,   Suite  1120
                  Portland, OR 97204

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

         Section 26.   Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution
Date and subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 26, the Company and
the Rights  Agent  shall,  if the  Company so directs,  supplement  or amend any
provision of this Agreement  without the approval of any holders of certificates
representing shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that following the first
occurrence of an event set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of the first proviso of
Section  23(a)  hereof,  any  supplement  or amendment of this  Agreement  which
shortens  or  lengthens  any time  period  hereunder  or  adversely  affects the
interests of the holders of Rights  Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring  Person) shall require the approval
of at least 80% of the members of the Board of  Directors  then in office.  From
and after the Distribution Date and subject to the penultimate  sentence of this
Section 26, the Company and the Rights Agent  shall,  if the Company so directs,
supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights
Certificates  in order (i) to cure any ambiguity,  (ii) to correct or supplement
any provision  contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent  with any
other provisions herein,  (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder
(which lengthening or shortening, following the first occurrence of an event set
forth in clauses  (i) and (ii) of the first  proviso to  Section  23(a)  hereof,
shall  require  the  approval  of at least  80% of the  members  of the Board of
Directors  then in  office),  or (iv) to change  or  supplement  the  provisions
hereunder  in any manner which the Company may deem  necessary or desirable  and
which  shall  not  adversely  affect  the  interests  of the  holders  of Rights
Certificates  (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person); provided,  however, this Agreement may not be supplemented or
amended to  lengthen,  whether  prior to, from or after the  Distribution  Date,
pursuant  to clause  (iii) of this  sentence  or  otherwise,  (A) a time  period
relating  to when the Rights may be  redeemed at such time as the Rights are not
then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such lengthening is for the
purpose of

                                       32
<PAGE>

protecting,  enhancing or clarifying  the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the
holders  of Rights.  Upon the  delivery  of a  certificate  from an  appropriate
officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is
in compliance  with the terms of this Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute
such  supplement  or  amendment.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this
Agreement  to the  contrary,  no  supplement  or  amendment  shall be made which
changes the Redemption  Price,  the Final Expiration Date, the Purchase Price or
the  number of one  ten-thousandths  of a share of  Preferred  Stock for which a
Right is  exercisable.  Prior to the  Distribution  Date,  the  interests of the
holders of Rights shall be deemed  coincident  with the interests of the holders
of Common Stock.

         Section 27.   Exchange.

                  (a) (i) The Company may, at its option,  at any time after the
Stock  Acquisition  Date,  upon  resolution  by the  Board of  Directors  of the
Company,  exchange all or part of the then  outstanding and  exercisable  Rights
(which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions
of Section 7(e)  hereof) for 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 of this Agreement (such
exchange  ratio being  hereinafter  referred to as the "Section  27(a)  Exchange
Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not effect such exchange
at any time after any Acquiring  Person becomes the  Beneficial  Owner of 50% or
more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

                           (ii)     Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Section 27(a) to the contrary,  the Company may not exchange any Rights pursuant
to this Section  27(a)  unless such  exchange is approved by at least 80% of the
members of the Board of Directors then in office.

                  (b)  Immediately  upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company  ordering  the exchange of any Rights  pursuant to paragraph  (a) of
this Section 27 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 Section
27(a) Exchange Ratio.  The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such
exchange;  provided,  however,  that the failure to give, or any defect in, such
notice  shall not affect the  validity of such  exchange.  The Company  promptly
shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at
their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent.
Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein  provided shall be deemed given,
whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will
state the method by which the  exchange of the shares of Common Stock for Rights
will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights
which will be exchanged.  Any partial  exchange shall be effected pro rata based
on the number of Rights  (other than Rights  which have become void  pursuant to
the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.

                                       33
<PAGE>

                  (c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient  shares of
Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any
exchange  of Rights as  contemplated  in  accordance  with this  Section 27, the
Company shall make adequate  provision to  substitute,  to the extent that there
are  insufficient  shares of Common Stock  available (1) cash,  (2) other equity
securities of the Company,  (3) debt securities of the Company, (4) other assets
or (5) any  combination  of the foregoing,  having an aggregate  value per Right
equal to the then current per share market price (determined pursuant to Section
11(d)  hereof) of the Common  Stock  multiplied  by the Section  27(a)  Exchange
Ratio. To the extent that the Company determined that any such substitution must
be made,  the Company shall provide,  subject to Section 7(e) hereof,  that such
substitution shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights.

                  (d) The Company  shall not be required to issue  fractions  of
shares of Common Stock or to distribute  certificates which evidence  fractional
shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional  shares of Common Stock,  the
Company  shall pay to the  registered  holders of the Rights  Certificates  with
regard to which  such  fractional  shares of Common  Stock  would  otherwise  be
issuable  an amount in cash equal to the same  fraction  of the  current  market
value of a whole share of Common Stock.  For the purposes of this paragraph (d),
the current  market  value of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing
price of a share of Common Stock (as determined  pursuant to the second sentence
of Section  11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day  immediately  prior to the date of
the exchange pursuant to this Section 27.

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

         Section 29.   Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors,
etc.  For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of
shares of  Common  Stock  outstanding  at any  particular  time,  including  for
purposes of determining the particular  percentage of such outstanding shares of
Common  Stock of which any  Person  is the  Beneficial  Owner,  shall be made in
accordance  with the last sentence of Rule  13d-3(d)(1)(i)  of the General Rules
and  Regulations  under the Exchange  Act. The Board of Directors of the Company
(subject to, where specifically provided for herein, the requirement of approval
by at least 80% of the members of the Board of Directors  then in office)  shall
have the  exclusive  power and  authority to  administer  this  Agreement and to
exercise all rights and powers  specifically  granted to the Board  (subject to,
where specifically  provided for herein, the requirement of approval by at least
80% of the members of the Board of Directors  then in office) or to the Company,
or as may be necessary or advisable  in the  administration  of this  Agreement,
including,  without  limitation,  the  right  and  power  to (i)  interpret  the
provisions of this Agreement,  and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary
or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination
to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions,
calculations,  interpretations  and determinations  (including,  for purposes of
clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or
made by the Board  (subject to,  where  specifically  provided  for herein,  the
requirement of approval by at least 80% of the members of the Board of Directors
then in office) in good faith, shall (x) be final,

                                       34
<PAGE>

conclusive  and binding on the  Company,  the Rights  Agent,  the holders of the
Rights and all other parties,  and (y) not subject the Board to any liability to
the holders of the Rights.

         Section 30.   Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be  construed  to give to any Person  other than the  Company,  the Rights
Agent and the registered  holders of the Rights  Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution  Date,  registered  holders  of the  Common  Stock)  any  legal  or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement;  but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive  benefit of the Company,  the Rights Agent and the
registered  holders of the Rights  Certificates  (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).

         Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction  of this Agreement is held by a court of competent  jurisdiction  or
other  authority  to be invalid,  void or  unenforceable,  the  remainder of the
terms, provisions,  covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected,  impaired or invalidated;
provided,  however,  that  notwithstanding  anything  in this  Agreement  to the
contrary, if any such term,  provision,  covenant or restriction is held by such
court  or  authority  to be  invalid,  void or  unenforceable  and the  Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid  language  from this  Agreement  would  adversely  affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be  reinstated  and shall not expire  until the close of  business  on the
twentieth  day  following  the  date  of  such  determination  by the  Board  of
Directors.

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

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

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










                                       35
<PAGE>

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


Attest:                                     BERGER HOLDINGS, LTD.



By:/s/Francis E. Wellock, Jr.               By:/s/Joseph F. Weiderman
   ------------------------------              --------------------------
   Name:  Francis E. Wellock, Jr.              Name:  Joseph F. Weiderman
   Title: CFO                                  Title: President



Attest:                                     OXFORD TRANSFER & REGISTRAR



By:/s/Tracy Dennison                        By:/s/ Lori Livingston
   ------------------------------              --------------------------
   Name:  Tracy Dennison                       Name:  Lori Livingston
   Title: Transfer Agent                       Title: President






























                                       36

<PAGE>


                                                                    Exhibit A


                             ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT -
                          DOMESTIC BUSINESS CORPORATION
                                       OF
                              BERGER HOLDINGS, LTD.


         RESOLVED,  that pursuant to the powers expressly delegated to the Board
of Directors by Article 6 of the Articles of  Incorporation  of the Corporation,
as amended,  the  Corporation  hereby  establishes  and designates one series of
preferred stock and fixes and determines as set forth herein the relative rights
and preferences thereof as follows:

         Section 1.  Designation and Amount.  The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series B Junior Participating  Preferred Stock" and the number of
shares constituting such series shall be 2,000.

         Section 2.  Dividends and Distributions.

                  (A) The  holders  of shares  of Series B Junior  Participating
Preferred  Stock shall be entitled to receive,  when,  as and if declared by the
Board of Directors  out of funds legally  available  for the purpose,  quarterly
dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June, September and December
in each year (each such date being  referred to herein as a "Quarterly  Dividend
Payment Date"),  commencing on the first Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date after
the  first  issuance  of a share  or  fraction  of a share  of  Series  B Junior
Participating  Preferred  Stock,  in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent)  equal to the greater of (a) $0.001 or (b)  subject to the  provision  for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 10,000 times the aggregate per share amount of
all cash dividends,  and 10,000 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,
par value $0.01 per share,  of the  Corporation  (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  Participating  Preferred  Stock.  In the
event the  Corporation  shall at any time after  September 17, 1998 (the "Rights
Declaration Date") (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding  Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the amount to which holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating 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.
                  
                                      A-1
<PAGE>

                  (B) The  Corporation  shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock as provided in Paragraph
(A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock);  provided that,
in the event no dividend or distribution  shall have been declared on the Common
Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next
subsequent  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date, a dividend of $0.001 per share on
the Series B Junior Participating  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  Participating  Preferred  Stock from the
Quarterly  Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares
of Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock,  unless the date of issue of
such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue 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 Participating 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  Participating
Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the
time  accrued  and  payable  on such  shares  shall be  allocated  pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of
Directors  may fix a record date for the  determination  of holders of shares of
Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution  declared  thereon,  which record date shall be no more
than thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

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

                  (A) Subject to the provision for  adjustment  hereinafter  set
forth, each share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle
the holder thereof to a number of votes,  if any, on all matters  submitted to a
vote of the holders of Common  Stock  equal to the  product of 10,000  times the
number of votes to which each share of Common  Stock  shall  entitle  the holder
thereof.  In the  event  the  Corporation  shall at any time  after  the  Rights
Declaration  Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock  payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding  Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the  number  of votes per  share to which  holders  of shares of Series B Junior
Participating  Preferred  Stock were  entitled  immediately  prior to such event
shall be adjusted by  multiplying  such number by a fraction  the  numerator  of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the  denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

                                      A-2
<PAGE>

                  (B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders
of shares of Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock and the holders of
shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted
to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

                  (C)  (i) If at any  time  dividends  on any  Series  B  Junior
Participating  Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six (6)
quarterly  dividends thereon,  the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the
beginning  of a period  (herein  called a "default  period")  which shall extend
until such time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly
dividend periods and for the current quarterly  dividend period on all shares of
Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been
declared and paid or set apart for  payment.  During each  default  period,  all
holders  of  Preferred  Stock   (including   holders  of  the  Series  B  Junior
Participating  Preferred  Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to
six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class,  irrespective of series,
shall have the right to elect two (2) Directors.

                       (ii)     During any default period, such voting right of
the holders of Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock may be exercised
initially at a special  meeting called  pursuant to  subparagraph  (iii) of this
Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of stockholders,  and thereafter at annual
meetings of stockholders, provided that such voting right shall not be exercised
unless the holders of ten percent  (10%) in number of shares of Preferred  Stock
outstanding  shall be present in person or by proxy.  The absence of a quorum of
the  holders of Common  Stock  shall not affect the  exercise  by the holders of
Preferred  Stock of such  voting  right.  At any meeting at which the holders of
Preferred  Stock shall exercise such voting right  initially  during an existing
default period, they shall have the right, voting as a class, to elect Directors
to fill such  vacancies,  if any, in the Board of Directors as may then exist up
to two (2)  Directors  or, if such right is exercised at an annual  meeting,  to
elect two (2)  Directors.  If the number  which may be so elected at any special
meeting does not amount to the  required  number,  the holders of the  Preferred
Stock shall have the right to make such  increase in the number of  Directors as
shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the required number.  After
the holders of the  Preferred  Stock shall have  exercised  their right to elect
Directors in any default period and during the  continuance of such period,  the
number of Directors  shall not be  increased or decreased  except by vote of the
holders of Preferred  Stock as herein  provided or pursuant to the rights of any
equity  securities  ranking  senior to or pari  passu  with the  Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock.

                       (iii)  Unless the holders of  Preferred  Stock shall,
during an existing  default  period,  have  previously  exercised their right to
elect  Directors,  the Board of  Directors  may  order,  or any  stockholder  or
stockholders  owning in the  aggregate  not less than ten  percent  (10%) of the
total number of shares of Preferred Stock  outstanding,  irrespective of series,
may request, the calling of a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock,
which  meeting  shall  thereupon  be  called  by  the  Chairman,   President,  a
Vice-President  or the Secretary of the Corporation.  Notice of such meeting and
of any annual  meeting at which holders of Preferred  Stock are entitled to vote
pursuant to this  Paragraph  (C)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of
Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to such holder at such holder's
last

                                      A-3
<PAGE>

address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation.  Such meeting shall
be called for a time not earlier  than twenty (20) days and not later than sixty
(60) days  after  such order or  request,  or in default of the  calling of such
meeting within sixty (60) days after such order or request,  such meeting may be
called  on  similar  notice by any  stockholder  or  stockholders  owning in the
aggregate  not less  than ten  percent  (10%) of the  total  number of shares of
Preferred Stock  outstanding.  Notwithstanding  the provisions of this Paragraph
(C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within sixty
(60) days  immediately  preceding the date fixed for the next annual  meeting of
the stockholders.

                       (iv) In any  default  period,  the  holders of Common
Stock,  and other  classes of stock of the  Corporation,  if  applicable,  shall
continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of Directors until the holders
of Preferred  Stock shall have exercised  their right to elect two (2) Directors
voting as a class,  after the  exercise  of which  right  (x) the  Directors  so
elected by the holders of Preferred  Stock shall  continue in office until their
successors  shall have been elected by such holders or until the  expiration  of
the default period, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as
provided in Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority
of the remaining  Directors  theretofore  elected by the holders of the class of
stock  which  elected  the  Director  whose  office  shall have  become  vacant.
References  in this  Paragraph  (C) to  Directors  elected  by the  holders of a
particular class of stock shall include  Directors  elected by such Directors to
fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.

                       (v)      Immediately upon the expiration of a default
period,  (x) the right of the  holders  of  Preferred  Stock as a class to elect
Directors shall cease,  (y) the term of any Directors  elected by the holders of
Preferred  Stock as a class  shall  terminate,  and (z) the number of  Directors
shall  be  such  number  as may be  provided  for in the  Restated  Articles  of
Incorporation  or By-laws of the  Corporation  irrespective of any increase made
pursuant to the  provisions of Paragraph  (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number
being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in
the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of the  Corporation).  Any vacancies in
the Board of Directors  effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the
preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining Directors.

                  (D)  Except as set forth  herein,  holders  of Series B Junior
Participating  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  quarterly   dividends  or  other  dividends  or
distributions  payable on the Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock as
provided  in Section 2 hereof are in arrears,  thereafter  and until all accrued
and unpaid dividends and  distributions,  whether or not declared,  on shares of
Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid
in full, the Corporation shall not:

                                      A-4
<PAGE>

                       (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 Participating 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
Participating  Preferred  Stock,  except  dividends paid ratably on the Series B
Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  and all  such  parity  stock  on  which
dividends  are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which
the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

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

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

                  (B) The  Corporation  shall not permit any  subsidiary  of the
Corporation  to purchase or otherwise  acquire for  consideration  any shares of
stock of the Corporation  unless the Corporation  could,  under 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
Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation
in any  manner  whatsoever  shall be retired  and  canceled  promptly  after the
acquisition  thereof.  All such  shares  shall  upon their  cancellation  become
authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of
a new series of Preferred  Stock to be created by resolution or  resolutions  of
the Board of Directors,  subject to the conditions and  restrictions on issuance
set forth herein.

                                      A-5
<PAGE>

         Section 6.   Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.

                  (A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution
or winding up of the Corporation,  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 Participating  Preferred Stock
unless,  prior thereto,  the holders of shares of Series B Junior  Participating
Preferred  Stock shall have  received an amount  equal to $120,000  per share of
Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock, 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
Participating  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)  10,000  (as   appropriately   adjusted  as  set  forth  in
subparagraph  (C) below to reflect such events as stock splits,  stock dividends
and  recapitalizations  with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause
(ii), 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  Participating  Preferred Stock and Common
Stock,  respectively,  holders of Series B Junior Participating  Preferred Stock
and  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 one with respect to such  Preferred  Stock and Common
Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.

                  (B) In the  event,  however,  that  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  (either  as to  dividends  or  upon
liquidation,  dissolution or winding up) with the Series B Junior  Participating
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,  however,  that  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  Corporation  shall at any time after the
Rights  Declaration  Date (i) declare any  dividend on Common  Stock  payable in
shares of Common Stock,  (ii) subdivide the  outstanding  Common Stock, or (iii)
combine the  outstanding  Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,  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 were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

         Section 7.  Consolidation,  Merger,  etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation,  merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common  Stock

                                      A-6
<PAGE>

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
Participating  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 10,000  times the  aggregate  amount of stock,
securities,  cash and/or any other property  (payable in kind),  as the case may
be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or  exchanged.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date
(i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding  Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock  into a smaller  number of  shares,  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  Participating   Preferred  Stock  shall  be  adjusted  by
multiplying  such amount by a fraction  the  numerator of which is the number of
shares  of  Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately  after  such  event  and the
denominator  of  which is the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  that  were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.

         Section 8.  No Redemption.  The shares of Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

         Section 9.  Amendment. The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation
shall not be further  amended  in any manner  which  would  materially  alter or
change  the  powers,  preferences  or  special  rights  of the  Series  B Junior
Participating  Preferred  Stock  so as to  affect  them  adversely  without  the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority or more of the outstanding  shares
of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.

         Section 10. Fractional Shares. Series B Junior Participating  Preferred
Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall  entitle the holder,  in
proportion to such holders fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive
dividends,  participate  in  distributions  and to have the benefit of all other
rights of holders of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock.





















                                      A-7

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  we have executed and subscribed this  Certificate
and do affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of perjury this 25th day
of August, 1998.


                                            BERGER HOLDINGS, LTD.


                                            By:/s/Joseph F. Weiderman
                                               ---------------------------
                                     Name:  Joseph F. Weiderman
                                     Title: President

Attest:


/s/Francis E. wellock, Jr.
- -----------------------------
Secretary
































                                      A-8
<PAGE>


                                                                     Exhibit B

                          [Form of Rights Certificate]

Certificate No. R-
          Rights

NOT EXERCISABLE  AFTER SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY.
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO  REDEMPTION,  AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY,  AT $0.001
PER  RIGHT  ON THE  TERMS  SET  FORTH IN THE  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT.  UNDER  CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS  AGREEMENT) AND ANY  SUBSEQUENT  HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS  REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY  OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING  PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS  AGREEMENT).   ACCORDINGLY,   THIS  RIGHTS  CERTIFICATE  AND  THE  RIGHTS
REPRESENTED  HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE  CIRCUMSTANCES  SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.](1)

                               Rights Certificate

                              BERGER HOLDINGS, LTD.

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 August 21, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Berger Holdings, Ltd., a
Pennsylvania  corporation (the "Company"),  and Oxford Transfer & Registrar,  an
Oregon  corporation  (the "Rights  Agent"),  to purchase from the Company at any
time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on September 17, 2008 at the office
or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as
Rights Agent, one ten-thousandth of a fully paid, non-assessable share of Series
B Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company,
at a purchase price of $12.00 per one  ten-thousandth  of a share (the "Purchase
Price"),  upon  presentation  and surrender of this Rights  Certificate with the
Form of Election to Purchase and related  Certificate duly executed.  The number
of Rights  evidenced by this Rights  Certificate (and the number of shares which
may be purchased upon exercise  thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price
per share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of September 17,
1998 based on the  Preferred  Stock as  constituted  at such date.  The  Company
reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of

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

                                      B-1
<PAGE>

a  Triggering  Event (as such term is defined in the  Rights  Agreement)  that a
number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred  Stock will
be issued.

         Upon the  occurrence  of a  Section  11(a)(ii)  Event  (as such term is
defined  in the  Rights  Agreement),  if the  Rights  evidenced  by this  Rights
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate  of any  Acquiring  Person  (as such  terms are  defined in the Rights
Agreement),  (ii) a transferee of any Acquiring Person,  Associate or Affiliate,
or (iii)  under  certain  circumstances  specified  in the Rights  Agreement,  a
transferee of a person who, after such transfer,  became an Acquiring Person, or
an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person,  such Rights shall become null
and void and no holder  hereof  shall have any right with respect to such Rights
from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.

         As provided in the Rights Agreement,  the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities which may be purchased
upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject
to modification  and adjustment upon the happening of certain events,  including
Triggering Events.

         This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms,  provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement,  which terms,  provisions and conditions are
hereby  incorporated  herein by  reference  and made a part  hereof and to which
Rights Agreement  reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations  of rights,  obligations,  duties and  immunities  hereunder  of the
Rights  Agent,  the Company and the  holders of the Rights  Certificates,  which
limitations of rights include the temporary  suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific  circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned  office of the
Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent.

         This Rights  Certificate,  with or without  other Rights  Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose,  may be exchanged  for another  Rights  Certificate  or Rights
Certificates  of like tenor and date evidencing  Rights  entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of one  ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights  Certificate or Rights  Certificates
surrendered  shall  have  entitled  such  holder  to  purchase.  If this  Rights
Certificate  shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive
upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights  Certificates for the
number of whole Rights not exercised.

         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  $0.001  per  Right at any time  prior to the  earlier  of the close of
business on (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such time
period may be  extended  pursuant to the Rights  Agreement),  and (ii) the Final
Expiration Date. In addition, the Rights may be exchanged,  in whole or in part,
for shares of the Common  Stock,  or shares of  preferred  stock of the  Company
having essentially the same value or economic rights as such shares. Immediately
upon the action of the Board of  Directors of the Company  authorizing  any such
exchange,  and without

                                      B-2
<PAGE>

any further  action or any notice,  the Rights  (other than Rights which are not
subject to such exchange) will terminate and the Rights will only enable holders
to receive the shares issuable upon such exchange.  Under certain  circumstances
set forth in the Rights  Agreement,  the  decision  to redeem  the Rights  shall
require the  approval of at least 80% of the  directors  of the Company  then in
office.

         No  fractional  shares  of  Preferred  Stock  will be  issued  upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are
integral  multiples of one  ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock,  which
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary  receipts),  but
in lieu  thereof  a cash  payment  will  be  made,  as  provided  in the  Rights
Agreement.

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

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




















                                      B-3
<PAGE>

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

Dated as of _______________________ , 1998

Attest:                                     BERGER HOLDINGS, LTD.



By:_____________________________            By:____________________________
     Name:                                           Name:
     Title:                                          Title:

Countersigned:

OXFORD TRANSFER & REGISTRAR


By:_____________________________
    Authorized Signature
































                                      B-4
<PAGE>


                  [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

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

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

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

Dated: __________ , ____

                                            ________________________________
                                            Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

                                               Certificate

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

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

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

Dated:___________ ,______

                                            ________________________________
                                            Signature

Signature Guaranteed:





                                      B-5

<PAGE>

                                     NOTICE

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









































                                      B-6
<PAGE>


                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
              (To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights
                     represented by the Rights Certificate.)

To:  BERGER HOLDINGS, LTD.:

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

Please insert social security
or other identifying number        _____________________

_________________________________________________________________
                         (Please print name and address)
_________________________________________________________________

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

Please insert social security
or other identifying number        _____________________

_________________________________________________________________
                         (Please print name and address)
_________________________________________________________________

Dated:___________,_____

                                            ________________________________
                                            Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

                                   Certificate

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

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

                                      B-7

<PAGE>

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


Dated:            ,
                                    Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

                                     NOTICE

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




































                                      B-8
<PAGE>


                                                                     Exhibit C


                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                  SERIES B JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

         On August 21, 1998,  the Board of Directors  of Berger  Holdings,  Ltd.
(the "Company") adopted a Stockholder  Rights Plan,  providing that one Right (a
"Right")  shall be attached to each share of common  stock,  par value $0.01 per
share, of the Company (the "Common  Stock").  Each Right entitles the registered
holder  to  purchase  from  the  Company  a unit (a  "Unit")  consisting  of one
ten-thousandth of a share of Series B Junior Participating  Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $12.00 per
Unit (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of
the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), dated
as of August 21, 1998,  between the Company and Oxford Transfer & Registrar,  as
Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

         Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing  shares then outstanding and no separate Rights Certificate will be
distributed.  The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a  Distribution
Date  will  occur  upon the  earlier  of (i) ten (10)  days  following  a public
announcement  that a person or group of  affiliated  or  associated  persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired,  or obtained the right to acquire,  beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock (the "Stock
Acquisition  Date") or (ii) ten (10) business days (or such later date as may be
determined by the Board of Directors)  following  the  commencement  of a tender
offer or  exchange  offer  that would  result in a person or group  beneficially
owning 15% or more of such outstanding shares of Common Stock. The definition of
Acquiring  Person  excludes any Exempted  Person (as defined  below).  Until the
Distribution  Date,  (i)  the  Rights  will be  evidenced  by the  Common  Stock
certificates  and will be  transferred  with and only  with  such  Common  Stock
certificates,  (ii) new  Common  Stock  certificates  will  contain  a  notation
incorporating  the Rights  Agreement by reference  and (iii) the  surrender  for
transfer of any certificates  for Common Stock  outstanding will also constitute
the transfer of the Rights  associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate.

         Any  person  who,  on the date the Board of  Directors  authorizes  the
rights  dividend  (the "Rights  Dividend  Declaration  Date")  together with all
affiliates  and  associates of such person,  is the  beneficial  owner of Common
Stock,   options  and/or  warrants   exercisable  for  shares  of  Common  Stock
representing 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on such date,
will be an "Exempted  Person." In addition,  any person who,  together  with all
affiliates and associates of such person, becomes the beneficial owner of Common
Stock,   options  and/or  warrants   exercisable  for  shares  of  Common  Stock
representing  15% or more of the shares of Common  Stock then  outstanding  as a
result of a  purchase  by the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  of shares of
Common Stock will also be an "Exempted Person." However, any such person will no
longer be deemed to be an Exempted  Person and will be deemed to be an Acquiring
Person if such person,  together  with all  affiliates  and  associates  of such
person,  becomes the  beneficial owner,  at any time after the date such person
became the  beneficial

                                      C-1
<PAGE>

owner  of 15% or more  of the  then  outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock,  of
additional securities  representing 1,000 or more shares of Common Stock, except
if such  additional  securities  are  acquired  (x)  pursuant to the exercise of
options or warrants to purchase Common Stock outstanding and beneficially  owned
by such person as of the date such person became the beneficial  owner of 15% or
more of the then  outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock  or as a  result  of an
adjustment  to the number of shares of Common  Stock for which  such  options or
warrants are exercisable  pursuant to the terms thereof, or (y) as a result of a
stock split, stock dividend or the like. A purchaser,  assignee or transferee of
the shares of Common Stock (or options or warrants exercisable for Common Stock)
from an Exempted Person will not thereby become an Exempted Person,  except that
a transferee  from the estate of an Exempted Person who receives Common Stock as
a bequest or inheritance from an Exempt Person shall be an Exempt Person so long
as  such  transferee  continues  to be the  beneficial  owner  of the  requisite
percentage of shares.

         The Rights are not  exercisable  until the  Distribution  Date and will
expire at the close of business on September 17, 2008 unless earlier redeemed by
the  Company as  described  below.  At no time will the  Rights  have any voting
power.

         As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates
will be mailed to  holders  of  record  of the  Common  Stock as of the close of
business  on  the  Distribution  Date  and,  thereafter,   the  separate  Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights.  Except as otherwise determined by
the Board of  Directors,  only shares of Common Stock prior to the  Distribution
Date will be issued with Rights.

         In the event that an Acquiring  Person,  other than an Exempted Person,
becomes the beneficial  owner of 15% or more of the then  outstanding  shares of
Common Stock (unless such  acquisition  is made pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer for all  outstanding  shares of the Company,  at a price  determined by at
least  80% of the  directors  of the  Company  then in  office  to be  fair  and
otherwise  in the  best  interest  of the  Company  and its  stockholders  after
receiving  advice  from one or more  investment  banking  firms  (a  "Qualifying
Offer")), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise,  Common Stock (or, in certain  circumstances,  cash, property or other
securities of the Company)  having a value equal to two times the Exercise Price
of the Right.  The  Exercise  Price is the  Purchase  Price  times the number of
shares  of  Common  Stock   associated   with  each  Right   (initially,   one).
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the events set
forth in this paragraph (the "Flip-In  Events"),  all Rights that are, or (under
certain  circumstances  specified in the Rights  Agreement)  were,  beneficially
owned by any  Acquiring  Person will be null and void.  However,  Rights are not
exercisable following the occurrence of the Flip-In Events set forth above until
such time as the Rights  are no longer  redeemable  by the  Company as set forth
below.

         In the event that following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the Company
engages in a merger or business combination  transaction in which the Company is
not the surviving  corporation  (other than a merger  consummated  pursuant to a
Qualifying Offer); (ii) the Company engages in a merger or business  combination
transaction  in which the Company is the  surviving  corporation  and the Common
Stock is changed or exchanged;  or (iii) 50% or more of the

                                      C-2
<PAGE>

Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right
(except  Rights  which have  previously  been voided as set forth  above)  shall
thereafter have the right to receive,  upon exercise of the Right,  common stock
of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the Exercise Price of
the Right.

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

         With certain  exceptions,  no adjustments in the Purchase Price will be
required  until  cumulative  adjustments  amount to at least 1% of the  Purchase
Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, 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.

         At  any  time  after  the  Stock  Acquisition  Date  and  prior  to the
acquisition  by the  Acquiring  Person  of 50% or more of the  then  outstanding
shares of Common  Stock,  the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the
Rights (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person), in whole or in part, at
an  exchange  ratio  equal to one share of Common  Stock per Right  (subject  to
adjustment).  Any such exchange  shall  require  approval of at least 80% of the
directors of the Company then in office.

         At any time until ten (10) days following the Stock  Acquisition  Date,
the  Company  may  redeem the  Rights in whole,  but not in part,  at a price of
$0.001 per Right.  Under  certain  circumstances,  the  decision to redeem shall
require the  approval of at least 80% of the  directors  of the Company  then in
office.  Immediately  upon  the  action  of  the  Board  of  Directors  ordering
redemption  of the Rights,  the Rights will  terminate and the only right of the
holders of Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price.

         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.  While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company,  stockholders may,  depending upon
the circumstances,  recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable  for Common  Stock (or other  consideration)  of the  Company as set
forth above or in the event the Rights are redeemed.

         Other than those provisions relating to the principal economic terms of
the Rights,  any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board of Directors of the Company (in certain circumstances with the approval of
80% of the  directors of the Company then in office)  prior to the  Distribution
Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the

                                      C-3
<PAGE>

Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board (in certain circumstances, with the
approval  of at least 80% of the  directors  of the  Company  then in office) in
order to cure any ambiguity,  to make changes which do not adversely  affect the
interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interest of any Acquiring Person),
or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement;  provided,
however,  that no amendment to adjust the time period governing redemption shall
be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.

         A copy of the Rights  Agreement is being 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  of 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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