UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST INC
8-A12G, 1998-02-04
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

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

                                    FORM 8-A

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


                       UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                     Virginia                                                       54-0857512
                     --------                                                       ----------
     (State of incorporation or organization)                                      (IRS employer
                                                                                identification no.)
               10 South Sixth Street
                Richmond, Virginia                                                     23219
                ------------------                                                     -----
     (Address of principal executive offices)                                       (Zip code)

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

              Securities Act registration statement file number to
                         which this form relates: None


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

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

      None                                                     N/A


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

                         Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
                         -------------------------------
                                (Title of class)


<PAGE>

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

         On  January  27,  1998,  the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  (the
"Board"),  approved  a  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of and to be  effective  on
January 27, 1998 (the "Rights  Agreement")  between the Company and  ChaseMellon
Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C.,  as Rights  Agent,  having the  principal  terms
summarized below. The Rights Agreement  provides for the issuance of Rights (the
"Rights")  to  purchase  shares  of  Series  C Junior  Participating  Cumulative
Redeemable  Preferred Stock (the "Series C Preferred Stock") of the Company,  no
par value.  In accordance with the Rights  Agreement,  the Board also declared a
dividend  distribution of one Right for each  outstanding  share of Common Stock
(the "Common  Stock"),  of the Company to shareholders of record at the close of
business on February 4, 1998 (the "Record Date").

         Each Right entitles the registered  holder to purchase from the Company
one   one-thousandth   of  a  share  of  Series  C  Preferred  Stock.  Each  one
one-thousandth  of a share (a "Unit") of Series C Preferred  Stock is structured
to be the  equivalent  of one share of Common Stock.  The exercise  price of the
Right will be $45.00 subject to adjustment (the "Purchase Price").

         Rights  will also  attach to shares of Common  Stock  issued  after the
Record Date but prior to the  Distribution  Date (as defined  below)  unless the
Board determines otherwise at the time of issuance. The description and terms of
the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement.

         The Rights will be  appurtenant  to the shares of Common Stock and will
be  evidenced  by  Common  Stock  certificates,  and  no  separate  certificates
evidencing the Rights (the "Rights Certificates") will be distributed initially.
The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a distribution  of the Rights
Certificates  will occur (the  "Distribution  Date")  upon the earlier of (i) 10
business  days  following  a  public  announcement  that a  person  or  group of
affiliated  or  associated  persons (an  "Acquiring  Person") has  acquired,  or
obtained  the right to  acquire,  beneficial  ownership  of more than 15% of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock (the "Stock  Acquisition  Date"), or (ii) 10
business days  following the  commencement  of a tender offer or exchange  offer
that  would  result  in a person or group  beneficially  becoming  an  Acquiring
Person.  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) any Common Stock  certificates  issued 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 certificates.

         The Rights are not  exercisable  until the  Distribution  Date and will
expire at the close of business on February 4, 2008,  unless earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company as described  below.  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 such separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.

         The Agreement  provides that if any person becomes an Acquiring Person,
proper  provision  shall be made so that each  holder of a Right  (except as set
forth  below) will  thereafter  have the right to  receive,  upon  exercise  and
payment of the Purchase Price, Series C Preferred Stock or, at the option of the

<PAGE>

Company,  Common Stock (or, in certain  circumstances,  cash,  property or other
securities  of the  Company)  having a value  equal to twice  the  amount of the
Purchase Price.

         In the event that, at any time  following the Stock  Acquisition  Date,
(i) the Company is  acquired in a merger,  statutory  share  exchange,  or other
business combination in which the Company is not the surviving  corporation,  or
(ii)  50%  or  more  of the  Company's  assets  or  earning  power  is  sold  or
transferred, each holder of a Right (except as set forth below) shall thereafter
have the right to receive,  upon  exercise  and payment of the  Purchase  Price,
common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to twice the Purchase
Price.  The events set forth in this paragraph and in the immediately  preceding
paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."

         Upon the occurrence of a Triggering  Event that entitles Rights holders
to purchase  securities or assets of the Company,  Rights that are or were owned
by the Acquiring Person, or any affiliate or associate of such Acquiring Person,
on or after such  Acquiring  Person's Stock  Acquisition  Date shall be null and
void and shall not thereafter be exercised by any person  (including  subsequent
transferees).  Upon the  occurrence of a Triggering  Event that entitles  Rights
holders to purchase common stock of a third party, or upon the  authorization of
an  Exchange,  Rights  that are or were  owned by any  Acquiring  Person  or any
affiliate  or  associate  of any  Acquiring  Person on or after  such  Acquiring
Person's Stock  Acquisition Date shall be null and void and shall not thereafter
be exercised by any person (including subsequent transferees).

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

         At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring  Person,  the Company
may exchange all or part of the Rights (except as set forth below) for shares of
Common Stock (an  "Exchange")  at an exchange  ratio of one share per Right,  as
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split or similar transaction.

         At any time until ten days  following the Stock  Acquisition  Date, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per
Right (the "Redemption  Price").  Under certain  circumstances  set forth in the
Rights Agreement, the decision to make an Exchange or to redeem the Rights shall
require the  concurrence of a majority of the  Continuing  Directors (as defined
below). Additionally,  the Company may thereafter but prior to the occurrence of
a  Triggering  Event  redeem  the  Rights  in  whole,  but not in  part,  at the
Redemption  Price  provided  that such  redemption  is incidental to a merger or
other business combination transaction involving the Company that is approved by
a majority of the Continuing  Directors,  does not involve an Acquiring  Person,
and in which all holders of Common Stock are treated alike. After the redemption
period has expired,  the Company's  right of redemption  may be reinstated if an
Acquiring  Person  reduces  his  beneficial  ownership  to  15% or  less  of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock in a transaction  or series of  transactions
not involving  the Company.  Immediately  upon the action of the Board  ordering
redemption  of  the  Rights,  with,  where  required,  the  concurrence  of  the
Continuing  Directors,  the  Rights  will  terminate  and the only  right of the
holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.



                                       2
<PAGE>

         The term "Continuing Directors" means any member of the Board who was a
member of the Board immediately before the adoption of the Rights Agreement, and
any  person  who is  subsequently  elected  to  the  Board  if  such  person  is
recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors,  but does not
include an  Acquiring  Person,  or an  affiliate  or  associate  of an Acquiring
Person, or any representative of the foregoing entities.

         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 Series C Preferred Stock (or other consideration) of the Company
or for common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.

         Other than certain provisions  relating to the principal economic terms
of the Rights,  any of the provisions of the Rights  Agreement may be amended by
the Board prior to the  Distribution  Date.  After the  Distribution  Date,  the
provisions  of the Rights  Agreement  may be  amended  by the Board (in  certain
circumstances,  only with the concurrence of the Continuing  Directors) in order
to cure any  ambiguity,  to make certain  other  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, no amendment to adjust the time period governing
redemption may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.

         At the same time  that it  approved  the  Rights  Agreement,  the Board
designated  1,000,000 shares of the Company's  Preferred Stock, no par value, as
the "Series C Junior Participating  Cumulative  Redeemable Preferred Stock." The
Company  will not issue any shares of Series C Preferred  Stock  except upon the
exercise  of Rights.  The Series C  Preferred  Stock is junior to the  Company's
91/4%  Series A  Cumulative  Redeemable  Preferred  Stock and its 8.60% Series B
Cumulative  Redeemable Preferred Stock in respect of rights to receive dividends
and to participate in distributions or payments in the event of any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company,  and is senior to the Common Stock and
any  other  capital  stock of the  Company  ranking,  as to  dividends  and upon
liquidation, junior to the Series C Preferred Stock.

         Holders of shares of the Series C  Preferred  Stock are be  entitled to
receive  cumulative  preferential  cash dividends payable quarterly in an amount
per share equal to the greater of (i) $.01 or (ii) 1,000 times the aggregate per
share  amount of all cash  dividends,  and 1,000 times the  aggregate  per share
amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions (other
than dividends payable in shares of Common Stock),  declared on the Common Stock
since the  immediately  preceding  quarterly  dividend  payment  date,  or, with
respect to the first quarterly  dividend  payment date, since the first issuance
of any share or fraction of a share of Series C Preferred Stock.

         In the  event of any  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up of the
Company,  the holders of shares of Series C Preferred  Stock are  entitled to be
paid out of the assets of the Company legally  available for distribution to its
shareholders a liquidation  preference of $1,000.00 per share,  plus accrued and
unpaid  dividends  thereon  to the date of  payment  (the  "Series  C  Preferred


                                       3
<PAGE>

Liquidation Preference").  After the payment to the holders of the shares of the
Series C Preferred Stock of the full Series C Preferred Liquidation  Preference,
the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock as such shall have no right or claim
to any of the remaining  assets of the  corporation  until the holders of Common
Stock shall have received an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to
the  quotient  obtained  by  dividing  (i) the  Series C  Preferred  Liquidation
Preference  by (ii)  1,000.  In the event that there are not  sufficient  assets
available after payment in full of the Series C Preferred Liquidation Preference
to permit payment in full of the Common  Adjustment,  then the remaining  assets
shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Common Stock.

         The  outstanding  shares of Series C Preferred Stock may be redeemed at
the option of the Board as a whole,  but not in part,  at any time, or from time
to time, at a price per share (the "Series C Preferred  Redemption Price") equal
to (i) 1,000 times the Average  Market Value of the Common Stock,  plus (ii) all
accrued and unpaid dividends to and including the date fixed for redemption. The
"Average  Market  Value" is the average of the closing sale prices of a share of
the Common Stock during the 30-day period immediately  preceding the date before
the  redemption  date quoted on the Composite  Tape for New York Stock  Exchange
Listed Stocks,  or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on the Composite  Tape, on
The New York  Stock  Exchange,  or, if the  Common  Stock is not  listed on such
exchange, on the principal United States registered securities exchange on which
the Common  Stock is listed,  or, if the Common  Stock is not listed on any such
exchange,  the average of the closing bid quotations  with respect to a share of
Common Stock during such 30-day period on The Nasdaq Stock Market, or if no such
quotations  are  available,  the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as
determined by the Board in good faith.

         Each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof
to 1,000 votes on all matters  submitted  to a vote of the  shareholders  of the
Company.  The holders of shares of Series C  Preferred  Stock and the holders of
shares of Common  Stock  shall vote  together  as one  voting  group on all such
matters.  Whenever  dividends on any shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be
in arrears for six or more consecutive  quarterly  periods,  the holders of such
shares  (voting  separately as a class with all other series of Preferred  Stock
having like  voting  rights)  will be  entitled to vote for the  election of two
additional directors of the Company until all dividends accumulated on shares of
Series C Preferred  Stock for the past  dividend  periods  and the then  current
dividend  period shall have been fully paid.  In such case,  the entire Board of
Directors of the Company will be increased by two directors.

         The  dividend  rate on the  Series  C  Preferred  Stock , the  Series C
Preferred Liquidation Preference,  the Common Adjustment, the Series C Preferred
Redemption  Price and the number of votes per share of Series C Preferred  Stock
are all subject to adjustment  upon the  declaration of any dividend  payable in
Common Stock,  subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock or combination of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares.

         The Rights  Agreement  (which  includes as Exhibit A the form of Rights
Certificate)  is  attached  to this Form 8-A as an exhibit  and is  incorporated
herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Rights is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement and its exhibits.





                                       4
<PAGE>

 Item 2. Exhibits.
         --------
         The following exhibits are filed as a part hereof:

          1.      Rights  Agreement,  dated as of January 27,  1998  between the
                  Company  and  ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C.,  as
                  Rights Agent.

          2.      Form of  Rights  Certificate  (included  as  Exhibit  A to the
                  Rights Agreement).

          3.      Articles of  Amendment  of the  Articles of  Incorporation  of
                  United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc.




                                       5
<PAGE>




                                    SIGNATURE

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


                          UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.
                                   (Registrant)



                          By:      /s/ Katheryn E. Surface
                                   -------------------------------------------
                                   Name:  Katheryn E. Surface
                                   Title:   Senior Vice President and
                                            General Counsel


Dated:  February 4, 1998





                                       6
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



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

        1                Rights Agreement,  dated as of January 27, 1998 between
                         the  Company  and  ChaseMellon   Shareholder  Services,
                         L.L.C., as Rights Agent

        2                Form of Rights  Certificate  (included  as Exhibit A to
                         the Rights Agreement)

        3                Articles of Amendment of the Articles of  Incorporation
                         of United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc.


                                                                       Exhibit 1


                       UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.


                                       and


                    CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.


                                  Rights Agent





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



                                Rights Agreement

                          Dated as of January 27, 1998








<PAGE>
<TABLE>


                                Table of Contents

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                                                                                                               Page
                                                                                                               ----

Section 1.  Certain Definitions...................................................................................1

Section 2.  Appointment of Rights Agent...........................................................................6

Section 3.  Issue of Rights and Rights Certificates...............................................................6

Section 4.  Form of Rights Certificates...........................................................................7

Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration.....................................................................9

Section 6.  Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed,
                      Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates..........................................................9

Section 7.  Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights; Restriction on Transfer of
                      Rights.....................................................................................10

Section 8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates..................................................12

Section 9.  Reservation and Availability of Series C Preferred Stock.............................................12

Section 10. Series C Preferred Stock Record Date.................................................................14

Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights..........................14

Section 12. Certificates of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares..........................................21

Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.................................22

Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares..............................................................24

Section 15. Rights of Action.....................................................................................25

Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders..........................................................................25

Section 17.  Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder..................................................26

Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent..........................................................................26

Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent............................................27

Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent...............................................................................28

Section 21. Change of Rights Agent...............................................................................30

Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates..................................................................31

Section 23. Redemption and Termination...........................................................................31

Section 24. Exchange.............................................................................................32

Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.............................................................................33

Section 26. Notices..............................................................................................34

Section 27. Supplements and Amendments...........................................................................35

Section 28. Successors...........................................................................................36

Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc............................................36

Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement...........................................................................36

Section 31. Severability.........................................................................................36

Section 32. Governing Law........................................................................................37

Section 33. Counterparts.........................................................................................37

Section 34. Descriptive Headings.................................................................................37
</TABLE>

EXHIBIT A -- Form of Rights Certificate

EXHIBIT B -- Form of Summary of Rights


                                      (ii)
<PAGE>

                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         This Agreement, dated as of January 27, 1998 (the "Agreement"), between
UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC., a Virginia corporation (the "Company"),  and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company
(the "Rights Agent"), provides as follows:


                               W I T N E S S E T H

         WHEREAS,  the Board of  Directors  of the  Company has  authorized  and
declared a dividend  distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each
outstanding  share of Common Stock of the Company to  shareholders  of record at
the Close of Business (as hereafter  defined) on the Record Date (as hereinafter
defined)  and has  authorized  the  issuance  of one Right (as such  number  may
hereinafter be adjusted as provided  herein) for each share of Common Stock that
shall be issued  between  the Record Date and the  earliest of the  Distribution
Date, the Redemption  Date or the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter
defined) unless the Board of Directors provides to the contrary before or at the
time of issuance of any such Common Stock, each Right initially representing the
right  to  purchase  one Unit of  Series  C  Preferred  Stock,  (as  hereinafter
defined),  and being in the form of the Rights  Certificate  attached  hereto as
Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof (the "Rights");


         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,
alone or together with all Affiliates  and  Associates of such Person,  shall at
any time be the  Beneficial  Owner of either or both of (i) more than 15% of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding or (ii) more than 15% of the Rights then
outstanding,  but shall not  include  (a) the  Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the
Company,  any employee  benefit plan of the Company or of any  Subsidiary of the
Company,  or any Person or entity  organized,  appointed or  established  by the
Company  for or  pursuant  to the terms of any such plan or, (b) any such Person
who has become and is such a Beneficial  Owner solely because (1) of a reduction
in  the  aggregate  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  outstanding  due to a
repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company since the last date on which
such Person acquired  Beneficial  Ownership of any shares of Common Stock or (2)
it  acquired  such  Beneficial  Ownership  in the good  faith  belief  that such
acquisition  would not (A) cause such Beneficial  Ownership to exceed 15% of the
shares of Common Stock then  outstanding and such Person relied in good faith in
computing the percentage of its  Beneficial  Ownership on publicly filed reports
or documents of the Company that are  inaccurate or out-of-date or (B) otherwise
cause a  Distribution  Date or the  adjustment  provided for in Section 11(a) to
occur.  Notwithstanding  clause (b)(2) of the preceding sentence,  if any Person
that is not an  Acquiring  Person due to such clause  (b)(2) does not reduce its
percentage of  Beneficial  Ownership of shares of Common Stock to 15% or less by
the Close of Business on the fifth  Business  Day after  notice from the Company
(the date of notice being the first day) that such Person's Beneficial Ownership
of shares of Common Stock so exceeds 15%, such Person shall,  at the end of such
five  Business Day period,  become an Acquiring  Person (and such clause  (b)(2)
shall no longer  apply to such  Person).  For purposes of this  definition,  the
determination  whether any Person acted in "good  faith"  shall be  conclusively
determined  by the Board of Directors of the Company,  acting by a vote of those
directors of the Company whose  approval  would be required to redeem the Rights
under Section 23.


                   (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 Exchange Act.


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


                            (i)  that  such  Person  or  any  of  such  Person's
Affiliates or Associates is deemed to  "beneficially  own" within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act;


                            (ii)  that  such  Person  or  any of  such  Person's
Affiliates  or  Associates,  directly  or  indirectly,  has the right to acquire
(whether  such right is  exercisable  immediately  or only after the  passage of
time) 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 to be 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 or (B)  securities  issuable  upon exercise of
the Rights.


                            (iii)  that  such  Person  or any of  such  Person's
Affiliates  or  Associates,  directly  or  indirectly,  has the  right  to vote,
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 (iii) as a result of an agreement,  arrangement or understanding to
vote such security if such agreement,  arrangement or understanding:  (A) arises


                                       2
<PAGE>

solely from a revocable  proxy given in response to a public proxy  solicitation
made  pursuant to, and in  accordance  with,  the  applicable  provisions of the
General Rules and  Regulations  under the Exchange  Act, and (B) the  beneficial
ownership  of such  security  is not also  then  reportable  by such  Person  on
Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or


                            (iv)  that  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  (iii)  of this  paragraph  (c)) or
disposing of any voting  securities  of the  Company;  provided,  however,  that
notwithstanding  any  provision  of this  Section  1(c),  any Person  engaged in
business as an  underwriter  of  securities  who acquires any  securities of the
Company through such Person's  participation  in good faith in a firm commitment
underwriting  registered  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the
"Act"), shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own,"
such  securities  until the expiration of 40 days after the date of acquisition;
and  provided,  further,  that in no case shall an officer  or  director  of the
Company be deemed (x) the beneficial owner of any securities  beneficially owned
by  another  officer  or  director  of the  Company  solely by reason of actions
undertaken  by such  persons in their  capacity as officers or  directors of the
Company; or (y) the beneficial owner of securities held of record by the trustee
of any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for
the benefit of any  employee of the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the  Company,
other than the officer or director, by reason of any influence that such officer
or director may have over the voting of the securities held in the plan.


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


                   (f)  "Common  Stock"  shall  mean  the  common  stock  of the
Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other
than the Company, if such Person is a corporation,  shall mean the capital stock
of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other
equity  interest in such Person having power to control or direct the management
of such Person,  or any shares of capital stock or other equity  interests  into
which the foregoing shall be reclassified or changed.


                   (g) "Continuing  Director" shall mean any member of the Board
of  Directors  of the  Company,  while  a  member  of the  Board,  who is not an
Acquiring  Person,  or an Affiliate or  Associate of an Acquiring  Person,  or a


                                       3
<PAGE>

representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and
(i) who is a member of the  Board on the date of this  Agreement  or (ii)  whose
subsequent  nomination for election or election to the Board was  recommended or
approved by a majority of the Continuing  Directors  serving at the time of such
nomination or election.


                   (h)  "Distribution  Date"  shall mean the  earlier of (i) the
close of business on the tenth business day after the Stock Acquisition Date (as
hereinafter  defined) or (ii) the close of business  on the tenth  business  day
after the date that a tender or  exchange  offer by any Person  (other  than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or of any  Subsidiary  of  the  Company,  or any  Person  or  entity  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 an Acquiring Person  (irrespective of whether any
shares were actually purchased pursuant to any such offer).


                   (i)  "Equivalent  Shares"  shall  mean  shares  of  Series  C
Preferred  Stock  (as  hereinafter  defined)  and any  other  class or series of
capital  stock of the Company that is entitled to  participate  in dividends and
other distributions,  including distributions upon the liquidation,  dissolution
or winding up of the Company,  on a proportional basis with the Common Stock. In
calculating the number of any class or series of Equivalent  Shares for purposes
of Section 11 hereof,  the number of shares,  or fractions  of a share,  of such
class or series of  capital  stock  that is  entitled  to the same  dividend  or
distribution as a whole share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be one share.


                   (j) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended and in effect on the date of this Agreement, unless a different
date is otherwise specifically provided herein.


                   (k) "Exchange Date" shall mean the date on which the Board of
Directors  authorizes the exchange of Rights for shares of Common Stock pursuant
to Section 24 hereof.


                   (l)  "Expiration  Date"  shall mean the  earliest  of (i) the
close of business on the Final  Expiration  Date,  or (ii) the time at which the
Rights are  redeemed  as provided  in Section 23 hereof,  or (iii) the  Exchange
Date.


                   (m) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean February 4, 2008.


                   (n) "Person" shall mean any  individual,  firm,  corporation,
partnership or other entity and any particular  Person shall include any "group"
acting as described in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.




                                       4
<PAGE>

                   (o)  "Purchase  Price"  shall have the  meaning  set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof,  as adjusted in  accordance  with this  Agreement and as in
effect from time to time.


                   (p)  "Record  Date"  shall  mean  the  Close of  Business  on
February 4, 1998.


                   (q)  "Rights"  shall  mean the  rights to  purchase  Series C
Preferred Stock (or other securities) as provided in this Agreement.


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


                   (s) "Section  11(a)(ii)  Event" shall mean any  occurrence of
the event described in the first sentence of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.


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


                   (u) "Series C Preferred  Stock" shall mean shares of Series C
Junior Participating  Cumulative  Redeemable Preferred Stock, without par value,
of the Company.


                   (v)  "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) of the Exchange
Act) by the Company or an Acquiring  Person that an Acquiring  Person has become
such.


                   (w)  "Subsidiary"  shall mean,  with reference to any Person,
any  corporation  or other  entity  of  which an  amount  of  voting  securities
sufficient  to elect a  majority  of the  directors  or Persons  having  similar
authority of such corporation or other entity is beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.


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


                   (y) "Unit" shall mean one one-thousandth of a share of Series
C Preferred Stock.




                                       5
<PAGE>

          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 holders of 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.


          Section 3.        Issue of Rights and Rights Certificates.


                   (a) Until the  Distribution  Date,  (x) the  Rights  shall be
evidenced  (subject to the  provisions of paragraphs (b) and (c) 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 shall be  transferable  only in  connection  with the transfer of the
underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). Subject
to the  provisions  of Section 7(e)  hereof,  as soon as  practicable  after the
Company has notified the Rights Agent of the occurrence of a Distribution  Date,
the Rights Agent shall send by  first-class,  insured,  postage prepaid mail, to
each  such  record  holder  of  shares  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
form of Exhibit A 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(n) 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 shall be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.


                   (b) A Summary of Rights,  in substantially  the form attached
hereto as Exhibit B (the  "Summary of Rights"),  shall be sent by the Company by
first-class,  postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as
of the Record  Date,  at the address of each such holder shown on the records of
the Company.  Until the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced by such
certificates  evidencing  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, the transfer
of any certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock in respect of which Rights
have been issued shall also  constitute,  subject to the  provisions  of Section
7(e) hereof,  the transfer of the Rights  associated  with such shares of Common
Stock.


                   (c) Unless the Board of Directors by resolution adopted at or
before the time of the  issuance  (including  pursuant to the exercise of rights
under the Company's  benefit  plans) of any shares of Common Stock  specifies to


                                       6
<PAGE>

the  contrary,  Rights  shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock
that  are  issued  after  the  Record  Date  but  prior  to the  earlier  of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date.  Certificates  representing  shares of
Common Stock  outstanding prior to the Record Date that are issued upon transfer
or exchange of such 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 United
         Dominion Realty Trust, Inc. (the "Company") and ChaseMellon Shareholder
         Services,  L.L.C.,  (the "Rights  Agent")  dated as of January 27, 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 Company.  Under certain  circumstances,  as set forth in
         the  Rights  Agreement,  such  Rights  will be  evidenced  by  separate
         certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this  certificate.  The
         Company  will  mail to the  holder  of this  certificate  a copy of the
         Rights Agreement,  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 that are owned
         or that were  previously  owned by a Person  who is,  was or becomes an
         Acquiring  Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring  Person
         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,  subject to the provisions of
Section 7(e) hereof, the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented by such certificates.


         In the event  that the  Company  purchases  or  acquires  any shares of
Common  Stock  after the Record  Date but prior to the  Distribution  Date,  any
Rights  associated with such shares of Common Stock shall be deemed canceled and
retired  so that the  Company  shall not be  entitled  to  exercise  any  Rights
associated with the shares of Common Stock that are no longer outstanding.


          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 form set forth in Exhibit A 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


                                       7
<PAGE>

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  Distribution  Date, and on their face shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of Units of Series C Preferred Stock as shall be
set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such  exercise price per unit,
being hereinafter  referred to as 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 (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  that  the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has
determined is part of a plan,  arrangement or understanding  which has a primary
purpose to avoid or effects the 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 an Associate of an Acquiring Person. Accordingly,  this
         Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become void in
         the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.


The Company shall notify the Rights Agent,  and, if such  notification  is given
orally, the Company shall confirm promptly the same in writing,  at such time as
the Company has notice that any Person  constitutes  an  Acquiring  Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, and until such notice is received
by the Rights Agent the Rights Agent may  conclusively  presume for all purposes
that  the  foregoing  legend  need  be  imprinted  only  on  Right  Certificates
beneficially owned by Persons that the Company has previously  identified to the
Rights Agent as constituting an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person and transferees of any such Persons.




                                       8
<PAGE>

          Section 5.        Countersignature and Registration.


                   (a) The Rights  Certificates  shall be  executed on behalf of
the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, 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  manually  or by
facsimile by the Rights  Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose  unless so
countersigned.  The Rights  Certificates shall be countersigned by an authorized
signatory  of the  Rights  Agent  but it  shall  not be  necessary  for the same
signatory to countersign all of the Rights  Certificates  issued  hereunder.  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  Agreement any such
person was not such an officer.


                   (b) Following the  Distribution  Date,  the Rights Agent will
keep or cause to be kept, at 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.


         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,  (other
than Rights  Certificates  that have become void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof
or that have been  exchanged  pursuant  to  Section  24  hereof)  entitling  the
registered holder to purchase a like number of Units of Series C 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  entitle  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


                                       9
<PAGE>

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  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 from the holder of the Rights 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)  Subject  to Section  7(e)  hereof,  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; Restriction on Transfer 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)(ii), Section 11(a)(iii),
Section  13,  Section  23(a),  and Section 24 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, except as otherwise provided
in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof,  with payment of the aggregate  Purchase Price with
respect  to the total  number of Units of Series C  Preferred  Stock (or  Common
Stock  or  other  securities  or  property,  as the  case  may  be) as to  which
surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or prior to the Expiration Date.


                   (b) The  Purchase  Price for each Unit of Series C  Preferred
Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $45.00 and shall be
subject to  adjustment  from time to time as  provided  in Section 11 hereof and
shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.




                                       10
<PAGE>

                   (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 Unit of Series C Preferred  Stock (or Common  Stock,
other  securities or property,  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  Units of  Series C  Preferred  Stock  (or make
available,  if  the  Rights  Agent  is  the  transfer  agent  for  such  shares)
certificates  for the total  number of Units of Series C  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 Units of Series C  Preferred  Stock  issuable  upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary  agent,  requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of Units of Series
C Preferred  Stock as are to be purchased  (in which case  certificates  for the
Units  of  Series  C  Preferred  Stock  represented  by such  receipts  shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary  agent) and the Company will
direct the depositary  agent to comply with such request,  (ii) 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  (including to zero) pursuant to Section  11(a)(iii) hereof) may 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 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.


                   (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 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


                                       11
<PAGE>

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 effects 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 ensure 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 any other Person as a result of its failure
to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates
or Associates, or any transferee thereof, 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.


         Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Series C Preferred Stock.


                   (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued  shares of Series
C Preferred Stock (or,  following the occurrence of a Triggering  Event,  out of
its authorized and unissued Series C Preferred Stock or other securities, as the
case may be),  the number of shares of Series C  Preferred  Stock (or such other
securities)  that,  except as provided  in Section  11(a)(iii)  hereof,  will be
sufficient  from time to time to permit the exercise in full of all  outstanding
Rights and all Rights  that are at the time  issuable,  in  accordance  with the
provisions of this Agreement.




                                       12
<PAGE>

                   (b) So long as the shares of Series C  Preferred  Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, any 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.


                   (c) The Company  shall use its best  efforts (i) to 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)(ii) and (iii) hereof,  or as soon as is required by law following
the  Distribution  Date, as the case may be, a registration  statement under the
Act on an  appropriate  form,  with respect to the securities  purchasable  upon
exercise  of the Rights,  (ii) to cause such  registration  statement  to become
effective  as soon as  practicable  after such  filing,  and (iii) to 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
Expiration  Date.  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 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, and notify the Rights Agent,
that the  exercisability  of the  Rights  has been  temporarily  suspended.  The
Company shall also issue a public announcement at such time as the suspension is
no longer in effect.  Notwithstanding  any  provision  of this  Agreement to the
contrary,  the Rights shall not be  exercisable in any  jurisdiction  unless the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained.


                   (d) The  Company  covenants  and agrees that it will take all
such action as may be  necessary to ensure that all shares of Series C Preferred
Stock (or other  securities,  as the case may be) delivered upon exercise of the
Rights  shall,  at the time of  delivery  of the  certificates  for such  shares
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly authorized,  validly issued,
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
that may be  payable  in  respect  of the  issuance  or  delivery  of the Rights
Certificates  and of any certificates for shares of Series C Preferred Stock (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 that 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 shares of Series C Preferred


                                       13
<PAGE>

Stock (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
shares of Series C Preferred Stock (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. Series C Preferred Stock Record Date. Each person in whose
name any certificate for a number of Units of Series C Preferred Stock (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 Units of
Series C Preferred Stock (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 Series C
Preferred Stock (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 such transfer books are open.
Prior to the exercise of the Rights  evidenced  thereby,  the holder of a Rights
Certificate  as such shall not be entitled to any rights of a shareholder 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, and the number and kind of shares covered
by each Right and the number of Rights  outstanding  are  subject to  adjustment
from time to time as provided in this Section 11.


                   (a) (i) In the event the Company  shall at any time after the
date of this  Agreement  (A) declare a dividend on the Series C Preferred  Stock
payable in shares of Series C Preferred  Stock,  (B) subdivide  the  outstanding
Series C Preferred Stock,  (C) combine the outstanding  Series C Preferred Stock
into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in
a  reclassification  of  the  Series  C  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),  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 Series C
Preferred  Stock or the number and kind of shares of other capital stock, as the
case may be, issuable on such date,  shall be  proportionately  adjusted so that


                                       14
<PAGE>

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 of
shares of Series C  Preferred  Stock or the  number  and kind of shares of other
capital  stock,  as the case may be,  that,  if such  Right  had been  exercised
immediately  prior to such date and at a time when the Series C Preferred  Stock
transfer  books of the Company were open, he would have owned upon such exercise
and  been  entitled  to  receive  by  virtue  of  such  dividend,   subdivision,
combination  or  reclassification.  If an event  occurs  that  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) Subject to Section 23 and Section 24 hereof, in
the event any Person becomes an Acquiring  Person,  then, proper provision shall
be made by the  Company  so that each  record  holder of each  Right  (except as
provided in Section 7(e)  hereof)  shall  thereafter  have the right to receive,
upon exercise  thereof for the Purchase  Price in accordance  with terms of this
Agreement,  such  number of Units of Series C  Preferred  Stock (or,  in lieu of
Series C  Preferred  Stock,  at the  option  of the  Company  and to the  extent
available,  such  number of shares of Common  Stock) as shall  equal the  result
obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the  number  of Units of Series C  Preferred  Stock for which a Right is then
exercisable and the denominator of which is 50% of the current market price of a
share of Common Stock (determined  pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date
of the  first  occurrence  of a  Section  11(a)(ii)  Event  (such  result  being
hereinafter referred to as the "Adjustment Shares").


                            (iii) To the  extent  that the  number  of shares of
Series C  Preferred  Stock that are  authorized  by the  Company's  articles  of
incorporation  but not  outstanding  or reserved for issuance for purposes other
than upon  exercise of the Rights is not  sufficient  to permit the  exercise in
full of the Rights in accordance  with the foregoing  subparagraph  (ii) of this
Section  11(a),  and subject to such  limitations  as are necessary to prevent a
default under any agreement for money borrowed as presently constituted to which
the  Company is a party and  subject  to any  limitations  contained  in Section
13.1-653 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act, the Company shall: (A) determine
the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment  Shares issuable upon the exercise
of a Right (the "Current Value"), over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess being
hereinafter  referred to as the  "Spread"),  and (B) with respect to each Right,
make adequate  provision to substitute for such unavailable  Adjustment  Shares,
upon payment of the applicable  Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the
Purchase Price, (3) other equity securities of the Company,  (4) debt securities
of the Company,  (5) other  assets,  or (6) any  combination  of the  foregoing,
having,  together with the Adjustment Shares issued upon exercise of such Right,
an aggregate  value equal to the Current Value,  where such aggregate  value has
been  determined  by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice
of a nationally  recognized  investment  banking  firm  selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company; provided,  however, if the Company shall not have made
adequate  provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within 30 days
following the first occurrence of a Section  11(a)(ii)  Event,  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 preferred stock of
the Company or Common Stock (to the extent such  securities  are  available) and
then, if necessary,  cash, which  securities  and/or assets in the aggregate are


                                       15
<PAGE>

equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in
good faith that it is likely  that  sufficient  additional  shares of  preferred
stock of the  Company or Common  Stock could be  authorized  for  issuance  upon
exercise  in full of the  Rights,  the 30 day  period  set  forth  above  may be
extended to the extent necessary,  but not more than 90 days following the first
occurrence  of a Section  11(a)(ii)  Event,  in order that the  Company may seek
shareholder  approval  for the  authorization  of such  additional  shares (such
period, as it may be extended,  the "Substitution  Period").  To the extent that
the Company  determines  that some  action  need be taken  pursuant to the first
and/or  second  sentences  of this  Section  11(a)(iii),  the  Company (x) shall
provide,  subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly
to all outstanding  Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights
until  the  expiration  of  the  Substitution   Period  in  order  to  seek  any
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 the Common  Stock  shall be the  current  market  price (as  determined
pursuant to Section  11(d)  hereof) per share of the Common Stock on the date of
the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event.


                   (b) If at any  time  after  the  date of this  Agreement  the
Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights,  options or warrants
to all holders of Common  Stock or of any class or series of  Equivalent  Shares
entitling such holders (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such
record date) to subscribe for or to purchase  Common Stock or Equivalent  Shares
(or securities  convertible  into Common Stock or Equivalent  Shares) at a price
per share (or having a  conversion  price per share,  if a security  convertible
into Common Stock or  Equivalent  Shares) less than the current  market price of
such Common Stock or Equivalent  Shares on such record date,  then, in each such
case,  each  Right  outstanding  immediately  prior to such  record  date  shall
thereafter  evidence the right to purchase,  for the Purchase Price, that number
of  Units  of  Series  C  Preferred  Stock  or  Equivalent  Shares  obtained  by
multiplying  the  number  of Units of Series C  Preferred  Stock  issuable  upon
exercise of a Right  immediately  prior to such  record date by a fraction,  the
numerator  of which  shall be the total  number  of  shares of Common  Stock and
Equivalent  Shares (if any)  outstanding  on such record date plus the number of
additional  shares of Common Stock and Equivalent  Shares (if any) to be offered
for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible  securities so to be
offered are initially  convertible)  and the  denominator  of which shall be the
total  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  and  Equivalent  Shares  (if  any)
outstanding  on such  record  date plus the number of shares of Common  Stock or
Equivalent  Shares, as the case may be, that the aggregate offering price of the
total number of shares of Common Stock or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be,
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. In case such subscription  price may be paid in a consideration,  part or
all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration
shall be as  determined  in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose  determination  shall be  described  in a statement  filed with the Rights


                                       16
<PAGE>

Agent.  Common Stock and  Equivalent  Shares owned by or held for the account of
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for
the purpose of any such computation.  Such adjustment shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options
or warrants  are not so issued,  each Right  shall be  adjusted to evidence  the
right to  receive  that  number of Units of Series C  Preferred  Stock that such
Right would have entitled the holder to receive, for the Purchase Price, if such
record date had not been fixed.


                   (c) If at any  time  after  the  date of this  Agreement  the
Company shall fix a record date for the making of a distribution  to all holders
of Common Stock or of any class or series of Equivalent  Shares  (including  any
such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the  continuing  or  surviving  corporation)  of cash  (other  than a
regular  quarterly  cash  dividend of the  Company in  compliance  with  Section
13.1-653 of the Virginia  Stock  Corporation  Act),  evidences of  indebtedness,
assets,  securities  (other  than  Common  Stock or any  Equivalent  Shares)  or
subscription rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section
11(b) hereof), then, in each such case, each Right outstanding immediately prior
to such record date shall  thereafter  evidence the right to  purchase,  for the
Purchase  Price,  that number of Units of Series C Preferred  Stock  obtained by
multiplying  the  number  of Units of Series C  Preferred  Stock  issuable  upon
exercise of a Right  immediately  prior to such  record date by a fraction,  the
numerator of which shall be the current  market price of a share of Common Stock
or an Equivalent  Share on the record date and the denominator of which shall be
the current  market price of a share of Common Stock or an  Equivalent  Share on
such record date less the fair market 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,  evidences of
indebtedness,  assets or securities so to be distributed or of such subscription
rights,  options  or  warrants  applicable  to a share  of  Common  Stock  or an
Equivalent   Share,  as  the  case  may  be.  Such  adjustments  shall  be  made
successively  whenever  such a record date is fixed;  and in the event that such
distribution  is not so made, each Right shall be adjusted to evidence the right
to  receive  that  number of Units of Series C  Preferred  Stock that such Right
would have  entitled  the holder to receive,  for the  Purchase  Price,  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 30
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) 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  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 prior to the  expiration  of the requisite 30 Trading Day or ten Trading Day
period,  as set forth above,  after the  ex-dividend  date for such  dividend or
distribution,   or  the  record  date  for  such  subdivision,   combination  or
reclassification,  then, and in each such case, the "current market price" shall
be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price


                                       17
<PAGE>

for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes  place on such day,  the  average  of the  closing  bid and asked  prices,
regular  way,  in  either  case  as  reported  in  the  principal   consolidated
transaction  reporting  system with respect to securities  listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the
principal  consolidated  transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed on the  principal  national  securities  exchange  on which the shares of
Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of 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  quoted on the Nasdaq  Stock  Market,  as reported by the National
Association  of Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  ("Nasdaq")  or such other  quotation
system then in use,  or, if on any such date the shares of 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 the Common Stock
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market
maker is making a market in the Common  Stock,  the fair value of such shares on
such date as  determined  in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company
shall be used.  The term  "Trading  Day" shall mean a day on which the principal
national  securities  exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or
admitted to trading is open for the 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 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.


                            (ii) For the purpose of any  computation  hereunder,
the  "current  market  price"  per share of Series C  Preferred  Stock  shall be
determined in the same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in Section
11(d)(i)  hereof (other than the last sentence  thereof).  If the current market
price per share of Series C Preferred  Stock cannot be  determined in the manner
provided above or if the Series C 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  Series  C  Preferred  Stock  shall  be
conclusively  deemed  to be an  amount  equal  to 1000 (as  such  number  may be
appropriately  adjusted for such events as stock  splits,  stock  dividends  and
recapitalizations  with respect to the Common Stock and Series C Preferred 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 Series
C  Preferred  Stock is  publicly  held or so listed or traded,  "current  market
price" per share of the Series C  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 one one-thousandth of a share of Series
C Preferred  Stock shall be equal to the "current  market price" of one share of
Series C Preferred Stock divided by 1000.




                                       18
<PAGE>

                   (e)  Anything  herein  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  no
adjustment in the number of Units of Series C Preferred  Stock for which a Right
is exercisable or in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment
would  require an increase or decrease of at least one percent in such number of
shares or in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments that 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 Unit of  Series  C  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
years from the date of the transaction  that mandates such  adjustment,  or (ii)
the Expiration Date.


                   (f) If as a result of an adjustment  made pursuant to Section
11(a) or 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled  to receive  any shares of capital  stock other than Series C Preferred
Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of
any Right and, if  required,  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 Series C  Preferred  Stock
contained in Section  11(a),  (b),  (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (k) and (l) hereof,
and the  provisions  of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with  respect to the
Series C Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.


                   (g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to
any adjustment made to the number or kind of shares purchasable upon exercise of
the  Rights or to the  Purchase  Price  hereunder  shall  evidence  the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the adjusted number of Units of Series
C Preferred Stock or other  securities  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 below in this Section 11(h), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price
as a result  of the  calculations  made in  Section  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
Units of Series C Preferred  Stock obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of
Units of Series C Preferred Stock covered by a Right  immediately  prior to this
adjustment  by (y) the  Purchase  Price  in  effect  immediately  prior  to such
adjustment  and (ii)  dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase  Price in
effect  immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price. On or after the
date of any adjustment of the Purchase  Price,  in lieu of any adjustment in the
number  of Units  of  Series  C  Preferred  Stock  or any  other  capital  stock
purchasable  upon the  exercise of a Right,  the Company may elect to adjust the
number of Rights.  Each of the Rights  outstanding  after the  adjustment in the
number  of  Rights  shall be  exercisable  for the  number  of Units of Series C
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


                                       19
<PAGE>

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 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(h),  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.


                   (i)  Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of Units of Series C Preferred  Stock or the number and kind
of other  securities  issuable  upon the  exercise  of the  Rights,  the  Rights
Certificates  theretofore  and  thereafter  issued may  continue  to express the
Purchase  Price per Unit,  the  number  of Units and the other  terms  that were
expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
                   (j) In any case in which this  Section 11 shall  require that
an adjustment 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 of the number of Units
of Series C  Preferred  Stock  and  other  capital  stock or  securities  of the
Company,  if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of Units
of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise before giving effect 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.


                   (k)   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 its 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 Series C Preferred  Stock,  (ii) issuance
wholly  for cash of any  shares  of  Series C  Preferred  Stock at less than the
current  market  price,  (iii)  issuance  wholly  for cash of shares of Series C
Preferred  Stock or  securities  that by their  terms  are  convertible  into or


                                       20
<PAGE>

exchangeable for shares of Series C Preferred Stock,  (iv) stock dividend or (v)
issuance  of  rights,  options  or  warrants  referred  to in this  Section  11,
hereafter  made by the Company to holders of its Series C Preferred  Stock shall
not be taxable to such shareholders.


                   (l) 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  that  complies  with
Section  11(m)  hereof),  (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary  of the Company in a  transaction  that  complies  with Section 11(m)
hereof),  (iii) effect a statutory  share exchange with any Person (other than a
Subsidiary  of the Company in a  transaction  that  complies  with Section 11(m)
hereof),  or  (iv)  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  more
transactions  each of which complies with Section 11(m) hereof),  if at the time
of or immediately after such consolidation,  merger, statutory share exchange or
sale  there  are  any  rights,  warrants  or  other  instruments  or  securities
outstanding  or  agreements  in effect  that  would  substantially  diminish  or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.


                   (m)  The  Company   covenants  and  agrees  that,  after  the
Distribution  Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 27
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.


                   (n)   Anything   in   this    Agreement   to   the   contrary
notwithstanding,  in the  event  that the  Company  shall at any time  after the
Record  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  Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding 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 of 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.  Certificates  of  Adjusted  Purchase  Price or Number of
Shares.  Whenever an  adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 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


                                       21
<PAGE>

Series C Preferred  Stock or 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,  (w) the Company shall  consolidate  with, or merge with
and into,  any  other  Person  (other  than a  Subsidiary  of the  Company  in a
transaction that complies with Section 11(m) hereof),  and the Company shall not
be the continuing or surviving  corporation of such consolidation or merger, (x)
any  Person  (other  than a  Subsidiary  of the  Company in a  transaction  that
complies with Section 11(m)  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,  (y) the  Company  shall be a party to a
statutory  share  exchange with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a  transaction  that  complies with Section 11(m) hereof) after which
the Company is a Subsidiary of any other  Person,  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(m)  hereof),  then, and in
each such case,  proper  provision shall be made so that: (i) each record 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,  nonassessable and freely tradable shares of
Common Stock of the Principal Party (as 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 shares of Common  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  shares  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  (2)  dividing  that  product  (which,  following  the  first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event,  shall be referred to as the "Purchase  Price"


                                       22
<PAGE>

for each Right for all purposes of this  Agreement) by 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;  and (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 ensure 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.


                   (b)      "Principal Party" shall mean


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


                            (ii) in the  case of any  transaction  described  in
clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the
party receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power  transferred
pursuant to such transaction or transactions;


provided, however, that in any 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,  statutory share  exchange,  sale or transfer unless the Principal Party
shall have a  sufficient  number of  authorized  shares of its Common Stock that
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


                                       23
<PAGE>

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,  statutory  share
exchange 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 on an  appropriate  form 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 similarly comply with applicable state securities laws; and


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


The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or statutory share exchanges 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 that have not theretofore  been exercised
shall  thereafter  become  exercisable in the manner  described in Section 13(a)
hereof.


          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(n)
hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates that 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  bid and asked  prices,
regular  way,  in  either  case  as  reported  in  the  principal   consolidated
transaction  reporting  system with respect to securities  listed or admitted to
trading  on the New York  Stock  Exchange  or, if the  Rights  are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated  transaction  reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the  principal  national  securities  exchange on which the Rights are listed or
admitted to  trading,  or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities  exchange,  the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices on the Nasdaq Stock 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.




                                       24
<PAGE>

                   (b) The Company  shall not be required to issue  fractions of
shares of Series C Preferred  Stock  (other  than  fractions  that are  integral
multiples  of one  one-thousandth  of a share of Series C Preferred  Stock) upon
exercise of the Rights or to distribute  certificates  that evidence  fractional
shares of Series C Preferred Stock (other than in such integral  multiples).  In
lieu of  fractional  shares of  Series C  Preferred  Stock  that are not in such
integral  multiples,  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
one-thousandth  of a share of Series C  Preferred  Stock.  For  purposes of this
Section  14(b),  the current  market value of one  one-thousandth  of a share of
Series C Preferred Stock shall be one one-thousandth of the current market price
of a share of Series C Preferred Stock (as determined  pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.


                   (c) The  holder  of a Right by the  acceptance  of the  Right
expressly  waives his right to receive any  fractional  Right 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 in respect of which Rights have been  issued);  and any  registered
holder of any Rights  Certificate (or, prior to the  Distribution  Date, of such
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 such Common
Stock),  may,  in his own  behalf  and for his  own  benefit,  enforce,  and may
institute  and maintain any suit,  action or  proceeding  against the Company to
enforce,  or  otherwise  act in  respect  of, his 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  Rights  Agent  designated  for such


                                       25
<PAGE>

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  Certificate 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,  subject to the last  sentence of Section 7(e) hereof,  nor
the Rights Agent 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  Shareholder.  No
holder, as such, of any Rights  Certificate  shall be entitled to vote,  receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Units of Series C Preferred
Stock or any other securities of the Company that 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  shareholder  of the
Company or any right to vote for the  election of  directors  or upon any matter
submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent
to any  corporate  action,  or to receive  notice of meetings  or other  actions
affecting  shareholders (except as provided in Section 25 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 connection  with the  acceptance


                                       26
<PAGE>

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,   instruction,   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 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.




                                       27
<PAGE>

          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 opinion of such counsel shall be full
and complete  authorization  and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such 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, any Vice-Chairman, 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 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


                                       28
<PAGE>

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 Series C
Preferred  Stock  to  be  issued  pursuant  to  this  Agreement  or  any  Rights
Certificate or as to whether any shares of Series C Preferred  Stock will,  when
so issued, be duly authorized, validly 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, the 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.  At any time the
Rights Agent may apply to the Company for written  instructions  with respect to
any matter arising in connection  with the Rights Agent's duties and obligations
arising under this Agreement.  Such  application by the Rights Agent for written
instructions  from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth
in writing any action  proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights  Agent with
respect to its duties or obligations under this Agreement and the date on and/or
after which such action  shall be taken and the Rights Agent shall not be liable
for any action taken or omitted in  accordance  with a proposal  included in any
such application on or after the date specified therein (which date shall be not
less than one Business Day after the Company receives such application,  without
the Company's  consent)  unless,  prior to taking or initiating any such action,
the  Rights  Agent  has  received  written  instructions  in  response  to  such
application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.


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


                   (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.




                                       29
<PAGE>

                   (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 30 days notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each transfer agent
of the Series C Preferred  Stock or Common  Stock,  by  registered  or certified
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon
30 days'  notice in  writing,  mailed to the Rights  Agent or  successor  Rights
Agent,  as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Series C Preferred
Stock or Common 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 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 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 the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia  (or of any other  state of the United
States so long as such  corporation  is  authorized  to do business as a banking
institution  in the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia),  in good  standing,  having  a
principal office in the Commonwealth of Virginia,  that is authorized under such
laws to  exercise  corporate  trust  powers  and is subject  to  supervision  or
examination  by  federal  or  state  authority  and  that 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


                                       30
<PAGE>

the Common 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, the Company may,
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 the  issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock  following  the
Distribution Date.


          Section 23.       Redemption and Termination.


                   (a) (i) The Company may, at its option,  at any time prior to
the earlier of (A) the close of business  on the tenth day  following  the Stock
Acquisition Date, or (B) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than
all the then  outstanding  Rights  (which shall not include any rights that have
become void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof) at a redemption  price of $.001 per
Right,  as it may be  appropriately  adjusted by the Board of  Directors  of the
Company to reflect any stock  split or  combination,  stock  dividend or similar
transaction  occurring  after  the date  hereof  (such  redemption  price  being
hereinafter  referred to as the "Redemption  Price") and the Company may, at its
option,  pay the Redemption Price either in shares of Common Stock (based on the
current market price (as determined  pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share
of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or cash; provided,  however, that
if the Board of Directors of the Company authorizes  redemption of the Rights in
either of the  circumstances  set forth in clauses (x) and (y) below, then there
must be Continuing  Directors in office and such authorization shall require the
concurrence of a majority of such Continuing  Directors:  (x) such authorization
occurs on or after the date a Person  becomes an Acquiring  Person,  or (y) such
authorization  occurs on or after the date of a change  (resulting  from a proxy
solicitation)  in a majority of the directors in office at the  commencement  of
such  solicitation if any Person who is a participant in such  solicitation  has
stated (or, if upon the  commencement  of such  solicitation,  a majority of the
Board of Directors of the Company has determined in good faith) that such Person
(or any of its  Affiliates  or  Associates)  intends  to take,  or may  consider
taking, any action that would result in such Person becoming an Acquiring Person
or that would cause the occurrence of a Triggering Event.


                            (ii) In addition,  if there are Continuing Directors
then in office, the Board of Directors may redeem all, but not less than all, of
the then  outstanding  Rights at the Redemption  Price with the concurrence of a
majority of such  Continuing  Directors,  following  the  occurrence  of a Stock
Acquisition  Date and  following  the  expiration  of the  right  of  redemption
hereunder,  if either  (A)(1) a Person  who is an  Acquiring  Person  shall have
transferred  or otherwise  disposed of a number of shares of Common Stock in one
transaction or a series of transactions not directly or indirectly involving the


                                       31
<PAGE>

Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  such that such  Person  is  thereafter  a
Beneficial  Owner of 15% or less of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock and
(2) there are no other  Persons,  immediately  following  the  occurrence of the
event described in clause (1), who are Acquiring  Persons,  or (B) in connection
with the type of  transaction  specified  in Section  13(a)  hereof in which all
holders of Common Stock are treated alike and not involving an Acquiring  Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any other Person in which
such  Acquiring  Person,  Affiliate or Associate has any interest,  or any other
Person acting  directly or indirectly  on behalf of or in  association  with any
such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate.


Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable  after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event until
such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder is not exercisable.


                   (b) Immediately  upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company  authorizing the redemption of the Rights pursuant to subsection (a)
of this  Section 23 and without any further  action and without any notice,  the
right to exercise the Rights shall terminate and the only right  thereafter of a
holder of such Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so
held.  Promptly  after  the  action of the Board of  Directors  authorizing  the
redemption of the Rights,  the Company  shall give notice of such  redemption to
the Rights Agent and to the holders of such 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 that is mailed in the manner
herein  provided shall be deemed given,  whether or not the holder  receives the
notice.  Each such  notice of  redemption  shall  state the  method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be effected.


          Section 24.       Exchange.


                   (a) The  Company  may, at its option,  by  resolution  of its
Board of Directors,  at any time after any Person  becomes an Acquiring  Person,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall
not include  Rights that have become void  pursuant to Section  7(e) hereof) for
shares of 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  with respect to the Common Stock after the date
hereof  (such  exchange  ratio being  hereinafter  referred to as the  "Exchange
Ratio"); provided,  however, under the circumstances described in the proviso to
Section  23(a)(i)  hereof,  an  Exchange  shall be  effective  only if there are
Continuing  Directors  and shall require the  concurrence  of a majority of such
Continuing Directors.




                                       32
<PAGE>

                   (b) Immediately  upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company authorizing the exchange of the Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of
this Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right
to exercise the Rights will 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 Rights held by such holder  multiplied  by the Exchange  Ratio.
Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors  authorizing the exchange of
the Rights,  the Company  shall give notice of such exchange to the Rights Agent
and to the holders of such 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  that 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.


                   (c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of
Common  Stock  authorized  but  unissued to permit the  exchange in full of such
Rights in  accordance  with this  Section  24, the  Company  shall take all such
action as may be necessary to  authorize  additional  shares of Common Stock for
issuance upon exchange of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after good
faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
such additional shares of Common Stock, the Company shall  substitute,  for each
share of Common Stock that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right,
a number of shares of other equity securities of the Company or fraction thereof
such that the current per share  market  price of one share of such other equity
securities  multiplied  by such  number or  fraction is equal to the current per
share  market  price of one share of Common  Stock as of the date of issuance of
such shares of such other equity securities or fraction thereof.


                   (d) The Company  shall not be required to issue  fractions of
shares of Common Stock or to distribute  certificates  that evidence  fractional
shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, there
shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right 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  subsection  (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 Section 11(d) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the Exchange Date.


          Section 25.       Notice of Certain Events.


                   (a) In case the Company shall propose,  at any time after the
Distribution  Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Series C  Preferred  Stock or to make any other  distribution  to the
holders  of  Series C  Preferred  Stock  (other  than a regular  quarterly  cash
dividend of the Company in  compliance  with  Section  13.1-653 of the  Virginia
Stock  Corporation  Act),  or (ii) to offer to the holders of Series C Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any  additional  shares
of  Series C  Preferred  Stock or  shares  of  stock of any  class or any  other


                                       33
<PAGE>

securities,  rights or options,  or (iii) to effect any  reclassification of its
Series C Preferred  Stock  (other  than a  reclassification  involving  only the
subdivision  of  outstanding  shares of Series C  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  that  complies  with Section 11(m)
hereof),  or to effect a statutory  share exchange with any Person (other than a
Subsidiary  of the Company in a  transaction  that  complies  with Section 11(m)
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 a Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each
of which complies with Section 11(m) 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 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall
specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of
rights or warrants, or the date on which such  reclassification,  consolidation,
merger, statutory share exchange, sale, transfer,  liquidation,  dissolution, or
winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders
of the shares of Series C 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 20 days prior to the record date for determining  holders of
the shares of Series C Preferred  Stock for purposes of such action,  and in the
case of any such other action,  at least 20 days prior to the date of the taking
of such proposed action or the date of  participation  therein by the holders of
the shares of Series C Preferred Stock whichever shall be the earlier.


                   (b) In case any Section 11(a)(ii) Event 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 26 hereof,  a notice of the  occurrence of such event,  which shall
specify the event and the  consequences  of the event to holders of Rights under
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all references in the preceding  paragraph to
Series C Preferred  Stock shall be deemed  thereafter to refer,  if appropriate,
not  only to  Series  C  Preferred  Stock  but  also to  Common  Stock  or other
securities.


          Section 26. Notices.  Notices or demands  authorized by this Agreement
to be  given  or  made  by the  Rights  Agent  or by the  holder  of any  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:


                           United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc.
                           10 South Sixth Street
                           Richmond, Virginia 23219
                           Attention:  Corporate Secretary




                                       34
<PAGE>

Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof,  any notice or demand authorized
by this  Agreement  to be given or made by the  Company  or by the holder of any
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:


                           ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
                           Overpark Center
                           85 Challenger Road
                           Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07660
                           Attention:  Mitzi Brinkman


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 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date
and subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, the Company may, and
the Rights  Agent  shall,  if the  Company so directs,  supplement  or amend any
provision of this Agreement  without the approval of any holders of certificates
representing  shares of Common Stock.  From and after the Distribution  Date and
subject to the  penultimate  sentence  of this  Section  27, 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 that may be defective or inconsistent  with any other provisions  herein,
(iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period  hereunder  (which  lengthening  or
shortening, under the circumstances described in the proviso to Section 23(a)(i)
hereof,  shall be effective  only if there are  Continuing  Directors  and shall
require the concurrence of a majority of such Continuing Directors),  or (iv) to
change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner that the Company may
deem necessary or desirable and that 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,  that this Agreement
may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this
sentence,  (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such
time as the Rights are not then redeemable,  or (B) any other time period unless
such  lengthening is for the purpose of protecting,  enhancing or clarifying the
rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of a
certificate  from an  appropriate  officer of the  Company  that states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section
27, the Rights Agent shall execute such  supplement or amendment.  No supplement
or  amendment  shall be made  that  changes  the  Redemption  Price,  the  Final
Expiration  Date, the Purchase Price or the number of shares of Common Stock for


                                       35
<PAGE>

which a Right is exercisable;  provided,  however, that at any time prior to the
Distribution  Date,  the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  may  amend  this
Agreement to increase the Purchase  Price or extend the Final  Expiration  Date.
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  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  (and,  where
specifically  provided  for herein,  the  Continuing  Directors)  shall have the
exclusive  power and authority to administer  this Agreement and to exercise all
rights and powers  specifically  granted to the Board, or the Company (or, where
specifically  provided  for  herein,  the  Continuing  Directors),  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
(or, where  specifically  provided for herein,  by the Continuing  Directors) in
good  faith,  shall (x) be final,  conclusive  and binding on the  Company,  the
Rights  Agent,  the  holders of the Rights  and all other  parties,  and (y) not
subject the Board or the Continuing Directors 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, the registered holders from time to time 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;  and this
Agreement  shall be for the sole and  exclusive  benefit of the  Company and the
Persons specified above.


          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


                                       36
<PAGE>

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
tenth 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  Commonwealth  of Virginia and for all purposes shall be governed by
and construed in  accordance  with the laws of such  Commonwealth  applicable to
contracts made and to be performed entirely within such Commonwealth.


         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.






                                       37
<PAGE>




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


                          UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.


                          By:      /s/  Katheryn E. Surface
                                   Name:    Katheryn E. Surface
                                   Title:   Senior Vice President and
                                            General Counsel



                          CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.


                          By:      /s/  Kathleen Kennelly
                                   Name:    Kathleen Kennelly
                                   Title:   Assistant Vice President






                                       38
<PAGE>



                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                          [Form of Rights Certificate]

Certificate No. R-                                              _________ Rights



NOT  EXERCISABLE  AFTER FEBRUARY 4, 2008, OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY
THE COMPANY. THE COMPANY, AT ITS OPTION, MAY REDEEM THE RIGHTS EVIDENCED BY THIS
CERTIFICATE  AT A REDEMPTION  PRICE OF $.01 PER RIGHT OR EXCHANGE THE RIGHTS FOR
SHARES OF COMMON  STOCK 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 AN  ASSOCIATE  OF AN  ACQUIRING  PERSON.
ACCORDINGLY,  THIS  RIGHTS  CERTIFICATE  AND THE RIGHTS  REPRESENTED  HEREBY MAY
BECOME  VOID IN THE  CIRCUMSTANCES  SPECIFIED  IN  SECTION  7(e)  OF THE  RIGHTS
AGREEMENT.]1


                               Rights Certificate


         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 January 27, 1998 (the "Rights
Agreement"),  between United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc., a Virginia corporation
(the  "Company"),  and ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C., a New Jersey
limited liability company (the "Rights Agent"),  to purchase from the Company at
any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (Richmond, Virginia time) on February 4, 2008 at the
office or  offices of the  Rights  Agent  designated  for such  purpose,  or its
successors as Rights Agent, one  one-hundredth  of a fully paid,  non-assessable
share  (a  "Unit")  of  Series  C  Junior  Participating  Cumulative  Redeemable
Preferred  Stock (the  "Series C Preferred  Stock") or other  securities  of the
Company,  at a purchase  price of $45.00 per Unit (the "Purchase  Price"),  upon
presentation and surrender of this Rights  Certificate with the Form of Election
to Purchase and related  Certificate duly executed.  (All capitalized  terms not
defined  herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Rights  Agreement.)  The
Purchase  Price may be paid in cash or by  certified  bank  check or bank  draft
payable  to the order of the  Company.  The number of Rights  evidenced  by this
Rights  Certificate  (and the  number of  shares  which  may be  purchased  upon


                                      A-1
<PAGE>

exercise  thereof) set forth above,  and the Purchase  Price per share set forth
above,  are the number and Purchase Price as of ______ __, [199_],  based on the
Series C Preferred Stock as constituted at such date.


         As provided in the Rights Agreement,  the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of shares of Series C Preferred  Stock or other  securities that 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.
Under certain  circumstances  specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement,
Rights  that  are or were  owned  by an  Acquiring  Person  or an  Affiliate  or
Associate  of an  Acquiring  Person  may  become  null and  void  and no  longer
exercisable by any Person (including any subsequent  transferee).  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 or the Secretary
of the Corporation.


         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 Units of Series C  Preferred  Stock as the
Rights evidenced by the Rights  Certificate or Rights  Certificates  surrendered
then  entitle  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 Company, at its
option,  may redeem the Rights  evidenced  by this  Certificate  at a redemption
price of $.001 per Right or exchange the Rights for shares of Common Stock.


         No  fractional  shares of Series C Preferred  Stock will be issued upon
the exercise of any Right or Rights  evidenced hereby (other than fractions that
are  integral  multiples of one  one-hundredth  of a share of Series C Preferred
Stock),  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 Series C
Preferred  Stock or of any other  securities of the Company that may at any time


                                      A-2
<PAGE>

be issuable on the exercise hereof,  nor shall anything  contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof,  as such, any
of the  rights  of a  shareholder  of the  Company  or any right to vote for the
election  of  directors  or upon any matter  submitted  to  shareholders  at any
meeting thereof,  or to give or withhold consent to any corporate  action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions  affecting  shareholders  (except as
provided  in the Rights  Agreement),  or to receive  dividends  or  subscription
rights,  or  otherwise,  until  the  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.


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


Dated as of ___________ __, ______


[SEAL]


ATTEST:                             UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.



________________________________    By: ____________________________________
    Secretary                              Title: __________________________





                                      A-3
<PAGE>





Countersigned:

CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.


By __________________________
      Authorized Signature





                                      A-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:




                                      A-5
<PAGE>





                                   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 such  Acquiring
         Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

                  (2)  after  due  inquiry  and to  the  best  knowledge  of the
         undersigned,  it [ ] did [ ] did not  acquire the Rights  evidenced  by
         this  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:



                                     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.







                                      A-6
<PAGE>





                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE


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


To:      UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.:

         The  undersigned  hereby  irrevocably  elects to exercise  ____________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Series C
Preferred  Stock  issuable  upon the  exercise  of the  Rights  (or  such  other
securities  of the Company or of any other person that may be issuable  upon the
exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares (or other
securities) 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)

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

Date:  _______________, ____

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


Signature Guaranteed:





                                      A-7
<PAGE>





                                   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 such  Acquiring
         Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

                  (2)  after  due  inquiry  and to  the  best  knowledge  of the
undersigned, it [ ] did

[ ] did not acquire the Rights  evidenced  by this 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.













1 The bracketed language shall be inserted only if applicable.





                                      A-8
<PAGE>


                                                                       EXHIBIT B

             SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK


         On January 27, 1998, the Board of Directors of United  Dominion  Realty
Trust, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Virginia (the "Company"),
approved a Rights Agreement, dated as of and to be effective on January 27, 1998
(the  "Rights  Agreement")  between  the  Company  and  ChaseMellon  Shareholder
Services,  L.L.C., as Rights Agent, having the principal terms summarized below.
In  accordance  with the Rights  Agreement,  the Board also  declared a dividend
distribution  of one  Right for each  outstanding  share of  common  stock  (the
"Common  Stock"),  of the  Company  to  shareholders  of  record at the close of
business on February 4, 1998 (the "Record Date").


         Each Right entitles the registered  holder to purchase from the Company
one  one-thousandth  of a share of the Company's  Series C Junior  Participating
Cumulative  Redeemable  Preferred Stock ("Series C Preferred  Stock").  Each one
one-thousandth  of a share (a "Unit") of Series C Preferred  Stock is structured
to be the  equivalent  of one  share of  Common  Stock of the  Company  ("Common
Stock").  Shareholders  will receive one Right per share of Common Stock held of
record at the close of business on the Record Date.  The  exercise  price of the
Right will be $45.00 subject to adjustment (the "Purchase Price").


         Rights  will also  attach to shares of Common  Stock  issued  after the
Record Date but prior to the  Distribution  Date  unless the Board of  Directors
determines  otherwise at the time of issuance.  The description and terms of the
Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement.


         The Rights will be  appurtenant  to the shares of Common Stock and will
be  evidenced  by  Common  Stock  certificates,  and  no  separate  certificates
evidencing the Rights (the "Rights Certificates") will be distributed initially.
The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a distribution  of the Rights
Certificates  will occur (the  "Distribution  Date")  upon the earlier of (i) 10
business  days  following  a  public  announcement  that a  person  or  group of
affiliated  or  associated  persons (an  "Acquiring  Person") has  acquired,  or
obtained  the right to  acquire,  beneficial  ownership  of more than 15% of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock (the "Stock  Acquisition  Date"), or (ii) 10
business days  following the  commencement  of a tender offer or exchange  offer
that  would  result  in a person or group  beneficially  becoming  an  Acquiring
Person.  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) any Common Stock  certificates  issued 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 certificates.




                                      B-1
<PAGE>

         The Rights are not  exercisable  until the  Distribution  Date and will
expire at the close of business on February 4, 2008,  unless earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company as described  below.  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 such separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.


         The Agreement  provides that if any person becomes an Acquiring Person,
proper  provision  shall be made so that each  holder of a Right  (except as set
forth  below) will  thereafter  have the right to  receive,  upon  exercise  and
payment of the Purchase Price, Series C Preferred Stock or, at the option of the
Company,  Common Stock (or, in certain  circumstances,  cash,  property or other
securities  of the  Company)  having a value  equal to twice  the  amount of the
Purchase Price.


         In the event that, at any time  following the Stock  Acquisition  Date,
(i) the Company is  acquired in a merger,  statutory  share  exchange,  or other
business combination in which the Company is not the surviving  corporation,  or
(ii)  50%  or  more  of the  Company's  assets  or  earning  power  is  sold  or
transferred, each holder of a Right (except as set forth below) shall thereafter
have the right to receive,  upon  exercise  and payment of the  Purchase  Price,
common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to twice the Purchase
Price.  The events set forth in this paragraph and in the immediately  preceding
paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."


         Upon the occurrence of a Triggering  Event that entitles Rights holders
to purchase  securities or assets of the Company,  Rights that are or were owned
by the Acquiring Person, or any affiliate or associate of such Acquiring Person,
on or after such  Acquiring  Person's Stock  Acquisition  Date shall be null and
void and shall not thereafter be exercised by any person  (including  subsequent
transferees).  Upon the  occurrence of a Triggering  Event that entitles  Rights
holders to purchase common stock of a third party, or upon the  authorization of
an  Exchange,  Rights  that are or were  owned by any  Acquiring  Person  or any
affiliate  or  associate  of any  Acquiring  Person on or after  such  Acquiring
Person's Stock  Acquisition Date shall be null and void and shall not thereafter
be exercised by any person (including subsequent transferees).


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


         At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring  Person,  the Company
may exchange all or part of the Rights (except as set forth below) for shares of
Common Stock (an  "Exchange")  at an exchange  ratio of one share per Right,  as
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split or similar transaction.




                                      B-2
<PAGE>

         At any time until ten days  following the Stock  Acquisition  Date, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per
Right (the "Redemption  Price").  Under certain  circumstances  set forth in the
Rights Agreement, the decision to make an Exchange or to redeem the Rights shall
require the  concurrence of a majority of the  Continuing  Directors (as defined
below). Additionally,  the Company may thereafter but prior to the occurrence of
a  Triggering  Event  redeem  the  Rights  in  whole,  but not in  part,  at the
Redemption  Price  provided  that such  redemption  is incidental to a merger or
other business combination transaction involving the Company that is approved by
a majority of the Continuing  Directors,  does not involve an Acquiring  Person,
and in which all holders of Common Stock are treated alike. After the redemption
period has expired,  the Company's  right of redemption  may be reinstated if an
Acquiring  Person  reduces  his  beneficial  ownership  to  15% or  less  of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock in a transaction  or series of  transactions
not involving  the Company.  Immediately  upon the action of the Board  ordering
redemption  of  the  Rights,  with,  where  required,  the  concurrence  of  the
Continuing  Directors,  the  Rights  will  terminate  and the only  right of the
holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.


         The term "Continuing Directors" means any member of the Board who was a
member of the Board immediately before the adoption of the Rights Agreement, and
any  person  who is  subsequently  elected  to  the  Board  if  such  person  is
recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors,  but does not
include an  Acquiring  Person,  or an  affiliate  or  associate  of an Acquiring
Person, or any representative of the foregoing entities.


         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 Series C Preferred Stock (or other consideration) of the Company
or for common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.


         Other than certain provisions  relating to the principal economic terms
of the Rights,  any of the provisions of the Rights  Agreement may be amended by
the Board prior to the  Distribution  Date.  After the  Distribution  Date,  the
provisions  of the Rights  Agreement  may be  amended  by the Board (in  certain
circumstances,  only with the concurrence of the Continuing  Directors) in order
to cure any  ambiguity,  to make certain  other  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, no amendment to adjust the time period governing
redemption may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.


                                      B-3

                                                                       Exhibit 3

                              ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
                                     OF THE
                          ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
                       UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.

          Under Section 13.1-639 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act

1.       The name of the corporation is United Dominion Realty Trust, Inc.

2.       The corporation's  Articles of Incorporation  shall be amended to add a
new subsection (c) to Article 3 to read as follows:

         (c)      Series C Junior Participating Redeemable Preferred Stock.

                           (1) Designation and Number. A series of the preferred
                  stock,   designated   the   "Series  C  Junior   Participating
                  Cumulative   Redeemable   Preferred   Stock"  (the  "Series  C
                  Preferred"),  is hereby  established.  The number of shares of
                  the Series C Preferred  shall be 1,000,000.  Such number shall
                  include  900,000  unissued  shares of the series of  preferred
                  stock heretofore established, designated as the 8.60% Series B
                  Cumulative   Redeemable   Preferred   Stock  (the   "Series  B
                  Preferred"),  which are hereby  redesignated as 900,000 shares
                  of the Series C Preferred.

                           (2)  Relative  Seniority.  In  respect  of  rights to
                  receive  dividends  and to  participate  in  distributions  or
                  payments  in the  event  of any  liquidation,  dissolution  or
                  winding up of the  corporation,  the Series C Preferred  shall
                  rank  junior  to the  series  of  preferred  stock  heretofore
                  established,  designated  as the 9 1/4%  Series  A  Cumulative
                  Redeemable  Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred") and the
                  Series B  Preferred,  and senior to the  common  stock and any
                  other  capital  stock  of  the  corporation   ranking,  as  to
                  dividends  and  upon  liquidation,  junior  to  the  Series  C
                  Preferred (collectively, "Junior Stock").

                           (3)  Dividends.  The holders of the then  outstanding
                  Series C Preferred  shall be entitled to receive,  when and as
                  declared by the Board of  Directors  out of any funds  legally
                  available  therefor,  cumulative  preferential  cash dividends
                  payable  quarterly  on March  31,  June 30,  September  30 and
                  December  31 (each  such date  being  referred  to herein as a
                  "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date" and each period beginning on
                  the day next following a Quarterly  Dividend  Payment date and
                  ending on the next following  Quarterly  Dividend Payment date
                  being referred to herein as a "Dividend  Period"),  commencing
                  on the first Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date after the first
                  issuance  of a share  or  fraction  of a  share  of  Series  C
                  Preferred,  in an amount  per share  (rounded  to the  nearest
                  cent)  equal to the  greater  of (i) $.01 or (ii)  subject  to
                  adjustment  hereinafter  set forth,  1,000 times the aggregate
                  per share  amount of all cash  dividends,  and 1,000 times the
                  aggregate  per share amount  (payable in kind) of all non-cash
                  dividends or other distributions (other than dividends payable
                  in shares of common stock,  as constituted on the date of such
                  payment),  declared on the common stock since the  immediately
                  preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to
                  the first  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date,  since the first
                  issuance  of any  share or  fraction  of a share  of  Series C
                  Preferred.

                           In the event the corporation  shall at any time after
                  February 4, 1998 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), (i)
                  declare any dividend on the common stock  payable in shares of
                  common stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding  common stock, or
                  (iii)  combine the  outstanding  shares of common stock into a
                  smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount to
                  which  holders  of  shares  of the  Series  C  Preferred  were
                  entitled  immediately prior to such event under clause (ii) of
                  the preceding  paragraph shall be adjusted by multiplying such
                  amount by a fraction (the "Adjustment Factor"),  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  outstanding  immediately
                  prior to such event.

                           The   corporation   shall   declare  a  dividend   or
                  distribution  on the Series C Preferred  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 at the rate of
                  $.01 per share on the Series C Preferred shall nevertheless be
                  declared payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment
                  Date.

                           Dividends  on the shares of Series C Preferred  shall
                  accrue and be  cumulative  from and  including  the  Quarterly
                  Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such
                  shares of Series C Preferred, unless the date of issue of such
                  shares is prior to the  record  date for the  first  Quarterly
                  Dividend Payment Date, in which event dividends on such shares
                  shall accrue and be cumulative  from and including 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 C
                  Preferred  entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before
                  such  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment  Date,  in  either of which
                  events such dividends  shall accrue and be cumulative from and
                  including such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, whether or not
                  (i) the  corporation  has  earnings,  (ii)  dividends  on such
                  shares are declared or (iii) on any Quarterly Dividend Payment
                  Date there shall be funds legally available for the payment of
                  such  dividends.  When dividends are not paid in full upon the
                  shares  of  Series C  Preferred  and the  shares  of any other
                  series of preferred  stock ranking on a parity as to dividends
                  with the Series C Preferred (or a sum sufficient for such full
                  payment is not set apart  therefor),  all  dividends  declared
                  upon  shares of  Series C  Preferred  and any other  series of
                  preferred  stock ranking on a parity as to dividends  with the
                  Series  C  Preferred  shall be  declared  pro rata so that the
                  amount  of  dividends  declared  per  share  on the  Series  C
                  Preferred  and such other series of  preferred  stock shall in
                  all cases  bear to each  other  the same  ratio  that  accrued
                  dividends  per share on the shares of Series C  Preferred  and
                  such other series of preferred stock bear to each other.

                           Except  as  provided  in  the  immediately  preceding
                  paragraph,  unless full  cumulative  dividends on the Series C
                  Preferred have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid
                  or declared and a sum sufficient  for the payment  thereof set
                  apart  for  payment  on the  Series C  Preferred  for all past
                  dividend periods and the then current dividend period,  (i) no
                  dividends  shall be  declared or paid or set apart for payment
                  on the  preferred  stock  of the  corporation  ranking,  as to
                  dividends,  on a  parity  with  or  junior  to  the  Series  C
                  Preferred for any period, and (ii) no dividends (other than in
                  Junior  Stock)  shall be  declared  or paid or set  aside  for
                  payment or other  distribution  or shall be  declared  or made
                  upon  the  Junior  Stock  or any  other  capital  stock of the
                  corporation ranking on a parity with the Series C Preferred as
                  to dividends or upon liquidation  ("Parity Stock"),  nor shall
                  any Junior Stock or any Parity Stock be redeemed, purchased or
                  otherwise  acquired  for any  consideration  (or any moneys be
                  paid  to  or  made  available  for  a  sinking  fund  for  the
                  redemption  of any shares of Junior Stock or Parity  Stock) by
                  the  corporation  (except by  conversion  into or exchange for
                  Junior Stock).

                           Any  dividend  payment made on shares of the Series C
                  Preferred shall first be credited against the earliest accrued
                  but unpaid  dividend  due with  respect to such  shares  which
                  remains payable.

                           No dividends on shares of Series C Preferred shall be
                  declared by the Board of Directors of the  corporation or paid
                  or set apart for  payment by the  corporation  at such time as
                  the terms and provisions of any agreement of the  corporation,
                  including   any  agreement   relating  to  its   indebtedness,
                  prohibits  such  declaration,  payment  or  setting  apart for
                  payment or provides that such declaration,  payment or setting
                  apart for  payment  would  constitute  a breach  thereof  or a
                  default thereunder, or if such declaration or payment shall be
                  restricted or prohibited by law.

                           Accrued  but  unpaid   dividends   on  the  Series  C
                  Preferred  will not bear  interest.  Holders  of the  Series C
                  Preferred  will not be entitled to any  dividends in excess of
                  full cumulative dividends as described above.

                           Except as  provided in these  Articles,  the Series C
                  Preferred shall not be entitled to participate in the earnings
                  or assets of the corporation.

                           The Board of Directors  may fix a record date for the
                  determination  of  holders  of shares  of  Series C  Preferred
                  entitled  to receive  payment of a  dividend  or  distribution
                  declared  thereon,  which record date shall be no more than 30
                  days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

                           (4)      Liquidation Rights.

                           (A) Upon the  voluntary or  involuntary  dissolution,
                  liquidation or winding up of the  corporation,  the holders of
                  shares of the Series C  Preferred  then  outstanding  shall be
                  entitled  to  receive  and to be paid out of the assets of the
                  corporation   legally   available  for   distribution  to  its
                  shareholders,  before  any  distribution  shall be made to the
                  holders  of  common  stock or any other  capital  stock of the
                  corporation  ranking  junior to the  Series C  Preferred  upon
                  liquidation,  a liquidation preference of $1,000.00 per share,
                  plus  accrued  and  unpaid  dividends  thereon  to the date of
                  payment (the "Series C Preferred Liquidation Preference").

                           (B) After the payment to the holders of the shares of
                  the  Series  C  Preferred  of  the  full  Series  C  Preferred
                  Liquidation Preference,  the holders of the Series C Preferred
                  as such shall  have no right or claim to any of the  remaining
                  assets of the  corporation  until the holders of common  stock
                  shall  have   received  an  amount  per  share  (the   "Common
                  Adjustment")  equal to the  quotient  obtained by dividing (i)
                  the Series C Preferred  Liquidation  Preference  by (ii) 1,000
                  (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in paragraph (D) below
                  to reflect such events as stock  splits,  stock  dividends and
                  recapitalizations  with  respect  to the  common  stock)  (the
                  number  determined  pursuant to clause (ii) being  hereinafter
                  referred to as the "Adjustment Number"). Following the payment
                  of the  full  amount  of the  Series C  Preferred  Liquidation
                  Preference  in respect of all  outstanding  shares of Series C
                  Preferred,  the  full  amount  of any  liquidation  preference
                  payable  to  holders  of any  other  shares  of  stock  of the
                  corporation  ranking as to any distribution upon any voluntary
                  or involuntary  dissolution,  liquidation or winding up of the
                  corporation  on a  parity  with  the  shares  of the  Series C
                  Preferred  and  the  full  amount  of the  Common  Adjustment,
                  respectively, holders of shares of Series C Preferred, holders
                  of any other shares of stock of the corporation  participating
                  upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution,  liquidation or
                  winding  up of the  corporation  on a parity  with the  common
                  stock on a per  share  basis and  holders  of shares of common
                  stock shall receive their ratable and  proportionate  share of
                  the  remaining  assets to be  distributed,  with the number of
                  shares of Series C Preferred  being  deemed,  for  purposes of
                  determining the amount of such remaining assets  distributable
                  to the holders of shares of Series C Preferred as a class,  to
                  be the  product of the number of shares of Series C  Preferred
                  then   outstanding   and  the  Adjustment   Number,   and  the
                  distributable amount per share of Series C Preferred being the
                  amount  distributable  to the  holders  of  shares of Series C
                  Preferred as a classs, determined as aforesaid, divided by the
                  number of shares of Series C Preferred then outstanding.

                           (C)  In  the  event,  however,  that  there  are  not
                  sufficient   assets  legally  available  for  distribution  to
                  shareholders  to  permit  payment  in  full  of the  Series  C
                  Preferred   Liquidation   Preference   and   the   liquidation
                  preferences  of all other series of preferred  stock,  if any,
                  then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the
                  holders of shares of the Series C Preferred and shares of such
                  other series in  proportion  to their  respective  liquidation
                  preferences. In the event that there are not sufficient assets
                  remaining  after  payment  in full of the  Series C  Preferred
                  Liquidation Preference and such other liquidation  preferences
                  to permit payment in full of the Common  Adjustment,  then the
                  remaining  assets shall be distributed  ratably to the holders
                  of the common stock.

                           (D) In the  event the  corporation  shall at any time
                  after the Rights  Dividend  Declaration  Date (i)  declare any
                  dividend  on the  common  stock  payable  in  shares of common
                  stock,  (ii) subdivide the outstanding  common stock, or (iii)
                  combine the outstanding  shares of 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 the Adjustment Factor.

                           (E)   If,   upon   any   voluntary   or   involuntary
                  dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the corporation, the
                  amounts  payable  with  respect  to  the  Series  C  Preferred
                  Liquidation  Preference and the liquidation  preference of any
                  other  shares of stock of the  corporation  ranking  as to any
                  such  distribution on a parity with the shares of the Series C
                  Preferred  are not paid in full,  the holders of the shares of
                  the Series C  Preferred  and of such other  shares  will share
                  ratably in any such  distribution of assets of the corporation
                  in proportion to the full respective  liquidation  preferences
                  to which they are entitled.

                           (F) Neither the sale,  lease,  transfer or conveyance
                  of all or  substantially  all the  property or business of the
                  corporation,   nor  the   merger  or   consolidation   of  the
                  corporation  into or with any other  corporation or the merger
                  or  consolidation  of any other  corporation  into or with the
                  corporation, shall be deemed to be a dissolution,  liquidation
                  or winding up,  voluntary or involuntary,  for the purposes of
                  this paragraph (4).

                           (5)      Redemption

                           (A) Right of  Optional  Redemption.  The  outstanding
                  shares of Series C Preferred  may be redeemed at the option of
                  the Board of  Directors  as a whole,  but not in part,  at any
                  time,  or from time to time, at a price per share (the "Series
                  C  Preferred  Redemption  Price")  equal  to (i)  100%  of the
                  product of the  Adjustment  Number  times the  Average  Market
                  Value  (as such term is  hereinafter  defined)  of the  common
                  stock,  plus (ii) all  accrued  and  unpaid  dividends  to and
                  including  the  date  fixed  for  redemption  (the  "Series  C
                  Preferred Redemption Date"). The "Average Market Value" is the
                  average of the  closing  sale  prices of a share of the common
                  stock during the 30-day period immediately  preceding the date
                  before the  redemption  date quoted on the Composite  Tape for
                  New York Stock Exchange Listed Stocks, or, if the common stock
                  is not  quoted on the  Composite  Tape,  on The New York Stock
                  Exchange,  or,  if the  common  stock  is not  listed  on such
                  exchange,  on the principal United States securities  exchange
                  registered  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
                  amended,  on which  the  common  stock is  listed,  or, if the
                  common stock is not listed on any such  exchange,  the average
                  of the  closing  bid  quotations  with  respect  to a share of
                  common  stock  during such 30-day  period on The Nasdaq  Stock
                  Market,  or if no such  quotations  are  available,  the  fair
                  market value of a share of common stock as  determined  by the
                  Board of Directors in good faith.

                           (B) Procedures for Redemption.

                           (i)  Notice  of any  redemption  will be (a) given by
                  publication in a newspaper of general  circulation in the City
                  of New York, New York, such publication to be made once a week
                  for two successive  weeks commencing not less than 30 nor more
                  than 60 days prior to the Series C Preferred  Redemption Date,
                  and (b) mailed by the corporation,  postage prepaid,  not less
                  than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Series C  Preferred
                  Redemption Date, addressed to the respective holders of record
                  of the Series C Preferred  to be redeemed at their  respective
                  addresses as they appear on the stock transfer  records of the
                  corporation.  No  failure  to give such  notice or any  defect
                  therein or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of
                  the  proceedings  for the redemption of any Series C Preferred
                  except as to the holder to whom the  corporation has failed to
                  give  notice  or except as to the  holder to whom  notice  was
                  defective.  In addition to any information  required by law or
                  by the  applicable  rules of any exchange  upon which Series C
                  Preferred  may be listed or admitted  to trading,  such notice
                  shall state:  (a) the Series C Preferred  Redemption Date; (b)
                  the  Series C  Preferred  Redemption  Price;  (c) the place or
                  places  where  certificates  for Series C Preferred  are to be
                  surrendered  for payment of the Series C Preferred  Redemption
                  Price;  and (d) that  dividends on the Series C Preferred will
                  cease to accumulate on the Series C Preferred Redemption Date.

                           (ii)  If  notice  of   redemption  of  the  Series  C
                  Preferred has been  published  and mailed in  accordance  with
                  subparagraph  (5)(B)(i)  above and provided  that on or before
                  the  Series C  Preferred  Redemption  Date  specified  in such
                  notice all funds necessary for such redemption shall have been
                  irrevocably set aside by the  corporation,  separate and apart
                  from its other  funds in trust for the  benefit of the holders
                  of the Series C Preferred,  so as to be, and to continue to be
                  available  therefor,   then,  from  and  after  the  Series  C
                  Preferred Redemption Date, dividends on the Series C Preferred
                  shall  cease to accrue,  and the Series C  Preferred  shall no
                  longer  be  deemed  to be  outstanding  and all  rights of the
                  holders thereof as shareholders of the corporation (except the
                  right to receive  the  Series C  Preferred  Redemption  Price)
                  shall  terminate.  Upon  surrender,  in  accordance  with said
                  notice,  of  the  certificates  for  the  Series  C  Preferred
                  (properly   endorsed  or  assigned   for   transfer,   if  the
                  corporation  shall so require and the notice  shall so state),
                  the Series C Preferred shall be redeemed by the corporation at
                  the Series C Preferred Redemption Price.

                           (iii)  The  deposit  of  funds  with a bank or  trust
                  company for the purpose of redeeming  Series C Preferred shall
                  be irrevocable except that:

                                    (a) the  corporation  shall be  entitled  to
                           receive from such bank or trust  company the interest
                           or other  earnings,  if any,  earned  on any money so
                           deposited  in trust,  and the  holders  of any shares
                           redeemed  shall  have no  claim to such  interest  or
                           other earnings; and

                                    (b) any  balance of moneys so  deposited  by
                           the  corporation  and unclaimed by the holders of the
                           Series C Preferred entitled thereto at the expiration
                           of two years from the  applicable  Series C Preferred
                           Redemption  Date shall be repaid,  together  with any
                           interest or other  earnings  earned  thereon,  to the
                           corporation,   and  after  any  such  repayment,  the
                           holders of the shares entitled to the funds so repaid
                           to the corporation shall look only to the corporation
                           for payment without interest or other earnings.

                           (C)  Rights  to  Dividends   on  Shares   Called  for
                  Redemption. If the Series C Preferred Redemption Date is after
                  a  record  date  for  payment  of  dividends  on the  Series C
                  Preferred and before the related  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment
                  Date, the dividend payable on such Quarterly  Dividend Payment
                  Date shall be paid to the  holders in whose name the shares of
                  Series C Preferred are  registered at the close of business on
                  such  record  date   notwithstanding  the  redemption  thereof
                  between  such record date and the related  Quarterly  Dividend
                  Payment  Date or the  corporation's  default in the payment of
                  the dividend due.  Except as provided in this  paragraph  (5),
                  the  corporation  will make no payment or allowance for unpaid
                  dividends,  whether  or not in  arrears,  on  called  Series C
                  Preferred.

                           (6)      Voting Rights.

                           (A)   Subject  to  the   provision   for   adjustment
                  hereinafter set forth,  each share of Series C Preferred shall
                  entitle  the  holder  thereof  to 1,000  votes on all  matters
                  submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the corporation. In
                  the event the  corporation  shall at any time after the Rights
                  Declaration  Date (i) declare any dividend on the common stock
                  payable  in  shares  of  common  stock,   (ii)  subdivide  the
                  outstanding  common stock,  or (iii)  combine the  outstanding
                  shares of 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  C  Preferred   were  entitled
                  immediately   prior  to  such  event   shall  be  adjusted  by
                  multiplying  such number by the Adjustment  Factor.  Except as
                  otherwise provided herein, in the Articles of Incorporation or
                  under  applicable  law,  the  holders  of  shares  of Series C
                  Preferred and the holders of shares of common stock shall vote
                  together  as one voting  group on all matters  submitted  to a
                  vote of stockholders of the corporation.

                           (B)  Whenever  dividends  on any  shares  of Series C
                  Preferred  shall  be in  arrears  for six or more  consecutive
                  quarterly  periods,  the  holders  of such  shares of Series C
                  Preferred (voting  separately as a class with all other series
                  of  preferred  stock upon which like  voting  rights have been
                  conferred  and are  exercisable)  will be entitled to vote for
                  the election of two additional directors of the corporation at
                  a special  meeting called by the holders of record of at least
                  10% of the  Series C  Preferred  or the  holders  of any other
                  series of preferred  stock so in arrears  (unless such request
                  is  received  less than 90 days  before the date fixed for the
                  next annual or special meeting of the  shareholders) or at the
                  next annual meeting of  shareholders,  and at each  subsequent
                  annual meeting until all dividends  accumulated on such shares
                  of Series C Preferred  for the past  Dividend  Periods and the
                  then  current  Dividend  Period  shall have been fully paid or
                  declared  and a sum  sufficient  for the  payment  thereof set
                  aside for payment. In such case, the entire Board of Directors
                  of the corporation will be increased by two directors.

                           (B) The foregoing  voting  provisions  will not apply
                  if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which
                  such vote would  otherwise be required shall be effected,  all
                  outstanding  shares  of  Series C  Preferred  shall  have been
                  redeemed  or called  for  redemption  upon  proper  notice and
                  sufficient  funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect
                  such redemption.

                           (C) In the  event  that  the  Series C  Preferred  is
                  listed or admitted to trading on The New York Stock  Exchange,
                  then  notwithstanding   anything  to  the  contrary  in  these
                  Articles,  including without limitation Article 8, approval by
                  the holders of at least  two-thirds of the outstanding  shares
                  of the Series C Preferred  shall be required  for  adoption of
                  any  amendment  of  these  Articles  or of the  bylaws  of the
                  corporation that would materially affect the existing terms of
                  the Series C Preferred.

                           (7)   Conversion of Series C Preferred.  The Series C

<PAGE>


                  Preferred  is not  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for any
                  other property or securities of the corporation.

                           (8) Consolidation,  Merger,  Share Exchange,  etc. In
                  case the  corporation  shall  enter  into  any  consolidation,
                  merger,  share exchange,  combination or other  transaction in
                  which the shares of common stock are  exchanged for or changed
                  into  other  stock  or  securities,   cash  and/or  any  other
                  property,  then in any  such  case  the  shares  of  Series  C
                  Preferred  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 1,000  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 Dividend  Declaration  Date (i) declare any dividend on
                  the  common  stock  payable  in shares of common  stock,  (ii)
                  subdivide the  outstanding  common stock, or (iii) combine the
                  outstanding  shares of 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 C Preferred  shall be adjusted by multiplying
                  such amount by the Adjustment Factor.

                           (9)  Fractional  Shares.  Series C  Preferred  may be
                  issued in  fractions  of one  one-thousandth  of a share  (and
                  integral multiples thereof) 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 C Preferred.


3. The amendment of the Articles of Incorporation  was duly adopted by the Board
of Directors of the corporation on January 27, 1998.  Shareholder action was not
required.

Dated January 27, 1998

                                            UNITED DOMINION REALTY TRUST, INC.



                                            By:      s/ Katheryn E. Surface

                                                     Katheryn E. Surface
                                                     Senior Vice President


DOC  115615



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