AUTODESK INC
8-A12G, 1996-01-05
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   __________


                                    FORM 8-A


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


                                AUTODESK, INC.
           ---------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


                Delaware                                    94-2819853
- ----------------------------------------       ---------------------------------
(State of incorporation or organization)       (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                              111 McInnis Parkway
                             San Rafael, CA   94903
              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                   __________


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

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

                 None                                      None


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

                        Preferred Share Purchase Rights
                        -------------------------------
                               (Title of Class)

<PAGE>
 
Item 1.   Description of Securities to be Registered.
          ------------------------------------------ 

          On December 14, 1995, pursuant to a Preferred Shares Rights Agreement
(the "Rights Agreement") between Autodesk, Inc. (the "Company") and Harris Trust
and Savings Bank, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), the Company's Board of
Directors declared a dividend of one right (a "Right") to purchase one one-
thousandth share of the Company's Series A Participating Preferred Stock
("Series A Preferred") for each outstanding share of Common Stock, $.01 par
value ("Common Shares"), of the Company.  The dividend is payable on December
29, 1995 (the "Record Date") to stockholders of record as of the close of
business on that date.  Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase
from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred at an
exercise price of $200.00 (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment.

     The following summary of the principal terms of the Rights Agreement is a
general description only and is subject to the detailed terms and conditions of
the Rights Agreement.  A copy of the Rights Agreement is attached as Exhibit 1
to this Registration Statement and is incorporated herein by reference;
capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Rights Agreement.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
Rights Evidenced by Common Share Certificates
- ---------------------------------------------

     The Rights will not be exercisable until the Distribution Date (defined
below).  Prior to the Distribution Date, certificates for the Rights ("Rights
Certificates") will not be sent to shareholders and the Rights will attach to
and trade only together with the Common Shares.  Accordingly, Common Share
certificates outstanding on the Record Date will evidence the Rights related
thereto, and Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date but prior to
the Distribution Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement
by reference.  Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration
of the Rights), the surrender or transfer of any certificates for Common Shares,
even without notation or a copy of the Summary of Rights being attached thereto
(but as to certificates representing Common Shares issued after the Record Date,
only if they bear the legend required by the Rights Agreement), will also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented by such certificate.

Distribution Date
- -----------------

     The Rights will separate from the Common Shares, Rights Certificates will
be issued and the Rights will become exercisable upon the earlier of:  (i) 10
days (or such later date as may be determined by a majority of the Board of
Directors, excluding directors affiliated with the Acquiring Person, as defined
below (the "Continuing Directors")) following a public announcement that a
person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has
acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more
of the outstanding Common Shares, or (ii) 10 days (or such later date as may be
determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors) following the commencement
of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer
the consummation of which

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares.  The earlier of such dates is referred to as the
"Distribution Date."

Issuance of Rights Certificates; Expiration of Rights
- -----------------------------------------------------

     As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Rights Certificates
alone will evidence the Rights from and after the Distribution Date.  All Common
Shares issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.  Common
Shares issued after the Distribution Date may be issued with Rights if such
shares are issued (i) upon the conversion of outstanding convertible debentures
or any other convertible securities issued after adoption of the Rights
Agreement or (ii) pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under employee
benefit plans or arrangements unless such issuance would result in (or create a
risk that) such options, plans or arrangements would not qualify for otherwise
available special tax treatment.  Except as otherwise determined by the Board of
Directors, no other Common Shares issued after the Distribution Date will be
issued with Rights.  The Rights will expire on the earliest of (i) December 14,
2005 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) redemption or exchange of the Rights as
described below, or (iii) consummation of an acquisition of the Company
satisfying certain conditions by a person who acquired shares pursuant to a
Permitted Offer as described below.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
Initial Exercise of the Rights
- ------------------------------

     Following the Distribution Date, and until one of the further events
described below, holders of the Rights will be entitled to receive, upon
exercise and the payment of $200.00 per Right, one one-thousandth share of the
Series A Preferred.

Right to Buy Company Common Shares
- ----------------------------------

     Unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, in the event that an Acquiring
Person becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's Common
Shares then outstanding (other than pursuant to a Permitted Offer), then proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right which has not theretofore
been exercised (other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person,
which will thereafter be void) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise, Common Shares having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price.
Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of an event as described
above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as
set forth below.

     In the event that the Company does not have sufficient Common Shares
available for all Rights to be exercised, or the Board decides that it is
necessary and not contrary to the interests of Rights holders to do so, the
Company may instead substitute cash, assets or other securities for the Common
Shares for which the Rights would have been exercisable under this provision.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
Right to Buy Acquiring Company Stock
- ------------------------------------

     Similarly, unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, in the event that, after
the Shares Acquisition Date (as defined below), (i) the Company is acquired in a
merger or other business combination transaction, or (ii) 50% or more of the
Company's consolidated assets or earning power are sold (other than in
transactions in the ordinary course of business), proper provision must be made
so that each holder of a Right which has not theretofore been exercised (other
than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person, which will thereafter be
void) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, shares of common
stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the Purchase
Price (unless the transaction satisfies certain conditions and is consummated
with a person who acquired shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer, in which case
the Rights will expire).

Permitted Offer
- ---------------

     A Permitted Offer means a tender offer for all outstanding Common Shares
that has been determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors to be
adequate and otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders.  Where the Board of Directors has determined that a tender offer
constitutes a Permitted Offer, the Rights will not become exercisable to
purchase Common Shares or shares of the acquiring company (as the case may be)
at the discounted price described above.

Exchange Provision
- ------------------

     At any time after the acquisition by an Acquiring Person of 15% or more of
the Company's outstanding Common Shares and prior to the acquisition by such
Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the Company's outstanding Common Shares, the
Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person), in whole or in part,
at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right.

Redemption
- ----------

     At any time on or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the
10th day following the acquisition by an Acquiring Person (the "Share
Acquisition Date") or such later date as may be determined by a majority of the
Continuing Directors and publicly announced by the Company, or (ii) the Final
Expiration Date of the Rights, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but
not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right.

Adjustments to Prevent Dilution
- -------------------------------

     The Purchase Price payable, the number of Rights, and the number of Series
A Preferred or Common Shares or other securities or property issuable upon
exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time in connection
with the dilutive issuances by the Company as set forth in the Rights Agreement.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required
until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such
Purchase Price.

Cash Paid Instead of Issuing Fractional Shares
- ----------------------------------------------

     No fractional portion less than integral multiples of one Common Share will
be issued upon exercise of a Right and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash
will be made based on the market price of the Common Shares on the last trading
date prior to the date of exercise.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
No Shareholders' Rights Prior to Exercise
- -----------------------------------------

     Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company (other than any rights resulting from
such holder's ownership of Common Shares), including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends.

Amendment of Rights Agreement
- -----------------------------

     The provisions of the Rights Agreement may be supplemented or amended by
the Board of Directors in any manner prior to the close of business on the
Distribution Date without the approval of Rights holders.  After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to make changes
which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the
interests of any Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period
under the Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the
time period governing redemption shall be made at such time as the Rights are
not redeemable.

Rights and Preferences of the Series A Preferred
- ------------------------------------------------

     Series A Preferred purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable.  Each share of Series A Preferred will be entitled to an aggregate
dividend of 1,000 times the dividend declared per Common Share.  In the event of
liquidation, the holders of the Series A Preferred will be entitled to a minimum
preferential liquidation payment equal to the greater of (i) $1,000 per share or
(ii) 1,000 times the per share amount to be distributed to the holders of the
Common Shares.  Each share of Series A Preferred will have 1,000 votes, voting
together with the Common Shares.  In the event of any merger,

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
consolidation or other transaction in which the Common Shares are changed or
exchanged, each share of Series A Preferred will be entitled to receive 1,000
times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by
customary anti-dilution provisions.

     Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights of the
shares of Series A Preferred, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a
share of Series A Preferred purchasable upon exercise of each Right should
approximate the value of one Common Share.

Certain Anti-takeover Effects
- -----------------------------

     The Rights approved by the Board are designed to protect and maximize the
value of the outstanding equity interests in the Company in the event of an
unsolicited attempt by an acquiror to take over the Company, in a manner or on
terms not approved by the Board of Directors.  Takeover attempts frequently
include coercive tactics to deprive the Company's Board of Directors and its
stockholders of any real opportunity to determine the destiny of the Company.
The Rights have been declared by the Board in order to deter such tactics,
including a gradual accumulation in the open market of a 15% or greater position
to be followed by a merger or a partial or two-tier tender offer that does not
treat all stockholders equally.  These tactics unfairly pressure stockholders,
squeeze them out of their investment without giving them any real choice and
deprive them of the full value of their shares.

     The Rights are not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company and will
not do so.  The Rights may be redeemed by the Company at $.01 per Right within
ten days (or on such later date as may be determined by a majority of the Board
of Directors, excluding directors affiliated with an Acquiring Person) after the
accumulation of 15% or more of the Company's shares by a single acquiror or
group.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
Accordingly, the Rights should not interfere with any merger or business
combination approved by the Board of Directors.

     Issuance of the Rights does not in any way weaken the financial strength of
the Company or interfere with its business plans.  The issuance of the Rights
themselves has no dilutive effect, will not affect reported earnings per share,
should not be taxable to the Company or to its shareholders, and will not change
the way in which the Company's shares are presently traded.  The Company's Board
of Directors believes that the Rights represent a sound and reasonable means of
addressing the complex issues of corporate policy created by the current
takeover environment.

     However, the Rights may have the effect of rendering more difficult or
discouraging an acquisition of the Company deemed undesirable by the Board of
Directors.  The Rights may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that
attempts to acquire the Company on terms or in a manner not approved by the
Company's Board of Directors, except pursuant to an offer conditioned upon the
negation, purchase or redemption of the Rights.

Item 2.   Exhibits.
          -------- 

          99.1.  Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of December 14, 
                 1995 by and between Autodesk, Inc. and Harris Trust and 
                 Savings Bank, including the Certificate of Designation, the 
                 form of Rights Certificate and the Summary of Rights attached 
                 thereto as Exhibits A, B and C, respectively.

                                      -10-
<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.

                                  AUTODESK, INC.


Date:  December 19, 1995
                                  By:    /s/ MARCIA K. STERLING
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         Marcia K. Sterling
                                         Vice President and General Counsel

<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                         Page
                                                                                        Number
                                                                                        Under
                                                                                      Sequential
Exhibit                                                                               Numbering
  No.                                      Exhibit                                      System
- ---------                                  -------                                    ----------
<C>          <S>                                                                      <C>
  99.1       Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated as of December 14, 1995,
             by and between Autodesk, Inc. and Harris Trust and Savings Bank,
             including the Certificate of Designation, the form of Rights
             Certificate and the Summary of Rights attached thereto as Exhibits A,
             B and C, respectively.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
 
                                AUTODESK, INC.

                                      AND

                         HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
                                 RIGHTS AGENT

                       PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                         DATED AS OF DECEMBER 14, 1995
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         PAGE
                                                                                         ----
<S>                                                                                      <C>
     Section 1.  Certain Definitions.................................................       1

     Section 2.  Appointment of Rights Agent.........................................       5

     Section 3.  Issuance of Rights Certificates.....................................       5

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

     Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration...................................       8

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

     Section 7.  Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.......       9

     Section 8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.................      11

     Section 9.  Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares....................      11

     Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date........................................      13

     Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights..      13

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

     Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
                   Power.............................................................      21

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

     Section 15. Rights of Action....................................................      24

     Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders.........................................      24

     Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder..................      25

     Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.........................................      25
</TABLE>

                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         PAGE
                                                                                         ----
<S>                                                                                      <C>
     Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent...........      26

     Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent..............................................      26

     Section 21. Change of Rights Agent..............................................      28

     Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.................................      29

     Section 23. Redemption..........................................................      30

     Section 24. Exchange............................................................      30

     Section 25. Notice of Certain Events............................................      32

     Section 26. Notices.............................................................      33

     Section 27. Supplements and Amendments..........................................      33

     Section 28. Successors..........................................................      34

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

     Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement..........................................      34

     Section 31. Severability........................................................      34

     Section 32. Governing Law.......................................................      35

     Section 33. Counterparts........................................................      35

     Section 34. Descriptive Headings................................................      35

EXHIBITS

     Exhibit A Form of Certificate of Designation

     Exhibit B Form of Rights Certificate

     Exhibit C Summary of Rights

                                     -ii-
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     Agreement, dated as of December 14, 1995 between Autodesk, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Harris Trust and Savings Bank (the "RIGHTS
AGENT").

     On December 14, 1995 (the "RIGHTS DIVIDEND DECLARATION DATE"), the Board of
Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend of one Preferred
Share purchase right (a "RIGHT") for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined)
of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined)
on December 29, 1995 (the "RECORD DATE"), each Right representing the right to
purchase one one-thousandth (0.001) of a share of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement), having the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in the
form of Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the
                                                          ---------          
terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and further authorized and
directed the issuance of one Right (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement) with respect to each Common Share that shall
become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution
Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), and in
certain circumstances after the Distribution Date.

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

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

          (a) "ACQUIRING PERSON" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, but shall not include the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common Shares
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person as the result of an
acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of
shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially
owned by such Person to 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial
             --------  -------                                              
Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding by
reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases
by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of
the Company, then such Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring
Person", as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a),
has become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as
practicable a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no
longer be an "Acquiring Person", as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions
of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.

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

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

              (i)   which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder (or any comparable or
successor law or regulation);

              (ii)  which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed pursuant to this Section
- --------  -------                                                            
1(c)(ii)(A) to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (1)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf
of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, or (2) securities
which a Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates may be deemed to
have the right to acquire pursuant to any merger or other acquisition agreement
between the Company and such Person (or one or more of its Affiliates or
Associates) if such agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors of the
Company prior to there being an Acquiring Person; or (B) the right to vote
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that
                                                         --------  -------      
a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own,
any security under this Section 1(c)(ii)(B) if the agreement, arrangement or
understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or
consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and
regulations of the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule
13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or

              (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by 
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such 
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, 
arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing (other than customary 
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with 
respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of 
acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to
Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company; provided,
                                                                    --------
however, 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

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
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 banking institutions in California 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.,
California time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
                               --------  -------                            
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., California time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.

          (f) "COMMON SHARES" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
the shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.01 par value per share.  "Common
Shares" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean
the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such
other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the
Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.

          (g) "CONTINUING DIRECTOR" shall mean (i) any member of the Board of
Directors of the Company who, while a member of the Board, is not an Acquiring
Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a representative
of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and who was a
member of the Board prior to the date of this Agreement, or (ii) any Person who
subsequently becomes a member of the Board who, while a member of the Board, is
not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or
a representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate,
if such Person's nomination for election or election to the Board is recommended
or approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors.

          (h) "DISTRIBUTION DATE" shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of
a majority of Continuing Directors then in office) after the Shares Acquisition
Date (or, if the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date occurs before the
Record Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date) or (ii) the Close of
Business on the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of
a majority of Continuing Directors then in office) 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, assuming the successful consummation
thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares
of Common Stock then outstanding.

          (i) "EQUIVALENT SHARES" shall mean Preferred Shares and any other
class or series of capital stock of the Company which 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 Shares. In calculating the number of any class or series of
Equivalent Shares for purposes of Section 11 of this Rights Agreement, the
number of shares, or

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
fractions of a share, of such class or series of capital stock that is entitled
to the same dividend or distribution as a whole Common Share shall be deemed to
be one share.

          (j) "EXPIRATION DATE" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Close of
Business on the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the time
at which the Board of Directors orders the exchange of the Rights as provided in
Section 24 hereof or (iv) the consummation of a transaction contemplated by
Section 13(d) hereof.

          (k) "FINAL EXPIRATION DATE" shall mean December 14, 2005.

          (l) "PERMITTED OFFER" shall mean a tender offer for all outstanding
Common Shares made in the manner prescribed by Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; provided, however, that
                                                      --------  -------      
such tender offer occurs at a time when Continuing Directors are in office and a
majority of the Continuing Directors then in office has determined that the
offer is both adequate and otherwise in the best interests of the Company and
its stockholders (taking into account all factors that such Continuing Directors
deem relevant).

          (m) "PERSON" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other
entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

          (n) "PREFERRED SHARES" shall mean shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock of the Company.

          (o) "PURCHASE PRICE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)
hereof.

          (p) "RECORD DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals at
the beginning of this Agreement.

          (q) "REDEMPTION DATE" shall mean the time at which the Board of
Directors of the Company orders redemption of the Rights as provided in Section
23 hereof.

          (r) "REDEMPTION PRICE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.

          (s) "RIGHTS DIVIDEND DECLARATION DATE" shall have the meaning set
forth in the recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.

          (t) "SECTION 13 EVENT" shall mean any event described in clause (i),
(ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof.

          (u) "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
Person has become such; provided that, if such Person is determined not to have
                        -------------                                          
become an Acquiring Person pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof, then no Shares
Acquisition Date shall be deemed to have occurred.

          (v) "SUBSIDIARY" of any Person shall mean 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 any
corporation or other entity otherwise controlled by such Person.

          (w) "TOTAL EXERCISE PRICE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4(a) hereof.

          (x) "TRADING DAY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)
hereof.

          (y) A "TRIGGERING EVENT" shall be deemed to have occurred upon any
Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity
holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becoming an Acquiring Person.

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

      Section 3.  Issuance of Rights Certificates.
                  ------------------------------- 

          (a) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof) by the certificates
for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which
certificates shall also be deemed to be Rights Certificates) and not by separate
Rights Certificates and (ii) the right to receive Rights Certificates will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares.  Until the
earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the surrender for
transfer of such certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute the
surrender for transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented thereby.  As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the
Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the
Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested,
send) by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common
Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Rights Certificate, in
substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "RIGHTS CERTIFICATE"), evidencing
                          ---------                                            
one Right for each Common Share so held, subject to adjustment as provided
herein.  In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per Common
Share has been made pursuant to Section 11(a)(i), Section 11(i) or Section 11(p)
hereof, then at the time of

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
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 the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights
Certificates and may be transferred by the transfer of the Rights Certificates
as permitted hereby, separately and apart from any transfer of one or more
Common Shares, and the holders of such Rights Certificates as listed in the
records of the Company or any transfer agent or registrar for the Rights shall
be the record holders thereof.

          (b) On the Record Date or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send (or cause to be sent) a copy of a Summary of Rights in
substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "SUMMARY OF RIGHTS"), by 
                          ---------
first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of
the close of business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on
the records of the Company.

          (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 Common Shares specifies to the contrary, Rights
shall be issued in respect of all Common Shares that are issued after the Record
Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date
or, in certain circumstances provided in Section 22 hereof, after the
Distribution Date. Certificates representing such Common Shares shall also be
deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend:

     THIS CERTIFICATE ALSO EVIDENCES AND ENTITLES THE HOLDER HEREOF TO CERTAIN
     RIGHTS AS SET FORTH IN A RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN AUTODESK, INC. AND THE
     HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK AS THE RIGHTS AGENT, DATED AS OF DECEMBER 14,
     1995 (THE "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED
     HEREIN BY REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL
     EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF AUTODESK, INC. 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.
     AUTODESK, INC. WILL MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE
     RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN REQUEST
     THEREFOR.  UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT,
     RIGHTS ISSUED TO, OR HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN
     ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE
     DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD BY OR ON BEHALF OF
     SUCH PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER, MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
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 Shares represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such
certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Shares represented thereby.  In the event that the Company purchases or
acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution
Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and
retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights
associated with the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding.

      Section 4.  Form of Rights Certificates.
                  --------------------------- 

          (a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
Common Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of
                             ---------                                  
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be
dated as of the Record Date (or in the case of Rights issued with respect to
Common Shares issued by the Company after the Record Date, as of the date of
issuance of such Common Shares) and on their face shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as shall
be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one
one-thousandth (0.001) of a Preferred Share being hereinafter referred to as the
"PURCHASE PRICE" and the aggregate exercise price of all Preferred Shares
issuable upon exercise of one Right being hereinafter referred to as the "TOTAL
EXERCISE PRICE"), but the number and type of securities purchasable upon the
exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price 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 which the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights
Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer,
exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to
in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
     THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY
     OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR
     ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
     AGREEMENT).  ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
     REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED
     IN SECTION 7(E) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.

     Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration.
                  --------------------------------- 

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

          (b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its office designated for such purposes, 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 Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 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
Rights Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered
holder to purchase a like number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or,
following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the
case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then
entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer,
split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall
surrender the Rights Certificate or Rights Certifi-

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
cates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the
Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the
transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder
shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of
assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have
provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Sections
7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.
The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split
up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.

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

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

          (a) Subject to Sections 7(e), 23(b) and 24(b) hereof, the registered
holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby
(except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together
with payment of the Purchase Price for each one-thousandth of a Preferred Share
as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the Expiration Date.

          (b) The Purchase Price for each one-thousandth (0.001) of a Preferred
Share issuable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be Two
Hundred Dollars ($200), shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of
the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
          (c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the Purchase Price for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share (or other securities or property, as the case may be) to be purchased and
an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder
of such Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof in cash, or by
certified check or cashier's check payable to the order of the Company, the
Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A)
requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make available,
if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for the Preferred Shares) a
certificate or certificates for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share 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 one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable
upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from
the depositary agent of depositary receipts representing such number of one-
thousandths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company
hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu
of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with 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) when appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash 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)(iv) 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 to the registered holder of such Rights Certificate or to
his or her duly authorized assigns, 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 Triggering Event or a Section 13 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 (a "POST TRANSFEREE"), (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, arrange-

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
ment or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which
the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the
avoidance of this Section 7(e) (a "PRIOR TRANSFEREE") or (iv) any subsequent
transferee receiving transferred Rights from a Post Transferee or a Prior
Transferee, either directly or through one or more intermediate transferees,
shall become null and void without any further action and no holder of such
Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether
under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and
Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder
of Rights Certificates or to any other Person as a result of its failure to make
any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of such Acquiring
Person's Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.

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

     Section 8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.  All
                 ---------------------------------------------------      
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no 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 Preferred Shares.
                 ------------------------------------------------ 

          (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will use its best efforts
to cause to be reserved and kept available out of and to the extent of its
authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock not reserved for another
purpose (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its
authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities), the
number of Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of the Triggering
Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) that will be sufficient to permit
the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.

          (b) If the Company shall hereafter list any of its Preferred Shares on
a national securities exchange, then so long as the Preferred Shares (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other
securities) issuable and deliverable upon exercise

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
of the Rights may be listed on such exchange, the Company shall use its best
efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable (but
only to the extent that it is reasonably likely that the Rights will be
exercised), all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange
upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.

          (c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a
Triggering Event in which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iv)
hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the
case may be, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), with respect to the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration
statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii)
cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all
times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A)
the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities
and (B) the date of expiration of the Rights.  The Company may temporarily
suspend, for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in
clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the
Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to
become effective.  Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public
announcement stating, and notify the Rights Agent, that the exercisability of
the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement and
notification to the Rights Agent at such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect.  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.  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, or an exemption therefrom shall be
available, and until a registration statement has been declared effective.

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

          (e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may
be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates or of any Preferred Shares upon the exercise of Rights.  The
Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be
payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a
person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary
receipts for the Preferred Shares in a name other than that of, the registered
holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or
to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred
Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until any 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.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 10.  Preferred Shares Record Date.  Each person in whose name any
                  ----------------------------                                
certificate for a number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share is issued upon
the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the
holder of record of Preferred Shares represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share with respect to
which the Rights have been exercised (and any applicable transfer taxes) was
made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a
      --------  -------                                                     
date upon which the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are closed,
such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on,
and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which
the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are open.  Prior to the
exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate
shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares for which
the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to
vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive
rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of
the Company, except as provided herein.

     Section 11.  Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of
                  -----------------------------------------------------------
Rights.  The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares or other property
- ------                                                                      
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 Common Shares payable in Common
Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, (C) combine the outstanding
Common Shares (by reverse stock split or otherwise) into a smaller number of
Common Shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Common Shares (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
or surviving corporation), then, in each such event, except as otherwise
provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof: (1) each of the Rights
outstanding at the time of the record date for such dividend or the effective
date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be
proportionately adjusted to that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one
ten-thousandth (1/10,000) of a Right) equal to a fraction (the "EXCHANGE
RATIO"), the numerator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares or
shares of capital stock outstanding immediately following such subdivision,
combination or reclassification and the denominator of which shall be the total
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such time, and the
number of Rights that shall thereafter be issued with respect to each Common
Share or share of such other capital stock that shall become outstanding
thereafter prior to the Distribution Date shall be equal to the total number of
outstanding Rights immediately after such event (as adjusted pursuant to this
clause (1)) divided by the total number of outstanding Common Shares or shares
of such other capital stock immediately after such event (subject to further
adjustment pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement); (2) 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 shall be adjusted so
that the Purchase Price thereafter shall equal the result obtained by dividing
the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such time by the Exchange
Ratio; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid
       --------  -------                                                     
upon

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of
capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of such Right; and (3) the
number of Common Shares or shares of such other capital stock issuable upon the
exercise of each Right shall remain unchanged immediately after such event, but,
in the event of a reclassification, the kind of shares issuable upon the
exercise of each Right immediately after such reclassification shall be adjusted
to be the kind of shares of such other capital stock issued in such
reclassification, rather than Common Shares.  If an event occurs which would
require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in
addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

              (ii)  Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event a
Triggering Event shall have occurred, then promptly following such Triggering
Event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, except as
provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive for
each Right, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement
and payment of the then-current Total Exercise Price, in lieu of a number of
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share, such number of Common Shares of the
Company as shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the then-current
Purchase Price by the then number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for
which a Right was exercisable (or would have been exercisable if the
Distribution Date had occurred) immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Triggering Event, and dividing that product by 50% of the current per share
market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for Common Shares on
the date of occurrence of the Triggering Event (such number of shares being
hereinafter referred to as the "ADJUSTMENT SHARES").

              (iii) The right to buy Common Shares of the Company pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall not arise as a result of any Person becoming an
Acquiring Person through an acquisition of Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted
Offer.

              (iv)  In lieu of issuing Common Shares in accordance with Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if the Board of Directors determines that
such action is necessary or appropriate and not contrary to the interest of
holders of Rights (and, in the event that the number of Common Shares which are
authorized by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation but not outstanding or
reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are
not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights, or if any necessary
regulatory approval for such issuance has not been obtained by the Company, the
Company shall):  (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Common Shares
issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "CURRENT VALUE") over (2) the
Purchase Price (such excess, the "SPREAD") and (B) with respect to each Right,
make adequate provision to substitute for such Common Shares, upon exercise of
the Rights, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) other equity
securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares or units of
shares of any series of preferred stock which the Board of Directors of the
Company has deemed to have the same value as Common Shares (such shares or units
of shares of preferred stock are herein called "common stock equivalents")),
except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder
or regulatory approval for such issuance, (4) debt securities of the Company,
except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder
or regulatory approval for such issuance, (5) other assets, or (6) any

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
combination of the foregoing, having 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 thirty (30) days following the later of (x)
the first occurrence of a Triggering Event and (y) the date on which the
Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of
(x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "SECTION 11(a)(ii) TRIGGER DATE"),
then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise
of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, Common Shares
(to the extent available), except to the extent that the Company has not
obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for such issuance, and
then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal
to the Spread.  If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in good
faith that it is likely that sufficient additional Common Shares could be
authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights or that any
necessary regulatory approval for such issuance will be obtained, the thirty
(30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not
more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order
that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such
additional shares or take action to obtain such regulatory approval (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)(iv), 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, to take any action to obtain any required
regulatory approval 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)(iv), the value of the Common Shares
shall be the current per share market price (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) of the Common Shares on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the
value of any "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as
the Common Shares on such date.

          (b) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this
Agreement, fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to
all holders of Common Shares or of any class or series of Equivalent Shares
entitling such holders (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar
days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares or
Equivalent Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares or Equivalent
Shares at a price per share (or having a conversion price per share, if a
security convertible into Common Shares or Equivalent Shares) less than the then
current per share market price of the Common Shares or Equivalent Shares (as
defined in Section 11(d)) on such record date, then, in each such case, the
Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares and
Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date, plus the number of
Common Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, which the aggregate
offering price of

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
the total number of Common Shares 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, and
the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares and Equivalent
Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional
Common Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid
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 Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the
holders of the Rights.  Common Shares and Equivalent Shares owned by or held for
the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of
any such computation.  Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such
a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, options or warrants
are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price
which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

          (c) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this
Agreement, fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of
the Common Shares 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 evidences of
indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend, if any, or
a dividend payable in Common Shares) or subscription rights, options or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), then, in each such case, the
Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of a Common Share or an Equivalent
Share on such record date, less the fair market value per Common Share or
Equivalent 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) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so
to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a
Common Share or Equivalent Share, as the case may be, and the denominator of
which shall be such current market price (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) of a Common Share or Equivalent Share on such record date. Such
adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and
in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.

          (d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iv) hereof, the "current per share
market price" of any security (a "SECURITY" for the purpose of this Section
11(d)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices
per share of such Security for the thirty (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)(iv) hereof, the "current per share
market price" of any Security on any date shall be deemed to be the average of
the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the ten (10) consecutive
Trading Days immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in
                                             --------  -------         

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
the event that the current per share market price of the Security is determined
during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (i)
a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security
or securities convertible into such shares or (ii) any subdivision, combination
or reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration of the requi-
site thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, 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 per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the
current market price per share equivalent of such Security.  The closing price
for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, the last sale price or, if such last sale
price is not reported, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then
in use, or, if on any such date the Security is 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 Security selected by the Board
of Directors of the Company.  If on any such date no market maker is making a
market in the Common Shares, 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 Security is listed or admitted to trading is
open for the transaction of business or, if the Security is not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.  If the
Common Shares are not publicly held or so listed or traded, "current per share
market price" shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all
purposes.

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

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Common Shares contained in Sections 11(a), (b),
(c), (e), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9,
10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to
any such other shares.

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

          (h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided
in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Section 11(b), 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 Preferred Shares (calculated to
the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x)
the number of Preferred Shares covered by a Right immediately prior to this
adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by
the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.

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

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
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.

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

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

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

          (m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, prior
to the Distribution Date, 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 it in its sole discretion shall
determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of
the Preferred or Common Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred
or Common Shares at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly
for cash of Preferred or Common Shares or securities which by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred or Common Shares, (iv) stock
dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this
Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred or Common
Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.

          (n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Distribution Date, effect or permit to occur any Triggering Event or
Section 13 Event, if (i) at the time or immediately after such Triggering Event
or Section 13 Event there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or
securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially
diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights or (ii) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such Section
13 Event, the stockholders of the Person who

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
constitutes, or would constitute, the "PRINCIPAL PARTY" for purposes of Section
13(b) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.

          (o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take (or
permit to be taken) any action if at the time such action is taken it is
reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise
eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.

          (p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare
a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide
the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Shares
(by reverse stock split or otherwise) into a smaller number of Preferred Shares,
or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the
Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving
corporation), then, in each such event, except as otherwise provided in this
Section 11 and Section 7(e) hereof: (1) each of the Rights outstanding at the
time of the record date for such dividend or the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted
to that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth
(1/10,000) of a Right) equal to a fraction (the "EXCHANGE FRACTION"), the
numerator of which shall be the total number of Preferred Shares or shares of
capital stock issued in such reclassification of the Preferred Shares
outstanding immediately following such time and the denominator of which shall
be the total number of Preferred Shares outstanding immediately prior to such
time, and the number of Rights that shall thereafter be issued with respect to
each Common Share or share of other capital stock that shall be issued in a
reclassification of the Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date shall be
equal to the total number of outstanding Rights immediately after such event (as
adjusted pursuant to this clause (1)) divided by the total number of outstanding
Common Shares or shares of such other capital stock immediately after such event
(subject to further adjustment pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement);
(2) 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 shall be adjusted so that the Purchase Price thereafter shall
equal the result obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such time by the Exchange Fraction; provided, however, that in no event
                                             --------  -------                  
shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than
the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable
upon exercise of such Right; and (3) the number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share or share of such other capital stock issuable upon the exercise
of each Right shall remain unchanged immediately after such event, but, in the
event of a reclassification, the kind of shares issuable upon the exercise of
each Right immediately after such reclassification shall be adjusted to be the
kind of shares of such other capital stock issued in such reclassification,
rather than Preferred Shares.

     Section 12.  Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
                  ----------------------------------------------------------  
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment
and a brief statement of the facts accounting

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
for such adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent
for the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary
thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 26
hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to
make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the validity of
such adjustment or the force or effect of the requirement for such adjustment.
The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and
on any adjustment contained therein and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of
such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.

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

          (a) In the event that, following the Shares Acquisition Date, directly
or indirectly:

              (i)   the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into,
any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction the
principal purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of the
Company or which complies with Section 11(o) hereof);

              (ii)  any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with the
Company, or merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger; or

              (iii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or
more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person or Persons (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly
owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which complies with
Section 11(o) hereof),

                    then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made
so that

                    (A) each holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided
herein) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized
and issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares of the Principal Party
(as hereinafter defined), free of any liens, encumbrances, rights of first
refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one-thousandths of
a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the
first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Triggering Event has occurred
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of
such one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering 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 "TOTAL EXERCISE PRICE" for each Right and for all purposes
of this Agreement) by 50% of the current per share market price (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
hereof) of the Common Shares of such Principal Party on the date of consummation
of such Section 13 Event;

                    (B) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and
shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties
of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;

                    (C) the term "COMPANY" shall thereafter be deemed to refer
to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of
Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event;

                    (D) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including,
but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares)
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 Common Shares thereafter deliverable
upon the exercise of the Rights.

          (b) "PRINCIPAL PARTY" shall mean, in the case of any transaction
described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a), the Person or Acquiring
Person referred to therein (or such Person's or Acquiring Person's successor,
including, if applicable, the Company, if it is the surviving corporation),
provided, however, that in any such case, (i) if such Person is a direct or
- --------  -------                                                          
indirect Subsidiary of another Person, "PRINCIPAL PARTY" shall refer to such
other Person and (ii) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, of more than one Person, "PRINCIPAL PARTY" shall refer to whichever
of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Shares having the greatest aggregate
value, and provided, further, that for purposes of transactions described in
           --------  -------                                                
clause (iii) hereof, "PRINCIPAL PARTY" shall refer to that Person receiving the
greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions.

          (c) If, for any reason, the Rights cannot be exercised for Common
Shares of such Principal Party as provided in Section 13(a), then each holder of
Rights shall have the right to exchange its Rights for cash from such Principal
Party in an amount equal to the number of Common Shares that it would otherwise
be entitled to purchase times 50% of the current per share market price, as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof, of such Common Shares of such
Principal Party.  If, for any reason, the foregoing formulation cannot be
applied to determine the cash amount into which the Rights are exchangeable,
then the Board of Directors, based upon the advice of one or more nationally
recognized investment banking firms, and based upon the total value of the
Company, shall determine such amount reasonably and with good faith to the
holders of Rights. Any such determination shall be final and binding on the
Rights Agent.

          (d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in clauses (i) and
(ii) of Section 13(a) if: (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or
Persons who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a wholly-
owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons); (ii) the price per share of
Common Shares offered in such transaction is not less than the price per share
of Common

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
 
Shares paid to all holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant
to such Permitted Offer; and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to
the remaining holders of Common Shares pursuant to such transaction is the same
form as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such Permitted Offer.  Upon
consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(d), all
Rights hereunder shall expire.

          (e) The Company shall not consummate any Section 13 Event unless the
Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized Common Shares 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
Company and such issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement confirming that such Principal Party shall, upon
consummation of such Section 13 Event, assume this Agreement in accordance with
Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof, that all rights of first refusal or preemptive
rights in respect of the issuance of Common Shares of such Principal Party upon
exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived, that there are no rights,
warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or
arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would
eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights and that such transaction shall not result in a default by such Principal
Party under this Agreement, and further providing that, as soon as practicable
after the date of such Section 13 Event, such Principal Party will:

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

              (ii)  use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) 
the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a
national securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements for
quotation on Nasdaq; and

              (iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for such Principal Party which comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act.

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

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

                                      -23-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
                  --------------------------------------- 

          (a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or
to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right.  For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current
market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable, as determined pursuant to the second sentence of
Section 11(d) hereof.

          (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are
integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share).  In lieu of
fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-
thousandth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall 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 a
Common Share.  For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a
Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of 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 or her right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right.

     Section 15.  Rights of Action.  All rights of action in respect of this
                  ----------------                                          
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior
to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his or her own behalf and for
his or her 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 or her 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 will be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of, the obligations of any Person subject to this
Agreement.

     Section 16.  Agreement of 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:

                                      -24-
<PAGE>
 
          (a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;

          (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
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed; and

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

     Section 17.  Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.  No
                  --------------------------------------------------     
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose to be the holder of the Preferred Shares
or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any
Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company
or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted
to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 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
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder.  The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability 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 the Preferred Shares or Common Shares or for
other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of

                                      -25-
<PAGE>
 
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by
the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set
forth in Section 20 hereof.

     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 the 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
counter sign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor
Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.

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

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

          (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the 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 per share market price") be proved or established by
the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact

                                      -26-
<PAGE>
 
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 any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for
any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

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

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

          (e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due 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 change in the exercisability of the Rights or any
adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount
thereof) provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of
the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except
with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after
receipt by the Rights Agent of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12
describing such change or adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be
deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or
any Rights Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares will, when issued,
be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

          (g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary 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 by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of
any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those
instructions.  Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from
the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any
action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Rights
Agreement and the date on and/or after

                                      -27-
<PAGE>
 
which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective.  The
Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the
Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on
or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less
than five (5) Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually
receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in
writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the
effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received
written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be
taken or omitted.

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

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

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

          (k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.

     Section 21.  Change of Rights Agent.  The Rights Agent or any successor
                  ----------------------                                    
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail.  The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the
Preferred Shares and the Common Shares 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

                                      -28-
<PAGE>
 
the Rights Agent.  If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has
been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall,
with such notice, submit his or her Rights Certificate for inspection by the
Company), then the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent.  Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States or of any state of the United States, in good standing, which is
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stockholder services
powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.  After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose.  Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares, and mail
a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21,
however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.

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

                                      -29-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 23.  Redemption.
                  ---------- 

          (a) The Company may, at its option and with the approval of the Board
of Directors, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of (i)
the tenth day following the Shares Acquisition Date or such later date as may be
determined by action of a majority of Continuing Directors then in office and
publicly announced by the Company and (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all
but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01
per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being
herein referred to as the "REDEMPTION PRICE") and the Company may, at its
option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares (based on the current
per share market price thereof (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
at the time of redemption) or cash.  Such redemption of the Rights by the
Company may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish;
provided, however, if the Board of Directors of the Company authorizes
- --------  -------                                                     
redemption of the Rights on or after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, then there must be Continuing Directors then in office and such
authorization shall require the concurrence of a majority of such Continuing
Directors.

          (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been
filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price.
The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption; provided, 
                                                                      --------
however, that the failure to give or any defect in, any such notice shall not
- ------- 
affect the validity of such redemption.  Within ten (10) days after the action 
of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company
shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the
then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior
to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the
Common Shares.  Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall 
be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice.  Each such 
notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the
Redemption Price will be made.  Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or
Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in
any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in
Section 24 hereof, and other than in connection with the purchase of Common
Shares prior to the Distribution Date.

      Section 24.  Exchange.
                   -------- 

          (a) Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, and subject to
subsection (c) below, the Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the
Board of Directors and a majority vote of the Continuing Directors, at any time
after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, exchange all or part of the then
outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have
become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Shares
at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock

                                      -30-
<PAGE>
 
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange
ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "RATIO OF EXCHANGE").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to
effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such
Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding.

          (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the
exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24 and without
any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights
shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall
be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights
held by such holder multiplied by the Ratio of Exchange.  The Company shall give
public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give,
                                    --------  -------                           
or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange.
The Company shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of
such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of
the Rights Agent.  Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice.  Each such
notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the Common
Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange,
the number of Rights which will be exchanged.  Any partial exchange shall be
effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have
become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each
holder of Rights.

          (c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of
Rights as contemplated in accordance with Section 24(a), the Company shall
either take such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common
Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights or alternatively, at the option
of a majority of the Board of Directors, with respect to each Right (i) pay cash
in an amount equal to the Current Value (as hereinafter defined), in lieu of
issuing Common Shares in exchange therefor, or (ii) issue debt or equity
securities or a combination thereof, having a value equal to the Current Value,
in lieu of issuing Common Shares in exchange for each such Right, where the
value of such securities shall be determined by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by majority vote of the Board of Directors, or
(iii) deliver any combination of cash, property, Common Shares and/or other
securities having a value equal to the Current Value in exchange for each Right.
For purposes of this Section 24(c) only, the Current Value shall mean the
product of the current per share market price of Common Shares (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) on the date of the occurrence of the event described
above in subparagraph (a)) multiplied by the number of Common Shares for which
the Right otherwise would be exchangeable if there were sufficient shares
available.  To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be
taken pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 24(c), the Board of
Directors may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a period
of up to sixty (60) days following the date on which the event described in
Section 24(a) shall have occurred, in order to seek any authorization of
additional Common Shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution
to be made pursuant to the above provision and to determine the value thereof.
In the event of any

                                      -31-
<PAGE>
 
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended.

           (d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares.
In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, there shall be paid to the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common
Shares would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction
of the current per share market value of a whole Common Share (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d) hereof).

          (e) The Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the Board of
Directors, at any time before any Person has become an Acquiring Person,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights for rights of substantially
equivalent value, as determined reasonably and with good faith by the Board of
Directors, based upon the advice of one or more nationally recognized investment
banking firms.

          (f) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the
exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section 24 and without
any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights
shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall
be to receive that number of rights in exchange therefor as has been determined
by the Board of Directors in accordance with subsection (e) above. The Company
shall give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the
                                               --------  -------          
failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of
such exchange.  The Company shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of
the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares of the Company.  Any
notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given,
whether or not the holder receives the notice.  Each such notice of exchange
will state the method by which the exchange of the Rights will be effected.

     Section 25.  Notice of Certain Events.
                  ------------------------ 

          (a) In case the Company shall propose to effect or permit to occur any
Triggering Event having the effects described in Section 11(a)(ii) or a Section
13 Event, the Company shall give notice thereof to each holder of Rights in
accordance with Section 26 hereof at least twenty (20) days prior to occurrence
of such Triggering Event or such Section 13 Event.

          (b) In case any Triggering Event or Section 13 Event shall occur,
then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give
to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the
consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Sections 11(a)(ii) and 13
hereof.

                                      -32-
<PAGE>
 
     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:

              AUTODESK, INC.
              111 McInnis Parkway
              San Rafael, CA 94903
              Attention:  Secretary

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

              HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
              311 West Monroe, 11th Floor
              Chicago, IL 60690
              Attention:  Mr. Charlie Zade

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 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,
                  --------------------------                                  
the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement in any respect without the
approval of any holders of Rights and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so
directs, execute such supplement or amendment.  From and after the Distribution
Date, the Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend
this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights in order to (i)
cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision contained herein
which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii)
shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder (which lengthening or shortening,
following the first occurrence of an event set forth in the proviso to Section
23(a) 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 (other than an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, 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

                                      -33-
<PAGE>
 
supplement or amendment.  Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the
holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders
of Common Shares.

     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 Common
Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining
the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person
is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of
Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
The Board of Directors of the Company (or, 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 Certificates 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 and
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common
Shares).

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

                                      -34-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 32.  Governing Law.  This Agreement and each Right and each Rights
                  -------------                                                
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to
be made and performed entirely within such State.

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

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

                                      -35-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

"COMPANY"                                   AUTODESK, INC.


                                            By: /s/ MARCIA K. STERLING
                                                -------------------------------

                                            Name: Marcia K. Sterling
                                                  -----------------------------

                                            Title: Vice-President, Business
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   Development and 
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   General Counsel
                                                   ----------------------------


"RIGHTS AGENT"                              HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK


                                            By: /s/ CHARLIE ZADE
                                                -------------------------------

                                            Name: Charlie Zade
                                                  -----------------------------

                                            Title: Manager
                                                   ----------------------------

                                      -36-
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A
                                   ---------

               CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF RIGHTS, PREFERENCES
                               AND PRIVILEGES OF

                    SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

                               OF AUTODESK, INC.

            Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
                           of the State of Delaware


     We, Carol A. Bartz and Marcia K. Sterling, the President and the Secretary,
respectively, of Autodesk, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 103 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

     That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
Certificate of Incorporation of the said Corporation, the said Board of
Directors on December 14, 1995 adopted the following resolution creating a
series of 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series A Participating
Preferred Stock:

     "RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors
of the corporation by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors
does hereby provide for the issue of a series of Preferred Stock of the
Corporation, to be designated "Series A Participating Preferred Stock," par
value $0.01 per share, initially consisting of 100,000 shares, and to the extent
that the designations, powers, preferences and relative and other special rights
and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock are not stated and expressed in the Certificate of
Incorporation, does hereby fix and herein state and express such designations,
powers, preferences and relative and other special rights and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as follows (all terms used
herein which are defined in the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to
have the meanings provided therein):

     Section 1.  Designation and Amount.  The shares of such series shall
                 ----------------------                                  
be designated as "Series A Participating Preferred Stock," par value $0.01 per
share, and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 100,000.

     Section 2.  Dividends and Distributions.
                 --------------------------- 

          (A) Subject to the prior and superior right of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares
of Series A Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders
of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall

                                      -1-
<PAGE>
 
be entitled to receive when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of
funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on
the last day of January, April, July and October in each year (each such date
being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or
fraction of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per
share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to, subject to the provision for
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 a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock of
the Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the immediately preceding Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time
after December 14, 1995 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date") (i) declare any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the
outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior
to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.

          (B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series A Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).

          (C) Dividends shall begin to accrue on outstanding shares of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A Participating Preferred
Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such
shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless
the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall
begin to accrue from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.  Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such
dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro
rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock 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.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 3.  Voting Rights.  The holders of shares of Series A 
                 -------------                                    
Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

          (A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of
the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such
event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator
of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after
such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

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

          (C) Except as required by law, holders of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not
be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of
Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

     Section 4.  Certain Restrictions.
                 -------------------- 

          (A) The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make any
distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a
share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock unless concurrently therewith it
shall declare a dividend on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as
required by Section 2 hereof.

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

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

              (ii)  declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distributions
on, any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
up) with Series A Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably
on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which
dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which
the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

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

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

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

     Section 5.  Reacquired Shares.  Any shares of Series A Participating
                 -----------------                                       
Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof.
All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued
shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of
Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein.

     Section 6.  Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
                 -------------------------------------- 

          (A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Participating Preferred Stock unless,
prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock
shall have received $1,000.00 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date
of such payment (the "Series A Liquidation Preference").  Following the payment
of the full amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference, no additional
distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock
shall have received an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to the
quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series A Liquidation Preference by (ii)
1,000 (as appropriately adjusted as set forth

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock
dividends and recapitalization with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in
clause (ii), the "Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of the full amount
of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of
all outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock and Common
Stock, respectively, holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock and
holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate
share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment
Number to 1 with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per
share basis, respectively.

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

          (C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event
shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

     Section 7.  Consolidation, Merger, etc.  In case the Corporation shall
                 --------------------------                                
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock 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 A Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly
exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 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 Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to
the exchange or change of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall
be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event
and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.

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

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 9.  Ranking.  The Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall rank
                 -------                                                   
junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any
such series shall provide otherwise.

     Section 10.  Amendment.  The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the 
                  ---------                                               
Corporation shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially 
alter or change the powers, preference or special rights of the Series A
Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority or more of the outstanding shares
of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.

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

     RESOLVED FURTHER, that the President or any Vice President and the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of this corporation be, and they hereby
are, authorized and directed to prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and
filed) a Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges in
accordance with the foregoing resolution and the provisions of Delaware law and
to take such actions as they may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the
intent of the foregoing resolution."

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed to this Certificate and
do hereby affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of perjury this 14th
day of December, 1995.



                                            ___________________________________
                                            Carol A. Bartz, President


                                            ___________________________________
                                            Marcia K. Sterling, Secretary

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT B
                                   ---------

                          FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE


Certificate No. R-                                                  _____ Rights


     NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER DECEMBER 14, 2005 OR EARLIER IF TERMINATED BY THE
     COMPANY OR IF THE COMPANY EXCHANGES THE RIGHTS PURSUANT TO THE RIGHTS
     AGREEMENT.  THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE
     COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
     UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING
     PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS
     ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH
     RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.  [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS
     CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN
     ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS
     SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT).  ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS
     CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN
     THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(E) OF SUCH RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]*


                              RIGHTS CERTIFICATE

                                AUTODESK, INC.

          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 December 14, 1995 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between Autodesk, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the Harris
Trust and Savings Bank ("Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any
time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., California time, on December 14, 2005 at the
office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office of its
successor as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (0.001) of a fully paid


- ------------------
*  The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if applicable
   and shall replace the preceding sentence.

                                      -1-
<PAGE>
 
non-assessable share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01
(the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company, at a purchase price of two hundred
dollars ($200) per one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"),
upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of
Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed.  The number of
Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) and the
Purchase Price set forth above are the number and Purchase Price as of December
14, 1995 based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date.  As provided
in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and kind of Preferred
Shares or other securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of the
Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and
adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

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

          Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company, at its
option, at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged by the
Company in whole or in part for Common Shares, substantially equivalent rights
or other consideration as determined by the Company.

          This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the office 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 amount of securities as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase.
If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be
entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

          No fractional portion of less than one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby
but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights
Agreement.

          No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time
be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions
affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to
receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or
Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as
provided in the Rights Agreement.

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

          WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.  Dated as of ___________, 19__.


ATTEST:                                         AUTODESK, INC.


_____________________________               By: _____________________________
Secretary, Autodesk, Inc.                       President



Countersigned:


HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
as Rights Agent


By: _____________________________
    Authorized Signature

                                      -3-
<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: _______________, 19__


                                            ___________________________________
                                            Signature


Signature Guaranteed:

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

                                      -1-
<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 Person (as such terms are defined in 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 any such Person.

Dated: _______________, 19__


                                            ___________________________________
                                            Signature


Signature Guaranteed:

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

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
            FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE -- CONTINUED

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

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

To: _________________________

          The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
_________________________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to
purchase the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the
exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such number of one-
thousandths of a Preferred Share issued in the name of:

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 remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:

Please insert social security
or other identifying number

________________________________________________________________________________
                        (Please print name and address)

________________________________________________________________________________

Dated: _______________, 19__


                                            ___________________________________
                                            Signature


Signature Guaranteed:

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

                                      -3-
<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 Person (as such terms are
defined in 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 any such Person.

Dated: _______________, 19__


                                            ___________________________________
                                            Signature


Signature Guaranteed:

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

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
            FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE -- CONTINUED

                                     NOTICE
                                     ------

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

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT C
                                   ---------

                                 AUTODESK, INC.

                            STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

                               Summary of Rights
                               -----------------


Distribution and     The Board of Directors has declared a dividend of one 
- ----------------     Right for each share of Autodesk, Inc. Common Stock 
Transfer of Rights;  outstanding. Prior to the Distribution Date referred to    
- -------------------  below, the Rights will be evidenced by and trade with the  
Rights Certificate:  certificates for the Common Stock.  After the Distribution 
- ------------------   Date, Autodesk, Inc. (the "COMPANY") will mail Rights      
                     certificates to the Company's stockholders and the Rights  
                     will become transferable apart from the Common Stock.
                     
Distribution Date:   Rights will separate from the Common Stock and become
- -----------------    exercisable following the tenth day (or such later date 
                     as may be determined by a majority of the Directors not 
                     affiliated with the acquiring person or group (the 
                     "CONTINUING DIRECTORS")) after a person or group (a) 
                     acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the 
                     Company's Common Stock or (b) announces a tender or 
                     exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in 
                     ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the 
                     Company's Common Stock.

Preferred Stock      After the Distribution Date, each Right will entitle the 
- ---------------      holder to purchase, for two hundred dollars ($200) a     
Purchasable Upon     fraction of a share of the Company's Preferred Stock with 
- ----------------     economic terms similar to that of one share of the       
Exercise of Rights:  Company's Common Stock.                                   
- ------------------   
                     
Flip-In:             If an acquiror obtains 15% or more of the Company's 
- -------              Common Stock (other than pursuant to a tender offer 
                     deemed adequate and in the best interests of the Company 
                     and its stockholders by the Board of Directors (a 
                     "PERMITTED OFFER")), thereby becoming an "ACQUIRING 
                     PERSON", then each Right (other than Rights owned by an
                              ----                       
                     Acquiring Person or its affiliates) will entitle the holder
                     thereof to purchase, for the exercise price, a number of 
                     shares of the Company's Common Stock having a then 
                     current market value of twice the exercise price.

                                      -1-
<PAGE>
 
Flip-Over:           If, after the Shares Acquisition Date (defined below), 
- ---------            (a) the Company merges into another entity, (b) an 
                     acquiring entity merges into the Company or (c) the 
                     Company sells more than 50% of the Company's assets or
                     earning power, then each Right (other than Rights owned 
                                    ----
                     by an Acquiring Person or its affiliates) will entitle 
                     the holder thereof to purchase, for the exercise price, a 
                     number of shares of Common Stock of the person engaging 
                     in the transaction having a then current market value of 
                     twice the exercise price (unless the transaction 
                     satisfies certain conditions and is consummated with a
                     person who acquired shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer, 
                     in which case the Rights will expire).

Exchange Provision:  At any time after an event triggering the flip-in or flip-
- ------------------   over rights and prior to the acquisition by the Acquiring 
                     Person of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, 
                     the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the 
                     Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person 
                     or its affiliates), in whole or in part, at an exchange 
                     ratio of one Common Share per Right (subject to 
                     adjustment).

Redemption of        Rights will be redeemable at the Company's option for      
- -------------        $0.01 per Right at any time on or prior to the            
the Rights:          Distribution Date, (i.e., the tenth day (or such later    
- ----------           date as may be determined by a majority of the Continuing 
                     Directors) after public announcement that a person has    
                     acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the       
                     Company's Common Stock (the "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE")).   
                     
Expiration of        The Rights expire on the earliest of (a) December 14,  
- -------------        2005, (b) exchange or redemption of the Rights as      
the Rights:          described above, or (c) consummation of a merger or    
- ----------           consolidation resulting in expiration of the Rights as 
                     described above.                                        
                     
Amendment of         The terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be    
- ------------         amended in any respect without the consent of the Rights   
Terms of Rights:     holders on or prior to the Distribution Date; thereafter,  
- ---------------      the terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be    
                     amended without the consent of the Rights holders in       
                     order to cure any ambiguities or to make changes which do  
                     not adversely affect the interests of Rights holders       
                     (other than the Acquiring Person).

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
Voting Rights:       Rights will not have any voting rights.
- -------------                                          

Anti-Dilution        Rights will have the benefit of certain customary anti- 
- -------------        dilution provisions.                                     
Provisions:          
- ----------           

Taxes:               The Rights distribution should not be taxable for federal 
- -----                income tax purposes.  However, following an event which 
                     renders the Rights exercisable or upon redemption of the 
                     Rights, stockholders may recognize taxable income.

The foregoing is a summary of certain principal terms of the Stockholder Rights
Plan only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed terms of
the Rights Agreement dated as of December 14, 1995 between the Company and the
Rights Agent.

                                      -3-


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