PINNACLE SYSTEMS INC
8-A12G, 1996-12-19
PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
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                       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



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



              California                                  94-3003809
- ----------------------------------------       ---------------------------------
(State of incorporation or organization)       (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                            280 North Bernardo Avenue
                             Mountain View, CA 94043
               (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 12, 1996,  pursuant to a Preferred  Shares Rights Agreement
(the "Rights  Agreement")  between  Pinnacle  Systems,  Inc. (the "Company") and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,  L.L.C., 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, no par value ("Common Shares"),  of the Company.  The dividend is payable
on December 27, 1996 (the  "Record  Date") to  stockholders  of record as of the
close of business on that day.  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 $65.00 (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.




                                       -2-

<PAGE>



Rights Evidenced by Common Share Certificates

         The Rights will not be exercisable until the Distribution Date (defined
below).  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 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 cer tificates for
Common  Shares,  outstanding as of the Record Date,  even without  notation or a
copy of the Summary of Rights being attached  thereto,  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 business 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


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



consummation  of which 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. The Rights
will expire on the  earliest  of (i)  December  12, 2006 (the "Final  Expiration
Date") or (ii) redemption or exchange of the Rights as described below.

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 the Purchase Price, one one-thousandth of a 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,  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 or any  affiliate of the Acquiring
Person, which will thereafter


                                       -4-

<PAGE>



be void) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Shares
having a value  equal to two times the  Purchase  Price.  In the event  that the
Company does not have  sufficient  Common Shares  available for all Rights to be
exercised,  or the Board  decides that such action is necessary and not contrary
to the interests of Rights  holders,  the Company may instead  substitute  cash,
assets or other securities for the Common Shares for which the Rights would have
been exercisable.

Right to Buy Acquiring Company Stock

         Similarly,  unless the Rights are earlier redeemed,  in the event that,
after an Acquiring  Person  becomes the  beneficial  owner of 15% or more of the
Company's  Common  Shares  then  outstanding,  (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 thereto fore been exercised  (other
than Rights  beneficially  owned by the Acquiring Person or any affiliate of 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.

Exchange Provision

         At any time after the acquisition by an Acquiring  Person of beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the Company's outstanding Common Shares and prior to
the  acquisition by any person or entity of beneficial  ownership of 50% or more
of the Company's outstanding Common Shares, the Board of


                                       -5-

<PAGE>



Directors of the Company may exchange the 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 of beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the  Company's  Common  Shares 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 $0.001
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.



                                       -6-

<PAGE>



Cash Paid Instead of Issuing Fractional Shares

         No fractional  portion less than integral multiples of one Common Share
or one one  thousandth  of a share of Series A  Preferred  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  security to be so issued on the last  trading
date prior to the date of exercise.

No Stockholders' 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
date the Rights  separate from the Common Shares and become  exercisable.  After
such 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


                                       -7-

<PAGE>



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 1,000
times the amount  paid per  Common  Share  plus an amount  equal to accrued  and
unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date
of such payment.  Each share of Series A Preferred will have 1,000 votes, voting
together  with the Common  Shares.  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


                                       -8-

<PAGE>



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 of shares 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 $0.001 per Right
within ten days (or such later date as may be  determined  by a majority  of the
Continuing  Directors)  after the  accumulation  of 15% or more of the Company's
shares by a single  acquiror  or  group.  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


                                       -9-

<PAGE>



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.

          1.      Preferred  Shares Rights  Agreement,  dated as of December 12,
                  1996  between   Pinnacle   Systems,   Inc.   and   ChaseMellon
                  Shareholder   Services,   L.L.C.,   including   the   form  of
                  Certificate of Determination,  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.

                                     PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.


Date:  December 16, 1996
                                     By:   /s/ MARK L. SANDERS
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                               Mark L. Sanders
                                               President



                                      -11-

<PAGE>


<TABLE>

                                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                              Page
                                                                                                             Number
                                                                                                              Under
                                                                                                           Sequential
    Exhibit                                                                                                 Numbering
       No.                                          Exhibit                                                  System
    -------                                         -------                                                  -------
       <S>                                                                                                     <C>
       1          Preferred  Shares  Rights  Agreement  dated as of December 12,                                13
                  1996,   between   Pinnacle   Systems,   Inc.  and  ChaseMellon
                  Shareholder   Services,   L.L.C.,   including   the   form  of
                  Certificate of  Determination, the form of Rights  Certificate
                  and  the  Summary of Rights attached  thereto as Exhibits A, B
                  and C, respectively.


</TABLE>






                             PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.

                                       and

                    CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.

                                  Rights Agent









                        PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of December 12, 1996





<PAGE>

<TABLE>

                                                   TABLE OF CONTENTS

<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   Page
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>               <C>                                                                                               <C>
Section 1.        Certain Definitions............................................................................... 1

Section 2.        Appointment of Rights Agent....................................................................... 7

Section 3.        Issuance of Rights Certificates................................................................... 7

Section 4.        Form of Rights Certificates....................................................................... 9

Section 5.        Countersignature and Registration................................................................ 10

Section 6.        Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated,
                  Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.................................................... 10

Section 7.        Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights.................................... 11

Section 8.        Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.............................................. 13

Section 9.        Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares................................................. 13

Section 10.       Record Date...................................................................................... 14

Section 11.       Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights............................... 15

Section 12.       Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares....................................... 21

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

Section 14.       Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.......................................................... 25

Section 15.       Rights of Action................................................................................. 26

Section 16.       Agreement of Rights Holders...................................................................... 26

Section 17.       Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder............................................... 27

Section 18.       Concerning the Rights Agent...................................................................... 27

Section 19.       Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent........................................ 28

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

                                                          -i-

<PAGE>


                                                   TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                      (continued)
                                                                                                                   Page
                                                                                                                   ----
Section 21.       Change of Rights Agent........................................................................... 30

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

Section 23.       Redemption....................................................................................... 31

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

Section 25.       Notice of Certain Events......................................................................... 34

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

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

Section 28.       Successors....................................................................................... 35

Section 29.       Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc........................................ 35

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

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

Section 32.       Governing Law.................................................................................... 36

Section 33.       Counterparts..................................................................................... 36

Section 34.       Descriptive Headings............................................................................. 36


EXHIBITS

Exhibit A         Form of Certificate of Determination

Exhibit B         Form of Rights Certificate

Exhibit C         Summary of Rights

                                                         -ii-
</TABLE>

<PAGE>




                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT


         Agreement,  dated as of December 12, 1996,  between  Pinnacle  Systems,
Inc., a California corporation, and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.

         On December 12 , 1996 (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 27, 1996 (the "Record Date"),  each Right  representing the
right  to  purchase  one  one-thousandth  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  Determination  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 (other than pursuant to a dividend or  distribution  paid or made by
the Company on the  outstanding  Common Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a
split or subdivision of the outstanding  Common Shares),  then such Person shall
be deemed to be an Acquiring Person unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of
such additional  Common Shares of the Company such Person does not  beneficially
own  15%  or  more  of  the  Common  Shares  of the  Company  then  outstanding.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  (i) if a majority of the  Continuing  Directors
then in office  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 (including, without limitation,


<PAGE>



because (A) such Person was unaware that it  beneficially  owned a percentage of
the Common  Shares that would  otherwise  cause such Person to be an  "Acquiring
Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing  provisions of this paragraph (a),
or (B) such Person was aware of the extent of the Common Shares it  beneficially
owned  but had no  actual  knowledge  of the  consequences  of  such  beneficial
ownership  under this  Agreement)  and  without  any  intention  of  changing or
influencing  control of the Company,  and if such Person  divested or 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 or
to have become an  "Acquiring  Person" for any purposes of this  Agreement;  and
(ii) if, as of the date  hereof,  any Person is the  Beneficial  Owner of 15% or
more of the Common  Shares  outstanding,  such Person  shall not be or become an
"Acquiring  Person," as defined  pursuant to the  foregoing  provisions  of this
paragraph  (a),  unless  and until  such time as such  Person  shall  become the
Beneficial Owner of additional  Common Shares (other than pursuant to a dividend
or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding  Common Shares in
Common Shares or pursuant to a split or  subdivision of the  outstanding  Common
Shares),  unless,  upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional  Common
Shares,  such  Person  is not  then the  Beneficial  Owner of 15% or more of the
Common Shares then outstanding.

                  (b) "Adjustment  Fraction" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(i) hereof.

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

                  (d) 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(d)(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

                                       -2-

<PAGE>



Beneficial  Owner of, or to  beneficially  own, any security  under this Section
1(d)(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(d)(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 or director,  by reason of any  influence  that such officer or director
may have over the voting of the securities held in the plan.

                  (e)  "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.

                  (f)  "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.

                  (g) "Common  Shares"  when used with  reference to the Company
shall  mean the shares of Common  Stock of the  Company,  no par  value.  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.

                  (h)  "Common  Stock  Equivalents"  shall have the  meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                  (i) "Company" shall mean Pinnacle Systems,  Inc., a California
corporation, subject to the terms of Section 13(a)(iii)(C) hereof.

                  (j)  "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 there being an Acquiring Person, and (ii)
any  Person  who  subsequently  becomes a member  of the Board and who,  while a
member of the Board, is not an Acquiring

                                       -3-

<PAGE>



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.

                  (k)  "Current  Per  Share  Market  Price" of any  security  (a
"Security" for purposes of this  definition),  for all  computations  other than
those made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof,  shall mean the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30)  consecutive
Trading Days  immediately  prior to such date, and for purposes of  computations
made pursuant to Section  11(a)(iii)  hereof, the Current 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 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 applicable
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 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 Security,  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.  If the Preferred  Shares are not publicly  traded,  the
Current Per Share Market  Price of the  Preferred  Shares shall be  conclusively
deemed  to be the  Current  Per  Share  Market  Price of the  Common  Shares  as
determined  pursuant to this Section 1(k), as appropriately  adjusted to reflect
any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction  occurring after the date
hereof, multiplied by 1000. If the Security is 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.

                  (l)  "Current  Value"  shall  have the  meaning  set  forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                  (m)  "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

                                       -4-

<PAGE>



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  Business  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 an Acquiring
Person.

                  (n)  "Equivalent  Shares" shall mean Preferred  Shares and any
other class or series of capital  stock of the Company  which is entitled to the
same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares.

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

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

                  (q)  "Exercise  Price"  shall  have the  meaning  set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof.

                  (r) "Expiration Date" shall mean the earliest to occur of: (i)
the Close of Business on the Final  Expiration  Date, (ii) the Redemption  Date,
(iii)  consummation  of any transaction contemplated by Section 13(f) hereof, or
(iv) the time at which the Board of Directors  orders the exchange of the Rights
as provided in Section 24 hereof.

                  (s) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean December 12, 2006.

                  (t) "Nasdaq" shall mean the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System.

                  (u)  "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 fair and  otherwise in the best  interests of
the Company and its  stockholders  (taking  into  account all factors  that such
Continuing Directors deem relevant).

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

                  (w) "Post-Event  Transferee"  shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7(e) hereof.


                                       -5-

<PAGE>



                  (x)   "Preferred   Shares"  shall  mean  shares  of  Series  A
Participating Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Company.

                  (y) "Pre-Event Transferee" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(e) hereof.

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

                  (aa)  "Record  Date"  shall have the  meaning set forth in the
recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.

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

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

                  (dd)  "Rights  Agent"  shall  mean   ChaseMellon   Shareholder
Services,  L.L.C. or its successor or replacement as provided in Sections 19 and
21 hereof.

                  (ee)   "Rights   Certificate"   shall   mean   a   certificate
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

                  (ff) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning
set forth in the recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.

                  (gg) "Section  11(a)(ii)  Trigger Date" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

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

                  (ii)  "Securities  Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.

                  (jj)  "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  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.

                  (kk)  "Spread"  shall  have the  meaning  set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.

                  (ll)  "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.

                                       -6-

<PAGE>



                  (mm) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

                  (nn)  "Summary  of  Rights"  shall  mean  a  summary  of  this
Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

                  (oo) "Total  Exercise  Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 4(a) hereof.

                  (pp)  "Trading  Day" shall  mean a day on which the  principal
national  securities  exchange  on which a  referenced  security  is  listed  or
admitted to trading is open for the  transaction of business or, if a referenced
security  is not  listed or  admitted  to  trading  on any  national  securities
exchange, a Business Day.

                  (qq) A  "Triggering  Event"  shall be deemed to have  occurred
upon any 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 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  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 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 hereof, then at the time of distribution of
the Rights  Certificates,  the Company shall make the necessary and  appropriate
rounding  adjustments  (in accordance  with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights
Certificates  representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash
is paid in lieu of any  fractional  Rights.  As of 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 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.


                                       -7-

<PAGE>



                  (b) On the Record Date or as soon as  practicable  thereafter,
the  Company  will  send a  copy  of  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's transfer agent and registrar.  With respect to certificates for
Common Shares  outstanding as of the Record Date, until the  Distribution  Date,
the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the
holders thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date
(or, if  earlier,  the  Expiration  Date),  the  surrender  for  transfer of any
certificate for Common Shares  outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a
copy of the Summary of Rights,  shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.

                  (c) Unless the Board of Directors by resolution  adopted at or
before the time of the issuance 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  PINNACLE
   SYSTEMS,  INC. AND  CHASEMELLON  SHAREHOLDER  SERVICES,  L.L.C.,  AS THE
   RIGHTS AGENT,  DATED AS OF DECEMBER 12, 1996, (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 PINNACLE
   SYSTEMS,  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.  PINNACLE SYSTEMS, 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.

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.


                                       -8-

<PAGE>



                  (d) 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 or a national  market system,  on which
the Rights may from time to time be listed or included,  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  of a Preferred
Share being  hereinafter  referred to as the "Exercise  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 Exercise 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 a majority of the  Continuing  Directors then in
office has determined is part of a plan,  arrangement or understanding which has
as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof,  and any Rights
Certificate  issued  pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof  upon  transfer,
exchange,  replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to
in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:

   THE  RIGHTS   REPRESENTED  BY  THIS  RIGHTS  CERTIFICATE  ARE  OR  WERE
   BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR
   AN AFFILIATE  OR  ASSOCIATE  OF AN ACQUIRING  PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE
   DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT).  ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
   AND THE RIGHTS  REPRE-


                                       -9-
<PAGE>


   SENTED 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 Chief
Financial  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
Certificates  on behalf of the Company 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 Certificates 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

                                       -10-

<PAGE>



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;  Exercise  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 and prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration
Date by  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 Exercise Price for each one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or, following a
Triggering Event, other securities,  cash or other assets as the case may be) as
to which the Rights are exercised.

                  (b) The Exercise Price for each  one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share issuable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be Sixty-Five
Dollars  ($65.00),  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.

                  (c)  Upon  receipt  of  a  Rights   Certificate   representing
exercisable  Rights,  with the  form of  election  to  purchase  duly  executed,
accompanied by payment of the Exercise  Price for the number of  one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event,  other securities,  cash
or other assets 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(e) hereof,  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  (or,  following  a
Triggering Event, other securities,  cash or other assets as the case may be) 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 (or, following
a Triggering Event,  other securities,  cash or other assets as the case may be)
issuable  upon  exercise  of  the  Rights  hereunder  with a  depositary  agent,
requisition  from the depositary  agent depositary  receipts  representing  such
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 are to be
purchased (in which case

                                      -11-

<PAGE>



certificates for the Preferred Shares (or,  following a Triggering Event,  other
securities,  cash or  other  assets  as the  case  may be)  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 Exercise Price (as such amount may be reduced (including to zero)
pursuant to Section  11(a)(iii)  hereof) 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(e) hereof,  may be made in cash or by certified  bank
check, cashier's check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company. In the
event that the Company is obligated  to issue  securities  of the Company  other
than Preferred  Shares,  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, 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-Event  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,
arrangement or understanding  regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer
which a majority of the  Continuing  Directors  then in office 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 "Pre-Event Transferee") or (iv) any
subsequent transferee receiving transferred Rights from a Post-Event  Transferee
or a Pre-Event  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 ensure that the  provisions of this Section 7(e)
and Section  4(b) hereof are complied  with,  but shall have no liability to any
holder of Rights  Certificates or 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

                                      -12-

<PAGE>



upon the  occurrence  of any  purported  exercise as set forth in this Section 7
unless such  registered  holder shall,  in addition to having  complied with the
requirements  of Section 7(a),  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 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 its  authorized  and
unissued  Preferred Shares not reserved for another purpose (and,  following the
occurrence of a Triggering  Event,  out of its  authorized  and unissued  Common
Shares and/or other securities),  the number of Preferred Shares (and, following
the occurrence of the Triggering  Event,  Common Shares 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 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 is described in Section  11(a)(ii) or Section  11(a)(iii)
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 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

                                      -13-

<PAGE>



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 (or other
securities of the Company)  delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time
of delivery of the certificates  for such securities  (subject to payment of the
Exercise  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 (or other  securities  of the
Company)  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 (or
other  securities  of the Company) 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 (or other  securities  of the  Company)  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.

         Section 10. Record Date.  Each Person in whose name any certificate for
a number of one-thousandths  of  a Preferred  Share (or other  securities of the
Company) is issued upon the  exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed
to have become the holder of record of Preferred  Shares (or other securities of
the Company)  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 Total  Exercise  Price 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 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 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 (or other  securities  of the Company) 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.


                                      -14-

<PAGE>



         Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares or Number of
Rights.  The  Exercise  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)   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) the
Exercise  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 Exercise Price  thereafter  shall equal the result obtained
by dividing the  Exercise  Price in effect  immediately  prior to such time by a
fraction (the "Adjustment 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; 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  (2) the  number  of  one-thousandths  of a
Preferred  Share  (or  share of such  other  capital  stock)  issuable  upon the
exercise of each Right shall equal the number of  one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share (or share of such other capital  stock) as was issuable upon exercise of a
Right  immediately  prior to the  occurrence  of the event  described in clauses
(A)-(D)  of  this  Section  11(a)(i),  multiplied  by the  Adjustment  Fraction;
provided,  however,  that,  no such  adjustment  shall be made  pursuant to this
Section 11(a)(i) to the extent that there shall have simultaneously  occurred an
event  described  in  clause  (A),  (B),  (C)  or (D) of  Section  11(n)  with a
proportionate  adjustment  being made  thereunder.  Each Common Share that shall
become  outstanding  after an adjustment  has been made pursuant to this Section
11(a)(i) shall have associated with it the number of Rights,  exercisable at the
Exercise Price and for the number of  one-thousandths  of a Preferred  Share (or
shares of such other capital stock) as one Common Share has  associated  with it
immediately following the adjustment made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i).

                           (ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement,  in the
event a Triggering  Event shall have  occurred,  then  promptly  following  such
Triggering  Event 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
Exercise Price in effect  immediately  prior to the occurrence of the Triggering
Event, 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 Exercise Price in effect  immediately prior to the occurrence of
the Triggering Event by the 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 for  Common  Shares on the date of  occurrence  of the  Triggering
Event;  provided,  however,  that the  Exercise  Price and the  number of Common
Shares of the Company so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject

                                      -15-

<PAGE>



to further  adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(e) hereof to
reflect  any events  occurring  in respect of the Common  Shares of the  Company
after the  occurrence of the  Triggering  Event.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing
provisions  of this  Section  11(a)(ii),  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.

                           (iii) In lieu of issuing  Common Shares in accordance
with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof,  the Company may, if a majority of the Continuing
Directors then in office 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  Exercise  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 Exercise  Price,  (3) other  equity  securities  of the Company
(including,  without  limitation,  shares or units of  shares  of any  series of
preferred stock which a majority of the Continuing  Directors then in office 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  combination  of the
foregoing,  having an  aggregate  value equal to the Current  Value,  where such
aggregate  value has been  determined by a majority of the Continuing  Directors
then in office  based  upon the  advice of a  nationally  recognized  investment
banking firm selected by a majority of the Continuing  Directors then in office;
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 Exercise 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 a majority of the  Continuing  Directors then in office 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)(iii),  the  Company (x) shall
provide,  subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly
to all outstanding  Rights and (y) may suspend the  exercisability of the Rights
until  the  expiration  of  the  Substitution   Period  in  order  to  seek  any
authorization of additional shares, to take

                                      -16

<PAGE>



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)(iii),
the value of the Common  Shares  shall be the Current Per Share  Market Price 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 Preferred Shares entitling such holders (for a period
expiring  within  forty-five  (45)  calendar  days  after such  record  date) to
subscribe for or purchase  Preferred  Shares or Equivalent  Shares or securities
convertible into Preferred Shares or Equivalent  Shares at a price per share (or
having a conversion  price per share, if a security  convertible  into Preferred
Shares or  Equivalent  Shares) less than the then Current Per Share Market Price
of the Preferred Shares or Equivalent  Shares on such record date, then, in each
such case,  the  Exercise  Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
record  date by a  fraction,  the  numerator  of which  shall be the  number  of
Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date,
plus the number of Preferred  Shares or Equivalent  Shares,  as the case may be,
which the aggregate  offering  price of the total number of Preferred  Shares or
Equivalent  Shares,  as the case may be, to be  offered  or issued  (and/or  the
aggregate initial  conversion price of the convertible  securities to be offered
or issued) would purchase at such current market price,  and the  denominator of
which shall be the number of  Preferred  Shares and  Equivalent  Shares (if any)
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional  Preferred 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);   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 one  Right.  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 a majority of the
Continuing Directors then in office, 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.  Preferred 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  Exercise  Price shall be adjusted to be the
Exercise  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 Preferred  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 Preferred  Shares) or  subscription
rights,  options or warrants  (excluding  those  referred to in Section  11(b)),
then,  in each such case,  the Exercise  Price to be in effect after such record
date shall be determined by multiplying the

                                      -17-

<PAGE>



Exercise  Price in effect  immediately  prior to such record date by a fraction,
the  numerator  of which  shall  be the  Current  Per  Share  Market  Price of a
Preferred Share or an Equivalent Share on such record date, less the fair market
value per Preferred  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 Preferred  Share or Equivalent  Share, as the case may
be, and the denominator of which shall be such Current Per Share Market Price of
a Preferred Share or Equivalent  Share on such record date;  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 one Right.  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  Exercise  Price  shall be adjusted to be the
Exercise  Price which would have been in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.

                  (d)  Anything  herein  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding,  no
adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment  would
require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Exercise Price;  provided,
however,  that any  adjustments  which by reason of this  Section  11(d) 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(d),  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.

                  (e) 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  Exercise  Price  thereof,  shall be  subject to
adjustment  from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly  equivalent  as
practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred  Shares contained in
Sections 11(a),  11(b),  11(c),  11(d),  11(g),  11(h),  11(i), 11(j), 11(k) and
11(l),  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.

                  (f) All Rights originally issued by the Company  subsequent to
any adjustment  made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase,  at the adjusted  Exercise 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.

                  (g) Unless the Company  shall have  exercised  its election as
provided in Section  11(h),  upon each  adjustment  of the  Exercise  Price as a
result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the
right to purchase,  at the  adjusted  Exercise  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  Exercise  Price  in  effect
immediately

                                      -18-

<PAGE>



prior to such adjustment of the Exercise Price, and (ii) dividing the product so
obtained by the Exercise Price in effect  immediately  after such  adjustment of
the Exercise Price.

                  (h)  The  Company  may  elect  on or  after  the  date  of any
adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Section
11(b) or (c) 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 Exercise  Price in effect  immediately  prior to  adjustment of the
Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect  immediately  after adjustment of
the Exercise 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  Exercise  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(h),  the Company shall,  as promptly as practicable,
cause to be  distributed  to  holders of record of Rights  Certificates  on such
record date Rights  Certificates  evidencing,  subject to Section 14 hereof, the
additional  Rights to which such  holders  shall be entitled as a result of such
adjustment,  or, at the option of the Company,  shall cause to be distributed to
such  holders  of  record  in  substitution   and  replacement  for  the  Rights
Certificates  held by such  holders  prior to the date of  adjustment,  and upon
surrender  thereof,  if  required  by  the  Company,   new  Rights  Certificates
evidencing  all the Rights to which such  holders  shall be entitled  after such
adjustment.  Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued,  executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option
of the Company,  the adjusted  Exercise  Price) and shall be  registered  in the
names of the  holders  of record  of  Rights  Certificates  on the  record  date
specified in the public announcement.

                  (i)  Irrespective  of any adjustment or change in the Exercise
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 Exercise 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.

                  (j) Before  taking any action that would  cause an  adjustment
reducing the Exercise 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 Exercise Price.

                  (k) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment  in the  Exercise  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

                                      -19-

<PAGE>



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 Exercise 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.

                  (l)   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 Exercise 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.

                  (m)  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.

                  (n) 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 Common Share
(or  shares of  capital  stock  issued in such  reclassification  of the  Common
Shares) outstanding  immediately  following such time shall have associated with
it the number of Rights as were  associated  with one Common  Share  immediately
prior to the occurrence of the event described in clauses (A)-(D) above; (2) the
Exercise  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 Exercise Price  thereafter  shall equal the result obtained
by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect  immediately prior to such time by a
fraction,  the  numerator  of which shall be the total  number of Common  Shares
outstanding  immediately  prior to the event described in clauses (A)-(D) above,
and the  denominator  of which  shall  be the  total  number  of  Common  Shares
outstanding  immediately after such event;  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  shares of such  other  capital  stock)  issuable  upon the
exercise  of each Right  outstanding  after such event shall equal the number of
one-thousandths  of a Preferred Share (or shares of such other capital stock) as
were issuable with respect to one Right  immediately  prior to such event.  Each
Common Share that shall become  outstanding  after an  adjustment  has been made
pursuant

                                      -20-

<PAGE>



to this  Section  11(n)  shall  have  associated  with it the  number of Rights,
exercisable  at the Exercise  Price and for the number of  one-thousandths  of a
Preferred  Share (or shares of such other capital stock) as one Common Share has
associated  with it immediately  following the adjustment  made pursuant to this
Section 11(n).  If an event occurs which would require an adjustment  under both
this Section 11(n) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment  provided for in
this  Section  11(n)  shall be in  addition  to, and shall be made prior to, any
adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

         Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise 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 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 a Triggering Event,  directly
or indirectly:

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

                           (ii) any Person 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 and, in connection with
such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged
for stock or other securities of any other person (or the Company); 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 individually (and
together) complies with Section 11(m) hereof),

                                    then, concurrent with and in each such case,

                                    (A)  each  holder  of  a  Right  (except  as
provided in Section 7(e)  hereof)  shall  thereafter  have the right to receive,
upon  the  exercise  thereof  at a  price  equal  to the  Total  Exercise  Price
applicable  immediately  prior  to the  occurrence  of the  Section  13 Event in
accordance with the terms

                                      -21-

<PAGE>



of this  Agreement,  such number of validly  authorized and issued,  fully paid,
nonassessable  and freely  tradeable  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 dividing
such Total  Exercise  Price by 50% of the Current Per Share  Market Price of the
Common  Shares  of such  Principal  Party  on the date of  consummation  of such
Section 13 Event,  provided,  however, that the Exercise Price and the number of
Common Shares of such  Principal  Party so  receivable  upon exercise of a Right
shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section
11(e) hereof;

                                    (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; and

                                    (E) upon the  subsequent  occurrence  of any
consolidation,  merger,  sale or  transfer  of  assets  or  other  extraordinary
transaction  in respect of such  Principal  Party,  each holder of a Right shall
thereupon  be entitled to receive,  upon  exercise of a Right and payment of the
Total  Exercise  Price as provided in this  Section  13(a),  such cash,  shares,
rights,  warrants and other  property which such holder would have been entitled
to receive had such holder,  at the time of such  transaction,  owned the Common
Shares  of the  Principal  Party  receivable  upon the  exercise  of such  Right
pursuant to this Section 13(a),  and such Principal  Party shall take such steps
(including,  but not  limited  to,  reservation  of  shares  of stock) as may be
necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with the
terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property.

                                    (F) For purposes hereof, the "earning power"
of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  shall be  determined  in good faith by the
Company's  Board of  Directors  on the basis of the  operating  earnings of each
business  operated by the Company and its  Subsidiaries  during the three fiscal
years preceding the date of such  determination (or, in the case of any business
not  operated by the Company or any  Subsidiary  during  three full fiscal years
preceding such date, during the period such business was operated by the Company
or any Subsidiary).


                                      -22-

<PAGE>



                  (b) For  purposes  of  this  Agreement,  the  term  "Principal
Party" shall mean:

                           (i)  in the  case  of any  transaction  described  in
clause (i) or (ii) of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that is the issuer of
the  securities  into which the Common  Shares are  converted  in such merger or
consolidation,  or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer the Common
Shares of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares  outstanding,
or (B) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that is the other party to
the merger,  if such Person survives said merger,  or, if there is more than one
such Person,  the Person the Common Shares of which have the greatest  aggregate
market value of shares  outstanding or (y) if the Person that is the other party
to the merger  does not survive  the  merger,  the Person that does  survive the
merger  (including the Company if it survives) or (z) the Person  resulting from
the consolidation; and

                           (ii) in the  case  of any  transaction  described  in
clause (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest  portion of the assets or earning  power  transferred  pursuant to such
transaction or transactions, or, if more than one Person that is a party to such
transaction or  transactions  receives the same portion of the assets or earning
power so  transferred  and each such  portion  would,  were it not for the other
equal portions,  constitute the greatest  portion of the assets or earning power
so transferred, or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or
earning power cannot be  determined,  whichever of such Persons is the issuer of
Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value of shares  outstanding;

provided,  however,  that in any such case  described  in the  foregoing  clause
(b)(i) or (b)(ii),  if the Common  Shares of such Person are not at such time or
have not been continuously  over the preceding  12-month period registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange  Act, then (1) if such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary  of another  Person  the Common  Shares of which are and have been so
registered,  the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person, or (2)
if such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person,
the Common Shares of which are and have been so registered,  the term "Principal
Party" shall refer to  whichever of such Persons is the issuer of Common  Shares
having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding, or (3) if such
Person is owned,  directly or  indirectly,  by a joint venture  formed by two or
more Persons that are not owned,  directly or indirectly by the same Person, the
rules set forth in clauses  (1) and (2) above  shall apply to each of the owners
having an interest in the  venture as if the Person  owned by the joint  venture
was a Subsidiary of both or all of such joint venturers, and the Principal Party
in each such case shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the
same ration as its interest in such Person bears to the total of such interests.

                  (c) 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  13(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

                                      -23-

<PAGE>



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 list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights 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)).

                  (d) In case the  "Principal  Party"  for  purposes  of Section
13(b)  hereof  has  provision  in  any of its  authorized  securities  or in its
certificate  of  incorporation  or by-laws  or other  instrument  governing  its
corporate  affairs,  which  provision  would have the effect of (i) causing such
Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to Section 13
hereof),  in  connection  with, or as a consequence  of, the  consummation  of a
Section 13 Event,  Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such Principal Party at
less  than the then  Current  Per  Share  Market  Price  thereof  or  securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such
Principal  Party at less than such then Current Per Share Market Price,  or (ii)
providing for any special payment,  tax or similar  provision in connection with
the  issuance  of the Common  Shares of such  Principal  Party  pursuant  to the
provisions of Section 13 hereof,  then, in such event, the Company hereby agrees
with each holder of Rights  that it shall not  consummate  any such  transaction
unless prior  thereto the Company and such  Principal  Party shall have executed
and delivered to the Rights Agent a  supplemental  agreement  providing that the
provision in question of such Principal  Party shall have been canceled,  waived
or amended,  or that the authorized  securities  shall be redeemed,  so that the
applicable  provision will have no effect in connection with or as a consequence
of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.

                  (e) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time  after the  Distribution  Date,  effect or permit to occur any  Section  13
Event, if (i) at the time or immediately after

                                      -24-

<PAGE>



such  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, (ii) prior to,  simultaneously with or immediately after such Section 13
Event, the stockholders of the Person who 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
or Associates or (iii) the form or nature of organization of the Principal Party
would preclude or limit the exercisability of the Rights.

                  (f)   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  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(f), all Rights hereunder shall expire.

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

         Section 14.       Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

                  (a) The Company  shall not be required to issue  fractions  of
Rights or to distribute 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 1(k) 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).  Interests in fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one
one-thousandth  of a Preferred  Share may, at the  election of the  Company,  be
evidenced by depositary receipts,  pursuant to an appropriate  agreement between
the Company and a depositary selected by it; provided, that such agreement shall
provide that the holders of such depositary  receipts shall have all the rights,
privileges and  preferences  to which they are entitled as beneficial  owners of
the  Preferred  Shares  represented  by  such  depositary  receipts.  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 Preferred Share.

                                      -25-

<PAGE>



For  purposes of this  Section  14(b),  the current  market value of a Preferred
Share  shall be one  thousand  times  the  closing  price of a Common  Share (as
determined  pursuant  to the second  sentence  of Section  1(k)  hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

                  (c) The Company  shall not be required to issue  fractions  of
Common Shares or to distribute  certificates  which evidence  fractional  Common
Shares  upon the  exercise or  exchange  of Rights.  In lieu of such  fractional
Common  Shares,  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(c), 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  1(k)  hereof)  for the Trading Day  immediately
prior to the date of such exercise.

                  (d) 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  (other than  fractions  that are  integral  multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) 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:

                  (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

                                      -26-

<PAGE>



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.  In no event  will the  Rights  Agent be liable for
special,  indirect,  incidental  or  consequential  loss or  damage  of any kind
whatsoever, even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the possibility of such
loss or damage.

                  (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  attorney,  endorsement,   affidavit,  letter,  notice,  direction,  consent,
certificate,  statement or other paper or document  reasonably 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.


                                      -27-

<PAGE>



         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
countersign  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 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.


                                      -28-

<PAGE>



                  (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 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.


                                      -29-

<PAGE>



                  (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 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  (provided that such  requirement  shall not apply to the initial Rights
Agent). After appointment, the successor Rights

                                      -30-

<PAGE>



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  Exercise  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 other  securities 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.

         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 $0.001 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 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

                                      -31-

<PAGE>



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.  The  date on  which  the  Board  of  Directors  elects  to make  the
redemption effective shall be referred to as the "Redemption Date."

                  (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 24(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  dividend  or similar  transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter  referred
to as the  "Exchange  Ratio").  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Board  of
Directors  shall not be empowered to effect such  exchange at any time after any
Person  (other than the Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the Company,  any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common
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 24(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 Exchange  Ratio.  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

                                      -32-

<PAGE>



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 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 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  market  value of a whole  Common  Share (as
determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(k) 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.


                                      -33-

<PAGE>



                  (f)  Immediately  upon the  action of the  Board of  Directors
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection 24(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  24(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 or 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(a) hereof.

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

                                    Pinnacle Systems, Inc.
                                    280 North Bernardo Avenue
                                    Mountain View, CA 94043
                                    Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

                                    with a copy to:

                                    Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                                    Professional Corporation
                                    650 Page Mill Road
                                    Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
                                    Attention:  Chris Fennell

         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

                                      -34-

<PAGE>



Rights Agent shall be  sufficiently  given or made if sent by first-class  mail,
postage  prepaid,  addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company) as follows:

                                    ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
                                    50 California Street, 10th Floor
                                    San Francisco, California 94111
                                    Attention: Joe Thatcher

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 occurrence of a
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  occurrence of a  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  shortening or lengthening 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
(other than an  Acquiring  Person or an  Affiliate  or Associate of an Acquiring
Person).  Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate  officer of the
Company that states that the proposed  supplement  or amendment is in compliance
with  the  terms of this  Section  27,  the  Rights  Agent  shall  execute  such
supplement or amendment.  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

                                      -35-

<PAGE>



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.

         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  California  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.


                                      -36-

<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"                            PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.


                                     By: /s/ Mark Sanders
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                     Name:   Mark Sanders
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                     Title:  President and CEO
                                         ---------------------------------------


"RIGHTS AGENT"                       CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES,
                                     L.L.C.

                                     By:    /s/ Joseph W. Thatcher
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                     Name:    Joseph W. Thatcher
                                         ---------------------------------------

                                     Title:     Assistant Vice President
                                         ---------------------------------------


                                      -37-

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT A

               CERTIFICATE OF DETERMINATION OF RIGHTS, PREFERENCES
                                AND PRIVILEGES OF
                     SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
                            OF PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.


         The  undersigned,  Mark L.  Sanders  and Arthur D.  Chadwick  do hereby
certify:

         1. That they are the duly elected and acting  President and  Secretary,
respectively,   of  Pinnacle  Systems,   Inc.,  a  California  corporation  (the
"Corporation").

         2. 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  12, 1996  adopted the  following  resolution  creating a
series of 25,000 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 Restated  Certificate of Incorporation,  the
Board of  Directors  does hereby  provide for the issue of a series of Preferred
Stock of the  Corporation  and does hereby fix and herein  state and express the
designations,  powers, preferences and relative and other special rights and the
qualifications,  limitations and  restrictions of such series of Preferred Stock
as follows:

         Section 1.  Designation and Amount.  The shares of such series shall be
designated  as  "Series  A   Participating   Preferred   Stock."  The  Series  A
Participating  Preferred Stock shall have no par value, and the number of shares
constituting such series shall be 25,000.

         Section 2. Proportional Adjustment.  In the event the Corporation shall
at any time after the issuance of any share or shares of Series A  Participating
Preferred  Stock (i) declare any  dividend  on Common  Stock of the  Corporation
("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  Corporation  shall
simultaneously  effect a  proportional  adjustment to the number of  outstanding
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.

         Section 3.        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 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


<PAGE>



Participating  Preferred  Stock,  in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent) equal to 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  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.

                  (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.

         Section  4.  Voting   Rights.   The  holders  of  shares  of  Series  A
Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

                  (a) 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.

                  (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.


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



         Section 5.        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 3 hereof.

                  (b)  Whenever  quarterly   dividends  or  other  dividends  or
distributions payable on the Series A Participating  Preferred Stock as provided
in  Section  3 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,  make any other
distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends
or upon  liquidation,  dissolution  or winding up) with  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 5,  purchase or  otherwise  acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



         Section 6.  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 and, in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as then amended.

         Section  7.   Liquidation,   Dissolution   or  Winding   Up.  Upon  any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of shares
of Series A  Participating  Preferred  Stock  shall be  entitled  to  receive an
aggregate  amount  per  share  equal to 1000  times the  aggregate  amount to be
distributed  per share to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal
to any accrued  and unpaid  dividends  on such shares of Series A  Participating
Preferred Stock.

         Section 8.  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 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.

         Section  9.  No  Redemption.  The  shares  of  Series  A  Participating
Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

         Section 10. 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 11. 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  of the  outstanding  shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.

         Section 12. 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.



                                       -4-

<PAGE>



         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 a Certificate of Determination
of  Rights,   Preferences  and  Privileges  in  accordance  with  the  foregoing
resolution and the provisions of California law and to take such actions as they
may deem  necessary  or  appropriate  to carry out the  intent of the  foregoing
resolution."


         3. That the  authorized  number of  shares  of  Preferred  Stock of the
Corporation is 5,000,000 and that no such Preferred Stock has been issued.


         We further  declare under penalty of perjury that the matters set forth
in the foregoing  Certificate of  Determination  are true and correct of our own
knowledge.

         Executed at Mountain View, California on December ___, 1996.



                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Mark L. Sanders, President



                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Arthur D. Chadwick, Secretary


                                       -5-

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT B

                           FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE


Certificate No. R-                                              _________ Rights


    NOT  EXERCISABLE  AFTER THE EARLIER OF (i)  DECEMBER  12, 2006 (ii) THE
    DATE TERMINATED BY THE COMPANY OR (iii) THE DATE THE COMPANY  EXCHANGES
    THE RIGHTS PURSUANT TO THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.  THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
    REDEMPTION,  AT THE OPTION OF THE  COMPANY,  AT $0.001 PER RIGHT ON THE
    TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.  UNDER CERTAIN  CIRCUMSTANCES,
    RIGHTS  BENEFICIALLY  OWNED BY AN  ACQUIRING  PERSON 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

                             PINNACLE SYSTEMS, 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 12, 1996, (the "Rights
Agreement"),  between  Pinnacle  Systems,  Inc., a California  corporation  (the
"Company"),  and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. ( the "Rights Agent"),
to purchase  from the Company at any time after the  Distribution  Date (as such
term is  defined  in the Rights  Agreement)  and prior to 5:00 P.M.,  California
time, on December 12, 2006 at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose,  or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one  one-thousandth
(1/1,000)  of a fully  paid  non-assessable  share  of  Series  A  Participating
Preferred Stock, no par value, (the "Preferred  Shares"),  of the Company,  at a
Exercise Price of Sixty-Five  Dollars ($65.00) per one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share (the "Exercise

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


<PAGE>



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) set forth  above are the number and  Exercise  Price as of December  12,
1996 based on the Preferred  Shares as  constituted at such date. As provided in
the Rights  Agreement,  the Exercise  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 $0.001 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 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.

                                       -2-

<PAGE>



         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:                               PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.


- --------------------------------      By:
Arthur D. Chadwick, Secretary            ---------------------------------------


                                      Its:
                                          --------------------------------------
Countersigned:

CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
as Rights Agent

By:
   -------------------------------------

Its:
   -------------------------------------




                                       -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.




<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.



<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:      Pinnacle Systems, Inc.

                  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.


<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.



<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.


<PAGE>

<TABLE>


                                    EXHIBIT C


                             STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
                             PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.

<CAPTION>
                                Summary of Rights

<S>                                        <C>
Distribution and                           The Board of Directors has declared a dividend of one Right for
Transfer of Rights;                        each share of Pinnacle Systems, Inc. Common Stock outstanding.
Rights Certificate:                        Prior to the Distribution Date referred to below, the Rights will be
                                           evidenced by and trade with the certificates for the Common Stock.
                                           After the Distribution Date, Pinnacle Systems, 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 exercisa-
                                           ble following (a) the tenth day (or such later date as may be deter-
                                           mined by a majority of the Directors not affiliated with the acquiring
                                           person or group (the "Continuing Directors")) after a person or
                                           group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
                                           Company's Common Stock or (b) the tenth business day (or such
                                           later date as may be determined by a majority of the Continuing
                                           Directors) after a person or group 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
Purchasable                                purchase for $65.00 (the "Exercise Price"), a fraction of a share
Exercise of Rights:                        of the Company's Preferred Stock with economic terms similar to
                                           that of one share of the Company's Common Stock.

Flip-In:                                   If an acquiror (an "Acquiring Person") 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 Continuing Directors (a "Permitted
                                           Offer")), then each Right (other than Rights owned by an Acquir-
                                           ing Person or its affiliates) will entitle the holder thereof to
                                           purchase, for the Exercise Price, a number of shares of the Com-
                                           pany's Common Stock having a then current market value of twice
                                           the Exercise Price.

Flip-Over:                                 If, after an Acquiring Person obtains 15% or more of the
                                           Company's Common Stock, (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


<PAGE>



                                           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 the date an Acquiring Person obtains 15% or
                                           more of the Company's Common Stock and prior to the acquisition
                                           by the Acquiring Person of 50% of the outstanding Common Stock,
                                           a majority of the Board of Directors and a majority of the
                                           Continuing Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights
                                           (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person or its affiliates),
                                           in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock of the Company
                                           at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right
                                           (subject to adjustment).

Redemption of                              Rights will be redeemable at the Company's option for $0.001 per
the Rights:                                Right at any time on or prior to 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 12, 2006,
the Rights:                                (b) exchange or redemption of the Rights as described above, or
                                           (c)   consummation   of   a   merger, consolidation or asset sale resulting
                                           in   expiration   of  the  Rights  as described above.

Amendment of                               The terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be amended
Terms of Rights:                           in any respect without the consent of the 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).

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.

                                                          -2-
</TABLE>

<PAGE>



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 12, 1996,  between the Company and the
Rights Agent.

                                                          -3-



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