DELTA WOODSIDE INDUSTRIES INC /SC/
8-A12B, 1999-12-16
BROADWOVEN FABRIC MILLS, COTTON
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-A

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


                        Delta Woodside Industries, Inc.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


 South Carolina                                             57-0535180
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                            (IRS Employer
Incorporation or Organization)                           Identification No.)


233 North Main Street, Hammond Square, Suite 200,
Greenville, South Carolina                                       29601
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                       (Zip Code)


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

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

     Securities  Act  registration  statement  file  number  to which  this form
relates: Not Applicable (if applicable).

         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

 Common Stock Purchase Rights                      New York Stock Exchange


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

                  None



                                        1

<PAGE>

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

     Common Stock Purchase Right Dividend

     On December 9, 1999, the Board of Directors of Delta  Woodside  Industries,
Inc.  (the  "Company")  declared a  dividend  distribution  of one common  stock
purchase right (a "Right") for each  outstanding  share of the Company's  common
stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), to stockholders of record
at the  close of  business  on  December  22,  1999.  Each  Right  entitles  the
registered  holder to purchase  from the Company one quarter share of the Common
Stock, at a cash exercise price of $5.00 per quarter share (equivalent to $20.00
per whole share), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights
are set forth in a Shareholder Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between
the Company and First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent.

     The  following  summary  description  of the Rights  does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights  Agreement.
A copy of the Rights  Agreement  (which  incudes as Exhibit A the form of Rights
Certificates  and as Exhibit B the Summary of Rights to Purchase  Common  Stock)
has been included as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

     Certificates; Separation of Rights from Common Stock

     Initially,  the Rights  will not be  exercisable,  will be  attached to all
outstanding  shares of the Common Stock, and no separate Right certificates will
be  distributed.   The  Rights  will  separate  from  the  Common  Stock  and  a
"Distribution  Date" will occur upon the  earliest  of (i) 10 days  following  a
public  announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated  persons
(an  "Acquiring  Person")  (other than an Exempt Person as defined in the Rights
Agreement) has acquired  beneficial  ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding
shares of the Common Stock (the date of this  announcement  being referred to as
the  "Share   Acquisition  Date")  and  (ii)  10  business  days  following  the
commencement  of a tender offer or exchange  offer that would result in a person
or group owning 20% or more of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock.

     Until the  Distribution  Date (or earlier  redemption  or expiration of the
Rights),  (a) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock  certificates and
will be transferred  only with such the Common Stock  certificates,  (b) new the
Common Stock certificates issued after December 22, 1999 will contain a notation
incorporating  the Rights  Agreement by  reference,  and (c) the  surrender  for
transfer  of any  certificates  for the Common  Stock will also  constitute  the
transfer of the Rights  associated  with the Common  Stock  represented  by such
certificate.

     The Rights are not exercisable  until the Distribution Date and will expire
at the close of business on December 22,  2009,  unless  previously  redeemed or
exchanged for the Common Stock by the Company as described below.



                                        2

<PAGE>

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

     Flip-In Rights

     In the event that (i) a Person acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more
of the Company's common stock, (ii) the Company is the surviving  corporation in
a merger with an Acquiring  Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person and the Common  Stock is not  changed or  exchanged,  (iii) an  Acquiring
Person engages in one of a number of self-dealing  transactions specified in the
Shareholder  Rights  Agreement,  or (iv) an  event  occurs  that  results  in an
Acquiring  Person's  ownership  interest being increased by more than 1%, proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will  thereafter  have the
right to receive upon  exercise  thereof at then current  exercise  price,  that
number  of shares  of the  Common  Stock  (or in  certain  circumstances,  cash,
property, or other securities of the Company) having a market value of two times
such  exercise  price.  However,  the Rights are not  exercisable  following the
occurrence of any of the events set forth above until the time the Rights are no
longer redeemable as set forth below. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, upon
any of the events set forth above, rights that are or were beneficially owned by
an Acquiring Person shall become null and void.

     Flip-Over Rights

     In the event that, at any time  following the Share  Acquisition  Date, (i)
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or
(ii) 50% or more of the Company's  assets or earning power is sold,  each holder
of a Right shall  thereafter  have the right to receive,  upon exercise,  common
stock of the  acquiring  company  having a market  value  equal to two times the
exercise price of the Right.

     Exchange of Common Stock for Rights at Option of the Board

     At any time after any person  becomes an Acquiring  Person and prior to the
time such Person,  together  with its  Affiliates  and  Associates,  becomes the
Beneficial  Owner of 50% or more of the outstanding the Common Stock,  the Board
of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights that have
become void),  in whole or in part, at the exchange rate of one quarter share of
the Common  Stock per Right,  subject to  adjustment  as  provided in the Rights
Agreement.

     Adjustment of Exercise Price and Underlying Shares in Certain Events

     The exercise price payable, and the number of shares of the Common Stock or
other securities or property  issuable,  upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent  dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision,  combination or  reclassification  of, the Common
Stock, (ii) if all holders of the Common Stock are granted certain

                                        3

<PAGE>

rights or warrants to subscribe for the Common Stock or  securities  convertible
into the Common Stock at less than the current market price of the Common Stock,
or (iii) upon the distribution to all holders of the Common Stock of evidence of
indebtedness  or assets  (excluding  regular  quarterly  cash  dividends)  or of
subscription   rights  or  warrants   (other  than  those  referred  to  above).
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  no adjustment will be made to the exercise price
payable,  and the number of shares of the Common  Stock or other  securities  or
property  issuable,  upon exercise of the Rights in connection with the expected
spin-off of the Duck Head Apparel Company  division or the Delta Apparel Company
division of the Company provided such spin-off is consummated by March 31, 2000.

     With  certain  exceptions,  no  adjustment  in the  exercise  price will be
required  until  cumulative  adjustments  amount to at least 1% of the  exercise
price. No fractional  shares of the Common Stock will be issued upon exercise of
a Right and, in lieu  thereof,  a payment in cash will be made based on the fair
market  value of the Common  Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of
exercise.

     Redemption of Rights

     The Rights may be redeemed in whole,  but not in part,  at a price of $.001
per Right  (payable  in cash,  the Common  Stock or other  consideration  deemed
appropriate  by the Board of  Directors)  by the Board of  Directors at any time
prior to the  earlier of the close of  business on the tenth day after the Share
Acquisition  Date or the  final  expiration  Date of the  Rights  (whichever  is
earlier).  After the  redemption  period has  expired,  the  Company's  right of
redemption  may be reinstated  upon the approval of the Board of Directors if an
Acquiring  Person  reduces  his  beneficial  ownership  to  10% or  less  of the
outstanding   shares  of  the  Common  Stock  in  a  transaction  or  series  of
transactions not involving the Company and there are no other Acquiring Persons.
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the
Rights and without any notice, the Rights will terminate and thereafter the only
right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price.

     No Rights of Stockholder Until Exercise

     Until a Right is exercised, the holder will have no rights as a stockholder
of the Company (beyond those as an existing stockholder), including the right to
vote or to receive dividends.

     Amendment of Rights Agreement

     Any of the  provisions of the Rights  Agreement may be amended by the Board
of  Directors  of  the  Company  prior  to  the  Distribution  Date.  After  the
Distribution  Date,  the  provisions of the Rights  Agreement,  other than those
relating to the principal  economic  terms of the Rights,  may be amended by the
Board to cure any ambiguity,  defect or  inconsistency,  to make changes that do
not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests
of any  Acquiring  Person),  or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the
Rights  Agreement.   Amendments   adjusting  time  periods  may,  under  certain
circumstances, be limited.

     Tax Considerations

                                        4

<PAGE>

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

     Anti-Takeover Effects

     The Rights may have anti-takeover  effects,  though they will not prevent a
take-over.  The Rights will cause  substantial  dilution to a person or group of
persons that  acquires  beneficial  ownership of 20% or more of the  outstanding
shares of the Common Stock without the Rights having been redeemed. However, the
Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business  combination  that
is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders  because the Rights
may be redeemed by the Board of Directors.


Item 2.  Exhibits.

     4.1  Rights Agreement,  dated as of December 10, 1999,  between the Company
          and First Union National Bank, which includes as Exhibit A the Form of
          Rights  Certificate  and,  as  Exhibit  B, the  Summary  of  Rights to
          Purchase Common Stock.


                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                    DELTA WOODSIDE INDUSTRIES, INC.




Date: December 15, 1999             By: /s/ E. Erwin Maddrey, II
- -----------------------             -----------------------------
                                        E. Erwin Maddrey, II
                                        President & Chief Executive Officer


                                        5






                         DELTA WOODSIDE INDUSTRIES, INC.



                                       and



                            FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
                                 as Rights Agent






                          SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                                December 10, 1999
























                                        1

<PAGE>
                                Table of Contents


Section 1.  Certain Definitions..............................................1
Section 2.  Appointment of Rights Agent......................................5
Section 3.  Issue of Right Certificates......................................5
Section 4.  Form of Right Certificates.......................................7
Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration................................8
Section 6.  Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
            Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right
            Certificates.....................................................8
Section 7.  Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Final Expiration Date
            of Rights...................................                     9
Section 8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates..............10
Section 9.  Reservation and Availability of Common Stock....................11
Section 10. Common Stock Record Date......................................  12
Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
            Number of Rights................................................12
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........................23
Section 15.  Rights of Action...............................................24
Section 16.  Agreement of Right Holders.....................................25
Section 17.  Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder..............25
Section 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent....................................26
Section 19.  Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent......26
Section 20.  Duties of Rights Agent.........................................27
Section 21.  Change of Rights Agent.........................................29
Section 22.  Issuance of New Right Certificates.............................30
Section 23.  Redemption.....................................................30
Section 24.  Exchange.......................................................32
Section 25.  Notice of Certain Events.......................................33
Section 26.  Notices........................................................33
Section 27.  Supplements and Amendments.....................................34
Section 28.  Successors.....................................................35
Section 29.  Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors...........35
Section 30.  Benefits of this Agreement.....................................35
Section 31.  Severability...................................................35
Section 32.  Governing Law..................................................36
Section 33.  Counterparts...................................................36
Section 34.  Descriptive Headings...........................................36

Exhibit A -- Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit B -- Form of Summary of Rights

                                        2

<PAGE>

                          SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT


     Shareholder  Rights Agreement (as the same may from time to time be amended
or supplemented, this "Agreement"), dated as of December 10, 1999, between Delta
Woodside  Industries,  Inc., a South Carolina  corporation (the "Company"),  and
First Union  National  Bank, a national bank,  (the "Rights  Agent",  which term
shall include any successor Rights Agent hereunder).

                               W I T N E S S E T H

     WHEREAS,  on  December  9,  1999 the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Company
authorized  and declared a dividend  distribution  of one Right (as  hereinafter
defined) for each whole share of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding as of the Close of Business on December
22, 1999 (the "Record  Date") and  authorized the issuance of one Right for each
whole  share of Common  Stock of the  Company  which is issued or which  becomes
outstanding  between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution  Date,
the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter
defined), each Right initially representing the right to purchase one quarter of
a share of Common  Stock,  upon the terms and  conditions  set forth herein (the
"Rights");

     WHEREAS, First Union National Bank has agreed to serve as Rights Agent;

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

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

     (a)  "Acquiring  Person" shall mean any Person who or which,  together with
all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,  shall on any date  hereafter,  be
the  Beneficial  Owner  of 20% or  more  of the  shares  of  Common  Stock  then
outstanding,  but shall not include (i) the Company,  (ii) any Subsidiary of the
Company,  and (iii)  any  employee  benefit  plan of the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries.  The Persons  described  in clauses  (i)  through  (iii) above are
referred to herein as "Exempt Persons". Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person
shall become an  "Acquiring  Person" as the result of an  acquisition  of Common
Stock by the  Company  which,  by  reducing  the  number of shares  outstanding,
increases the proportionate  number of shares  beneficially owned by such Person
(together  with all  Affiliates and Associates of such Person) to 20% or more of
the Common Stock of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if any
Person, (together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, (other than
Exempt  Persons) shall become the Beneficial  Owner of 20% or more of the Common
Stock 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  shares of Common Stock of the Company,  then
such  Person  shall  be  deemed  to be an  "Acquiring  Person."  In  calculating
beneficial  ownership  for  purposes  of  determining  whether  a  Person  is an
Acquiring  Person,  shares  held for or  pursuant  to the  terms of an  employee
benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall not be counted.

     (b)  "Adjustment  Event"  shall  mean any  Section  11(a)(ii)  Event or any
Section 13 Event.

     (c)  "Adjustment  Shares"  shall  have the  meaning  set  forth in  Section
11(a)(ii).

                                        1

<PAGE>

     (d) "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;  provided,  however,
that no Exempt Person shall be deemed an Affiliate or an Associate.

     (e) 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  own,  directly  or  indirectly  (as  determined
     pursuant  to Rule  13d-3 of the  General  Rules and  Regulations  under the
     Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this  Agreement) or has the right
     to dispose of;

          (ii)  which  such  Person  or  any  of  such  Person's  Affiliates  or
     Associates,  directly or indirectly,  has (A) the right to acquire (whether
     such  right is  exercisable  immediately  or  after  the  passage  of time)
     pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding,  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  the  "Beneficial  Owner"  of, or to  "beneficially  own" (1)
     securities  tendered  pursuant to a tender or  exchange  offer made by such
     Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered
     securities are accepted for purchase or exchange;  (2) securities  issuable
     upon  exercise  of  Rights  at  any  time  prior  to the  occurrence  of an
     Adjustment  Event; or (3) securities  issuable upon exercise of Rights from
     and after the  occurrence  of an  Adjustment  Event,  if such  Rights  were
     acquired by such Person or such Person's  Affiliates or Associates prior to
     the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 or pursuant
     to Section  11(a)(i) in connection  with an adjustment made with respect to
     any of the Rights heretofore specified in this clause (3); or (B) the right
     to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or
     not in writing);  provided,  however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
     "Beneficial  Owner" of, or to  "beneficially  own," any security under this
     clause (B) if the  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding  to vote such
     security (1) arises  solely from a revocable  proxy given to such Person or
     any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates in response to a public proxy
     or consent  solicitation  made  pursuant to, and in  accordance  with,  the
     applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act, or (2)
     is made in connection  with, or is to otherwise  participate in, a proxy or
     consent  solicitation  made or to be made  pursuant  to, and in  accordance
     with, the applicable rules and regulations  promulgated  under the Exchange
     Act, in the case of either clause (1) or (2) of this proviso whether or not
     such  agreement,  arrangement or  understanding  is also then reportable by
     such person 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),  for the purpose
     of acquiring,  holding,  voting  (except  pursuant to a revocable  proxy as
     described  in clause (B) of Section  1(e)(ii)  hereof) or  disposing of any
     securities of the Company; provided, however, that (1) no Person engaged in
     business as an  underwriter  of securities  shall be deemed the  Beneficial
     Owner of any securities acquired through such Person's  participation as an
     underwriter  or selling  group  member in good  faith in a firm  commitment
     underwriting  until  the  expiration  of 40  days  after  the  date of such
     acquisition;  (2) no Person who is a director  or an officer of the Company
     shall be deemed the Beneficial  Owner of any securities of the Company that
     are  beneficially  owned by any other  director  or officer of the  Company
     solely as a result of his or her position as director or officer of the

                                        2

<PAGE>

     Company; (3) any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
     writing),  or any  communication  or discussion,  among two or more Persons
     with respect to any matter relating to the management, operation or conduct
     of the business of the Company,  including any  discussion or agreement on,
     or any  communication  with respect to, a position with respect to any such
     matter and the disclosure of such communication,  discussion,  agreement or
     position to other Persons (including shareholders of the Company) or to the
     Company shall not  constitute an agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding
     contemplated by Section 1(e)(ii)(B).

     (f) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,  Sunday,  or a
day on which banking  institutions in the State of South Carolina are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.

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

     (h) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock,  $0.01 par value per share,
of the  Company,  except that  "common  stock" when used with  reference  to any
Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock (or equity  interest)
with the greatest voting power of such Person, or the equity securities or other
equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such person
or,  if such  Person  is a  subsidiary  of  another  Person,  the  Person  which
ultimately  controls  such  first-mentioned  Person  and  which has  issued  and
outstanding such capital stock, equity securities or equity interests.

     (i) "Current  Per Share  Market  Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d).

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

     (k)  "Disinterested  Director"  shall mean (i) any member of the  Company's
Board of Directors who is unaffiliated with an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate
or  Associate  of any such  Person  and was a member of the  Company's  Board of
Directors  prior to the time  that an  Acquiring  Person  became  such,  and any
successor  of a  Disinterested  Director who is  unaffiliated  with an Acquiring
Person,  or any Affiliate or Associate of any such Person and is  recommended to
succeed a Disinterested  Director by a majority of the  Disinterested  Directors
then on the Company's Board of Directors.

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

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

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

     (o)  "Exchange  Rate"  shall have the  meaning  set forth in Section  24(a)
hereof

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


                                        3

<PAGE>

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

     (r) "Group" shall mean two or more Persons acting as a partnership, limited
partnership,  syndicate or other group for the purpose of acquiring,  holding or
disposing of the Common Stock.

     (s) "Person" shall mean any individual,  firm, corporation,  partnership or
other entity or Group,  and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise)
thereof; provided,  however, that when two or more Persons act as a partnership,
limited  partnership,  syndicate  or other Group for the  purpose of  acquiring,
holding disposing of the Common Stock, such  partnership,  limited  partnership,
syndicate or other Group shall be deemed to be a single Person.

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

     (u) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the recital clause of
this Agreement.

     (v) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

     (w) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the recital clause of this
Agreement.

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

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

     (z) "Section  11(a)(ii)  Event"  shall mean any event  described in Section
11(a)(ii)(A), (B), or (C) hereof.

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

     (bb)  "Share  Acquisition  Date"  shall mean the first date on which  there
shall be a public  announcement  by the Company or an  Acquiring  Person that an
Acquiring Person has become such.

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

     (dd)  "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any other  corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting equity  securities or voting  interests
is  owned,  directly  or  indirectly,  by such  Person,  or which  is  otherwise
controlled by such Person.

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

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

     (gg)  "Trading  Day" shall have the meaning  set forth in Section  11(d)(i)
hereof.

                                        4

<PAGE>

     Section 2.  Appointment of Rights Agent.  The Company  hereby  appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof,  shall prior to the Distribution  Date also
be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance  with the terms and conditions
hereof,  and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such  appointment.  The Company may
from time to time  appoint  such  co-Rights  Agents as it may deem  necessary or
desirable,  upon ten (10) days' prior written  notice to the Rights  Agent.  The
Rights  Agent  shall have no duty to  supervise  and shall in no event be liable
for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent. In the event the Company
appoints one or more co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent
and any co-Rights Agents shall be as the Company shall determine.

     Section 3.  Issue of Right Certificates

     (a) Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the 10th calendar day
after  the  Share  Acquisition  Date,  (ii) the  Close of  Business  on the 10th
Business Day (or such later date as may be  determined by action of the Board of
Directors  of the  Company  prior to such  time as any  Person  shall  become an
Acquiring Person) after the date of (x) the commencement,  by any Person,  other
than an Exempt Person, of, or (y) the first public announcement of the intention
of any Person  (other than an Exempt  Person) to commence,  a tender or exchange
offer if, upon consummation  thereof,  such Person would be an Acquiring Person,
including  any such date which is after the date of this  Agreement and prior to
the issuance of the Rights (the earliest of such dates being herein  referred to
as the  "Distribution  Date"),  the Rights  will be  evidenced  (subject  to the
provisions  of  Section  3(b)  hereof)  by  certificates  for the  Common  Stock
registered  in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which  certificates
for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates  for Rights) and not by
separate  certificates,  and the Rights will be transferable  only in connection
with the  transfer  of the  underlying  shares  of  Common  Stock.  The Board of
Directors  of the  Company  may defer  the date set forth in clause  (ii) in the
preceding  sentence to a specified later date or to an unspecified later date to
be determined by action of the Directors of the Company.  As soon as practicable
after the  Company  has  notified  the  Rights  Agent of the  occurrence  of the
Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send, by first-class,  insured, postage
prepaid  mail,  to each  record  holder of the  Common  Stock as of the Close of
Business on the  Distribution  Date,  at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company,  one or more  certificates,  in  substantially  the form
attached  hereto as Exhibit A (the "Right  Certificates"),  evidencing one Right
for each  share of Common  Stock so held,  subject  to  adjustment  as  provided
herein.  As of and after the Close of Business  on the  Distribution  Date,  the
Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.

     (b) On the Record Date, or thereafter, the Company will send a notification
of the existence of the Rights,  by postage  prepaid mail, to each record holder
of the  Common  Stock as of the Close of  Business  on the Record  Date,  at the
address of such holder  shown on the  records of the  Company.  With  respect to
certificates  for the Common Stock  outstanding as of the Record Date, until the
Distribution  Date or the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration
Date,  the Rights will be  evidenced by such  certificates  for the Common Stock
with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights in the form  attached  hereto as
Exhibit B (the "Summary of Rights") attached thereto, and the registered holders
of the Common  Stock  shall  also be the  registered  holders of the  associated
Rights.  Until the  Distribution  Date (or  earlier  redemption,  expiration  or
termination  of the  Rights),  the transfer of any of the  certificates  for the
Common Stock  outstanding on the Record Date, even without a copy of the Summary
of Rights  attached  thereto,  shall also  constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate.

                                        5

<PAGE>

     (c)  Certificates  for the Common Stock  issued after the Record Date,  but
prior to the earlier of the Distribution  Date, the Redemption Date or the Final
Expiration Date,  shall be deemed also 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  Shareholder  Rights  Agreement  between  Delta
     Woodside  Industries,  Inc. and First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent,
     dated as of December 10, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"),  the terms of which
     are hereby  incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file
     at the principal offices of Delta Woodside  Industries,  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.  Delta  Woodside  Industries,  Inc. will mail to the holder of
     this certificate a copy of the Rights  Agreement,  as in effect on the date
     of mailing,  without  charge  promptly  after receipt of a written  request
     therefor.  Under certain circumstances,  Rights issued to Acquiring Persons
     or  any  Affiliates  or  Associates  thereof  (as  defined  in  the  Rights
     Agreement)  and any  subsequent  holder of such  Rights may become null and
     void.

     With respect to such certificates  containing the foregoing  legend,  until
the  Distribution  Date or the  earlier  of the  Redemption  Date  or the  Final
Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates  alone, and the transfer of
any of such  certificates  shall  also  constitute  the  transfer  of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.  In the event
that the  Company  purchases  or acquires  any shares of Common  Stock after the
Record Date but prior to the Distribution  Date, any Rights associated with such
Common Stock shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not
be entitled to exercise  any Rights  associated  with the shares of Common Stock
which are no longer outstanding.

     Section 4.  Form of Right Certificates.

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

     (b) Any Right  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

                                        6
<PAGE>

     pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for  consideration)  from
     the  Acquiring  Person (or of such  Affiliate or  Associate)  to holders of
     equity  interests  in  such  Acquiring  Person  (or of  such  Affiliate  or
     Associate)  or to any  Person  with  whom  the  Acquiring  Person  has  any
     continuing   agreement,   arrangement   or   understanding   regarding  the
     transferred  Rights,  or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the
     Company has  determined  is part of a plan,  arrangement  or  understanding
     which has as a primary  purpose  or effect  the  avoidance  of  Section  11
     hereof,  and any Right Certificate  issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section
     11 upon  transfer,  exchange,  replacement or adjustment of any other Right
     Certificate  referred to in this  sentence,  shall  contain  the  following
     legend:

     The Rights  represented by this Right  Certificate are or were beneficially
     owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring  Person or an Affiliate or
     an  Associate  of an  Acquiring  Person (as such  terms are  defined in the
     Rights Agreement). This Right Certificate and the Rights represented hereby
     may become  null and void  under  certain  circumstances  as  specified  in
     Section 11 of the Rights Agreement.

     The Company shall give notice to the Rights Agent promptly after it becomes
aware of the existence and identity of any Acquiring  Person or any Associate or
Affiliate thereof.

     Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration.

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

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

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

     (a) Subject to the  provisions of Section 4(b),  Section 11, Section 14 and
Section 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  earlier  of the
Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or

                                        7

<PAGE>

certificates  may be  transferred,  split up,  combined or exchanged for another
Right Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a
like number of shares of Common Stock (or following an Adjustment  Event,  other
securities, cash or other assets as the case may be) as the Right Certificate or
Certificates  surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase.  Any registered
holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate
shall make such  request in writing  delivered  to the Rights  Agent,  and shall
surrender the Right  Certificate or Certificates  to be  transferred,  split up,
combined  or  exchanged,  with  the  form of  assignment  and  certificate  duly
executed,  at the  office or offices of the  Rights  Agent  designated  for such
purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any
action  whatsoever  with respect to the transfer of any such  surrendered  Right
Certificate  until the  registered  holder shall have  completed  and signed the
certificate  contained  in the form of  assignment  on the reverse  side of such
Right  Certificate  and shall have  provided  such  additional  evidence  of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former  Beneficial  Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights
Agent  shall,  subject  to  Section  4(b),  Section  11 and  Section  14 hereof,
countersign  and deliver to the Person entitled  thereto a Right  Certificate or
Certificates,  as the case may be, as so  requested.  The  Company  may  require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental  charge that may be
imposed in connection  with any transfer,  split up,  combination or exchange of
Right Certificates.

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

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

     (a) Subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the registered holder of any Right
Certificate  may  exercise  the Rights  evidenced  thereby  (except as otherwise
provided   herein,   including,   without   limitation,   the   restrictions  on
exercisability set forth in Section 9, Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)), in
whole or in part at any time after the  Distribution  Date upon surrender of the
Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate set
forth on the reverse side thereof  completed  and duly  executed,  to the Rights
Agent at the office or offices of the Rights Agent  designated for such purpose,
together  with payment of the aggregate  Exercise  Price for the total number of
shares of Common Stock (or other  securities,  cash or other assets, as the case
may be) as to which such surrendered  Rights are then exercised,  at or prior to
the  earlier of (i) the Close of  Business  on  December  22,  2009 (the  "Final
Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in
Section 23 hereof  (the  "Redemption  Date") or (iii) the time which such Rights
are  exchanged as provided in Section 24.  Except as set forth in Section  11(a)
hereof and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Person who
prior to the Distribution Date becomes a record holder of shares of Common Stock
may  exercise all of the rights of a  registered  holder of a Right  Certificate
with  respect  to the  Rights  associated  with such  shares of Common  Stock in
accordance  with the  provisions of this  Agreement,  as of the date such Person
becomes a record holder of shares of Common Stock.

                                        8

<PAGE>

     (b) The Exercise  Price for each quarter share of Common Stock  pursuant to
the exercise of a Right shall initially be $5.00  (equivalent to $20.00 for each
share of  Common  Stock),  shall be  subject  to  adjustment  from  time to time
provided  in  Section 11 and  Section 13 hereof,  and shall be payable in lawful
money of the United States of America in accordance with Section 7(c) below.

     (c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate  representing  exercisable  Rights,
with the form of  election  to  purchase  and the  certificate  set forth on the
reverse side thereof completed and duly executed,  accompanied by payment of the
Exercise  Price  for the  shares  (or,  following  an  Adjustment  Event,  other
securities,  cash or other  assets,  as the case may be) to be purchased  and an
amount equal to any applicable  transfer tax (as determined by the Rights Agent)
in  cash,  or by  certified  check or bank  draft  payable  to the  order of the
Company,  the Rights Agent shall,  subject to Section  20(k)  hereof,  thereupon
promptly  (i)(A)  requisition  from any  transfer  agent of the shares of Common
Stock (or make  available,  if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent  therefor)
certificates  for the number of shares of Common Stock to be  purchased  and the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests,  or (B) if the Company  shall have elected to deposit the total number
of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights  hereunder with a
depositary  agent,  requisition from the depositary  agent  depositary  receipts
representing  such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be  purchased  (in
which case  certificates  for the  shares of Common  Stock  represented  by such
receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and
the Company will direct the depositary  agent to comply with such request,  (ii)
when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be
paid in lieu of issuance of  fractional  shares in  accordance  with  Section 14
hereof,  (iii)  promptly  after  receipt  of  such  certificates  or  depository
receipts,  cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such  Right  Certificate,  registered  in such name or names as may be
designated  by such holder and (iv) when  appropriate,  after  receipt  promptly
deliver  such cash to or upon the order of the  registered  holder of such Right
Certificate.  In the  event  that  the  Company  is  obligated  to  issue  other
securities of the Company,  pay cash or distribute  other  property  pursuant to
Section 11(a) hereof,  the Company will make all arrangements  necessary so that
such other securities,  cash or other property are available for distribution by
the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.

     (d) In case the registered  holder of any Right  Certificate shall exercise
less than all the Rights evidenced thereby,  a new Right Certificate  evidencing
Rights  equivalent to the Rights  remaining  unexercised  shall be issued by the
Rights Agent and delivered to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or
to his duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.

     (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the
Rights Agent nor the Company  shall be  obligated  to undertake  any action with
respect to a registered  holder of Rights upon the  occurrence  of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i)  completed and signed the  certificate  contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Right 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 Right  Certificates.  All Right
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,

                                        9
<PAGE>

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

     Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Common Stock.

     (a) The Company  covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and
kept available out of its  authorized and unissued  shares of Common Stock (and,
following the occurrence of an Adjustment Event,  other securities or out of its
authorized  and  issued  shares  held in its  treasury)  the number of shares of
Common Stock (and,  following  the  occurrence  of an  Adjustment  Event,  other
securities) that, as provided in this Agreement will be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all outstanding Rights;  provided, that such action need not
be taken with respect to shares of Common Stock (or other  securities)  issuable
upon occurrence of an Adjustment Event until the occurrence of such event.

     (b) If at the time the  Rights  become  exercisable,  the then  outstanding
shares  of Common  Stock  are  listed on any  national  or  regional  securities
exchange or are quoted on the National  Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc.
Automated  Quotation  System  ("NASDAQ")  or  any  successor  thereto  or  other
comparable  quotation  system,  the Company shall use its best efforts to cause,
from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable,  all shares of Common
Stock (and,  following the occurrence of an Adjustment Event,  other securities)
reserved for issuance  upon such  exercise to be quoted on such system or listed
on such exchange, as the case may be.

     (c) The  Company  shall  use  its  best  efforts  to (i)  file,  as soon as
practicable  following  the  earliest  date  after the  occurrence  of a Section
11(a)(ii)  Event as of which the  consideration  to be  delivered by the Company
upon  exercise  of the  Rights  has been  determined  in  accordance  with  this
Agreement, or as soon as required by law following the Distribution Date, as the
case may be, a  registration  statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended  (the  "Securities  Act"),  with  respect to the  Common  Stock or other
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  that at all times meets 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 the expiration of
the Rights.  The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate under,
and which will ensure  compliance  with,  the securities or blue sky laws of the
various states in connection with the  exercisability of the Rights. The Company
may  temporarily  suspend  for a period of time not to exceed  ninety  (90) days
after the date set forth in clause  (i) of the first  sentence  of this  Section
9(c),  the  exercisability  of the  Rights  in order to  prepare  and file  such
registration statement and permit it to become effective.  Upon 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.  Notwithstanding  any such
provision of

                                       10

<PAGE>

this  Agreement  to the  contrary,  the Rights shall not be  exercisable  in any
jurisdiction unless the requisite  qualification in such jurisdiction shall have
been obtained.

     (d) The Company  covenants  and agrees that it will take all such action as
may be  reasonably  necessary  to ensure  that all shares of Common  Stock (and,
following the occurrence of an Adjustment  Event,  other  securities)  delivered
upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the  certificates  for
such shares  (subject  to payment of the  Exercise  Price),  be duly and validly
authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

     (e) The Company further covenants and agrees that, subject to Section 6, it
will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state  transfer  taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right
Certificates  or of any  certificates  for  shares  of  Common  Stock  (or other
securities,  as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights.  The Company shall
not,  however,  be  required  to pay any  transfer  tax which may be  payable in
respect of any  transfer  or delivery of Right  Certificates  to a Person  other
than,  or in respect of the issuance or delivery of  securities  in a name other
than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificates  evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any  certificates for securities
in a name other than that of the  registered  holder  upon the  exercise  of any
Rights  until such tax shall  have been paid (any such tax being  payable by the
holder of such Right  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.  Common  Stock  Record  Date.  Each  Person in whose  name any
certificate for Common Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all
purposes  be deemed to have  become the holder of record of the shares of Common
Stock represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon
which the Right  Certificate  evidencing  such Rights was duly  surrendered  and
payment of the  Exercise  Price (and any  applicable  transfer  taxes) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the Common  Stock  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 Common
Stock transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Right
evidenced  thereby,  the holder of a Right  Certificate shall not be entitled to
any rights of a shareholder  of the Company with respect to shares for which the
Rights shall be exercisable,  including,  without limitation, the right to vote,
to receive  dividends  or other  distributions  or to  exercise  any  preemptive
rights,  and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any  proceedings  of
the Company, except as provided herein.

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

     (a)(i) In the event the  Company  shall at any time  after the date of this
Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock,  (B) subdivide the outstanding  Common Stock, (C) combine the outstanding
Common  Stock  into a smaller  number  of shares or (D) issue any  shares of its
capital  stock in a  reclassification  of the Common Stock  (including  any such
reclassification  in  connection  with a  consolidation  or  merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving  corporation),  then, except as otherwise
provided in this Section 11(a),  the Exercise Price in effect at the time of the
record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision,

                                       11

<PAGE>

combination  or  reclassification,  and the  number and kind of shares of Common
Stock or capital  stock,  as the case may be,  issuable  on such date,  shall be
proportionately  adjusted so that the holder of any Right  exercised  after such
time shall be  entitled to receive  the  aggregate  number and kind of shares of
Common Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been
exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Common Stock (or
other  capital  stock,  as the case may be)  transfer  books of the Company were
open,  such  holder  would have owned upon such  exercise  and been  entitled to
receive   by   virtue   of   such   dividend,   subdivision,    combination   or
reclassification; 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 the Company issuable upon the exercise thereof. If an event occurs
which  would  require an  adjustment  under both  Section  11(a)(i)  and Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment  provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be
in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment  required pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

     (ii) Subject to Section 24, in the event

     (A) any  Acquiring  Person or any  Associate or Affiliate of any  Acquiring
Person,  at any time after the date of this  Agreement,  directly or indirectly,
(1) shall merge into the Company or  otherwise  combine with the Company and the
Company  shall be the  continuing  or  surviving  corporation  of such merger or
combination and the Common Stock of the Company shall remain outstanding and not
changed into or exchanged  for stock or other  securities of any other Person or
the  Company  or  cash  or any  other  property,  (2)  shall,  in  one  or  more
transactions,  transfer  any assets to the Company in  exchange  (in whole or in
part)  for  shares  of  any  equity  security  of  the  Company  or  any  of its
Subsidiaries or for securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of any
equity security of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  or otherwise  obtain
from the Company,  with or without  consideration,  any additional shares of any
equity security of the Company or securities exercisable for or convertible into
shares of any equity security of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  (other
than as part of a pro rata  distribution  to all holders of Common  Stock),  (3)
shall sell, purchase, lease, exchange,  mortgage,  pledge, transfer or otherwise
dispose (in one or more transactions), to, from or with, as the case may be, the
Company  or any  of its  Subsidiaries,  assets  on  terms  and  conditions  less
favorable  to  the  Company  than  the  Company  would  be  able  to  obtain  in
arm's-length  negotiation with an unaffiliated third Person, (4) shall engage in
any transaction with the Company involving the sale, purchase,  lease, exchange,
mortgage,  pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series
of  transactions),  other than  incidental  to the lines of  business  currently
engaged in as of the date hereof by the Company and such  Acquiring  Person,  or
Associate or Affiliate,  of assets having an aggregate fair market value of more
than $5,000,000,  (5) shall receive any compensation  from the Company or any of
the Company's Subsidiaries other than compensation for full time employment as a
regular   employee  at  rates  in   accordance   with  the   Company's  (or  its
Subsidiaries')  past  practices,  or (6) shall receive the benefit,  directly or
indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder), of any loans other than in
the  ordinary  course  of  business),  advances,  guarantees,  pledges  or other
financial  assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantage  provided by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or

     (B) any Person  (other than an Exempt  Person),  shall  become an Acquiring
Person, or

     (C) during such time as there is an  Acquiring  Person,  there shall be any
reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split),

                                       12

<PAGE>

or  recapitalization  of the  Company,  or any  merger or  consolidation  of the
Company  with any of its  Subsidiaries  or any  other  transaction  or series of
transactions  (whether or not with or into or  otherwise  involving an Acquiring
Person) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing by more than
1% the  proportionate  share of the  outstanding  shares  of any class of equity
securities  of the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  which is  directly  or
indirectly  owned by any  Acquiring  Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any
Acquiring Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so
that each holder of a Right,  except as provided in this paragraph  (ii),  shall
thereafter  have a right to  receive,  upon  exercise  of such Right at the then
current  Exercise  Price in accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement,  such
number of  shares  of Common  Stock of the  Company  as shall  equal the  result
obtained by (x) multiplying  the then current  Exercise Price by the then number
of one  quarter  shares  of  Common  Stock  for  which a Right  was  exercisable
immediately  prior to the first occurrence of a Section  11(a)(ii) Event and (y)
dividing that product (which, following such first occurrence,  shall thereafter
be referred to as the  "Exercise  Price" for each Right and for all  purposes of
this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Stock
(determined  pursuant to Section 11(d)) on the date of the occurrence of any one
of the events listed above in this Section  11(a)(ii)  (such number of shares is
herein  called  the  "Adjustment  Shares");   provided,  however,  that  if  the
transaction  that would otherwise give rise to the foregoing  adjustment is also
subject to the  provisions  of Section 13 hereof,  then only the  provisions  of
Section 13 shall apply and no adjustment  shall be made pursuant to this Section
11(a)(ii).  The Company shall not enter into any  transaction of the kind listed
in this  Section  11(a)(ii)  if at the time of such  transaction  there  are any
rights,  warrants,  instruments  or securities  outstanding or any agreements or
arrangements  which as a result of the consummation of such  transaction,  would
substantially  diminish  or  otherwise  eliminate  the  benefits  intended to be
afforded by the Rights.

     Notwithstanding  anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after
the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights beneficially owned
by (i) an Acquiring Person or 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 the Acquiring  Person has any
continuing  agreement,  arrangement or  understanding  regarding the transferred
Rights,  or (B) a  transfer  which the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has
determined  is part of a  plan,  arrangement  or  understanding  which  has as a
primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 11(a), shall become null
and void without any further  action and no holder or  beneficial  owner 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  11(a) and
Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder
or beneficial owner of Right Certificates or any other Person as a result of its
failure to make any  determinations  with respect to an Acquiring  Person or any
Affiliates and Associates thereof or any transferee of any of them hereunder.

     (iii) In the event  that the  number of  shares of Common  Stock  which are
authorized by the Company's  articles of  organization  but not  outstanding  or
reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is not
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in

                                       13

<PAGE>

accordance with Section  11(a)(ii),  the Company shall: (A) determine the excess
of (1) the value of the Adjustment  Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right
(the "Current  Value") over (2) the Exercise Price (such excess is herein called
the "Spread"),  and (B) with respect to each Right,  make adequate  provision to
substitute for the Adjustment  Shares,  upon payment of the applicable  Exercise
Price,  (1) cash,  (2) a reduction  in the Exercise  Price,  (3) Common Stock or
other equity securities of the Company (including,  without limitation,  shares,
or units of shares,  of  preferred  stock which the Board has deemed to have the
same  value as  shares  of  Common  Stock  (such  shares  or units of  shares of
preferred  stock  are  herein  called  "Equivalent  Common  Stock")),  (4)  debt
securities  of the Company,  (5) other  assets,  or (6) any  combination  of the
foregoing,  having an  aggregate  value equal to the Current  Value,  where such
aggregate  value has been  determined  by the Board  based  upon the advice of a
competent investment banking firm selected by the Board;  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 Section  11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company's
right of redemption  pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y)
being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii)  Adjustment 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,  shares of Common
Stock (to the extent  available) and then, if necessary,  cash,  which shares or
cash have an aggregate  value equal to the Spread.  If the Board shall determine
in good  faith that it is likely  that  sufficient  additional  shares of Common
Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights,  the
thirty (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)  Adjustment Date,
in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of
such additional shares (such thirty (30) day period,  as it may be extended,  is
herein  called  the  "Substitution  Period").  To the  extent  that the  Company
determines  that  some  action  need be taken  pursuant  to the  first or second
sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii),  the Company (x) shall provide,  subject to
Section  11(a)(ii)  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 an authorization of
additional  shares and/or to decide the  appropriate  form of distribution to be
made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof.  In the
event of any such  suspension,  the Company  shall  issue a public  announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as
well as a public  announcement  at such time as the  suspension  is no longer in
effect.  For the purpose of this  Section  11(a)(iii),  the value of  Adjustment
Shares  shall be the Current Per Share  Market  Price of the Common Stock on the
Section  11(a)(ii)  Adjustment  Date, and the per share or per unit value of any
Equivalent  Common  Stock shall be deemed to equal the Current Per Share  Market
Price of the Common Stock on such date.

     (b) If the  Company  shall  fix a record  date for the  issuance  of rights
(other than the  Rights),  options or  warrants  to all holders of Common  Stock
entitling them (for a period  expiring within 45 calendar days after such record
date) to subscribe for or purchase  Common Stock or  Equivalent  Common Stock or
securities  convertible into Common Stock or Equivalent  Common Stock at a price
per share of Common Stock or per share of  Equivalent  Common Stock (or having a
conversion  price per share,  if a security  convertible  into  Common  Stock or
Equivalent  Common  Stock)  less than the  Current  Per Share  Market  Price (as
determined  pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the Common Stock on such record
date,  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 shares
of Common Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of

                                       14

<PAGE>

Common Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of
Common Stock or Equivalent Common Stock to be offered (and the aggregate initial
conversion price of the convertible  securities so to be offered) would purchase
at such Current Per Share Market Price and the denominator of which shall be the
number of shares of Common  Stock  outstanding  on such  record  date,  plus the
number of  additional  shares of Common Stock or  Equivalent  Common Stock 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 the Company  issuable upon the exercise
thereof.  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 the Current Per Share Market Price  thereof  determined  in  accordance
with  Section  11(d)  hereof.  Shares of Common  Stock  owned by or held for the
account of the Company  shall not be deemed  outstanding  for the purpose of any
such computation.  Such adjustments  shall be made successively  whenever such a
record date is fixed;  and in the event that such rights or warrants  are not so
issued,  the  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) If the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a distribution
to all  holders  of  Common  Stock  (including  any  such  distribution  made in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
corporation) of evidences of  indebtedness,  cash (other than a regular periodic
cash dividend out of the earnings or retained  earnings of the Company),  assets
(other than a dividend  payable in Common  Stock,  but  including  any  dividend
payable in stock other than Common  Stock) or  options,  subscription  rights or
warrants  (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)),  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  Current  Per  Share  Market  Price  (as
determined  pursuant  to Section  11(d)  hereof) of Common  Stock on such record
date, less the Current Per Share Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so
to be distributed or of such options, subscription rights or warrants applicable
to one share of Common Stock and the  denominator  of which shall be the Current
Per Share Market Price (as determined  pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per one
share  of  Common  Stock;  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 the  Company  issuable  upon the  exercise
thereof. 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 again be adjusted to be the Exercise  Price which would be in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of
this  Rights  Agreement  to  the  contrary,  there  shall  be no  adjustment  or
alteration to the Exercise  Price in  connection  with any  distribution  to the
holders of the Common Stock of capital  stock of any  subsidiary  of the Company
(either  existing  as of the date  hereof or  subsequently  created)  owning the
majority  of assets  of the Duck  Head  Apparel  Company  division  or the Delta
Apparel  Company  division of the Company  provided  that such  distribution  is
consummated prior to March 31, 2000.

     (d) For the purpose of this Agreement, the "Current Per Share Market Price"
of any share of Common  Stock or any other stock or any Right or other  security
or any other property shall be determined as provided in this Section 11(d).

          (i)  In  the  case  of  a  publicly-traded  stock  or  other  security
     (hereinafter in this Section 11(d)(i) a "Security"),  the Current Per Share
     Market

                                       15

<PAGE>

     Price on any date shall be deemed to be the  average  of the daily  closing
     prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30)  consecutive  Trading
     Days (as such term is hereinafter  defined) immediately prior to such date;
     provided,  however,  that for the purpose of computations  made pursuant to
     Section  11(a)(iii)  hereof, the Current Per Share Market Price 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
     following  such  date;  and  provided  further,  that in the event that the
     Current  Per Share  Market  Price of any  Security is  determined  during a
     period  following the  announcement by the issuer of such Security of (x) a
     dividend  or  distribution  on such  Security  payable  in  shares  of such
     Security or securities convertible into shares of such Security (other than
     the Rights) or (y) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
     Security,  and prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty (30) Trading
     Day  or ten  (10)  Trading  Day  period,  as set  forth  above,  after  the
     ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution,  or the record date for
     such subdivision,  combination or reclassification,  then, and in each such
     case, the Current Per Share Market Price shall be properly adjusted to take
     into account ex-dividend  trading.  The closing price for each day shall be
     the last sale price,  regular  way, or, in case no such sale takes place on
     such day, the average of the 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  Securities  are not listed or admitted to
     trading  on the New York  Stock  Exchange,  as  reported  in the  principal
     consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed
     on the  principal  national  securities  exchange on which such Security is
     listed or admitted to trading;  or, if not listed or admitted to trading on
     any  national  securities  exchange,  the last quoted  price (or, if not so
     quoted,  the average of the last  quoted 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 no bids for such  Security are quoted
     by any such  organization,  the average of the closing bid and asked prices
     as  furnished  by a  professional  market  maker  making a  market  in such
     Security selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.  If on any such
     date no market maker is making a market in such  Security,  the Current Per
     Share  Market  Price of such  Security  on such  date  shall be  determined
     reasonably and with good faith to the holders of the Rights by the Board of
     Directors of the Company,  including,  if at the time of such determination
     there is an Acquiring  Person,  a majority of the  Disinterested  Directors
     then in office, or if there are no Disinterested  Directors, by a competent
     investment  banking  firm  selected  by  the  Board  of  Directors,   which
     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. The
     term  "Trading  Day"  shall  mean a day on  which  the  principal  national
     securities exchange on which such Security is listed or admitted to trading
     is open for the  transaction of business or, if such Security is not listed
     or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.

          (ii) If a Security  is not  publicly  held or not so listed or traded,
     "Current  Per Share  Market  Price"  shall mean the fair value per share of
     stock or per other unit of such  Security,  determined  reasonably and with
     utmost good faith to the holders of the Rights by the Board of Directors of
     the Company,  including,  if at the time of such determination  there is an
     Acquiring Person, a majority of the Disinterested Directors then in office,
     or if there  are no  Disinterested  Directors,  by a  competent  investment
     banking firm selected by the Board of Directors,  which 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.


                                       16

<PAGE>

          (iii) In the case of property other than  securities,  the Current Per
     Share Market Price thereof shall be determined  reasonably  and with utmost
     good  faith to the  holders  of  Rights by the  Board of  Directors  of the
     Company,  including,  if at the  time of  such  determination  there  is an
     Acquiring Person, a majority of the Disinterested Directors then in office,
     or if there  are no  Disinterested  Directors,  by a  competent  investment
     banking firm selected by the Board of Directors,  which determination shall
     be  described  in a  statement  filed  with the  Rights  Agent and shall be
     binding upon the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.

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

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

     (g)  All  Rights  originally  issued  by  the  Company  subsequent  to  any
adjustment  made to the Exercise  Price  hereunder  shall  evidence the right to
purchase,  at the adjusted  Exercise  Price,  the number of shares (or fractions
thereof) of Common Stock  purchasable  from time to time hereunder upon exercise
of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

     (h) Unless the Company  shall have  exercised  its  election as provided in
Section  11(i),  upon each  adjustment of the 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 shares of Common Stock
(calculated to the nearest one  ten-thousandth)  obtained by (i) multiplying (x)
the number of shares covered by a Right  immediately prior to this adjustment by
(y) the Exercise  Price in effect  immediately  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.

     (i) The  Company  may elect on or after the date of any  adjustment  of the
Exercise  Price  to  adjust  the  number  of  Rights,  in  substitution  for any
adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise
of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of
Rights shall be exercisable for the number of shares of Common Stock for which a
Right was exercisable  immediately prior to such adjustment.  Each Right held of
record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number
of Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by

                                       17

<PAGE>

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 Right Certificates have been issued,  shall be at least
ten  (10)  days  later  than  the  date of the  public  announcement.  If  Right
Certificates  have been  issued,  upon each  adjustment  of the number of Rights
pursuant to this Section 11(i),  the Company shall,  as promptly as practicable,
cause to be  distributed  to  holders  of record of Right  Certificates  on such
record date Right  Certificates  evidencing,  subject to Section 14 hereof,  the
additional  Rights to which such  holders  shall be entitled as a result of such
adjustment,  or at the option of the Company,  shall cause to be  distributed to
such  holders  of  record  in   substitution   and  replacement  for  the  Right
Certificates  held by such  holders  prior to the date of  adjustment,  and upon
surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates evidencing
all the Rights to which such holders  shall be entitled  after such  adjustment.
Right  Certificates  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 Right  Certificates  on the record date specified in
the public announcement.

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

     (k) Before  taking any action that would cause an  adjustment  reducing the
Exercise  Price  below the then par  value,  if any,  of the number of shares of
Common Stock  issuable upon  exercise of the Rights,  the Company shall take any
corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order
that the Company may  validly  and  legally  issue fully paid and  nonassessable
shares of Common Stock at such adjusted Exercise Price.

     (l) 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 the number
of shares of Common Stock and other  capital stock or securities of the Company,
if any,  issuable  upon such  exercise  over and  above the  number of shares of
Common Stock 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 upon the  occurrence of the event  requiring
such adjustment.

     (m)  Notwithstanding  anything  in this  Section  11 to the  contrary,  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 consolidation or subdivision of the Common Stock, issuance wholly
for cash of any shares of Common Stock at less than the Current Per Share Market
Price, issuance wholly for cash of shares of Common Stock or securities which by
their terms are  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for shares of Common Stock,
stock dividends or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to

                                       18

<PAGE>

hereinabove in this Section 11,  hereafter made by the Company to holders of its
Common Stock, shall not be taxable to such shareholders.

     (n) The Company  covenants  and agrees that it shall not, at any time after
the Distribution  Date, (i) consolidate  with, (ii) merge with or into, or (iii)
sell or  transfer  (or  permit  any  Subsidiary  to sell  or  transfer),  in one
transaction  or a series  of  related  transactions,  assets  or  earning  power
aggregating  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 if (x) at the time
of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights,
warrants or other  instruments  outstanding  or  agreements or  arrangements  in
effect which would  substantially  diminish or otherwise  eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights, or (y) prior to,  simultaneously  with or
immediately  after  such  consolidation,  merger or sale the  shareholders  of a
Person who  constitutes,  or would  constitute,  the  "Principal  Party" for the
purposes of Section  13(a) hereof shall have received a  distribution  of Rights
previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.

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

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

     Whenever  an  adjustment  is made as  provided in Section 11 and Section 13
hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate  setting forth such
adjustment and a brief  statement of the facts  accounting for such  adjustment,
(b)  promptly  file with the Rights Agent and with each  transfer  agent for the
Common Stock a copy of such  certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to
each holder of a Right  Certificate  in accordance  with Section 25 hereof.  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
any 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, on or after the Share Acquisition Date,  directly or
indirectly,  (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary  of the Company in a transaction  which is
not  prohibited  by Section  11(o)  hereof),  and the  Company  shall not be the
continuing  or surviving  corporation  of such  consolidation  or merger (y) any
Person  (other than a Subsidiary  of the Company in a  transaction  which is not
prohibited by Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with the Company, or merge
with and into the Company and the Company  shall be the  continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger and, in connection  with such merger,  all or part of
the shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other
securities of any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company
shall sell,  mortgage or otherwise  transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries
shall sell, mortgage or otherwise  transfer),  in one transaction or a series of
related  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 any Subsidiary of the
Company in one or more  transactions  each of which is not prohibited by Section
11(o) hereof)


                                       19

<PAGE>

then, and in each such case,  proper  provision  shall be made so that: (i) each
holder of a Right, except as provided otherwise herein,  shall have the right to
receive,  upon the  exercise  thereof  at the  then  current  Exercise  Price in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement,  such number of validly  authorized
and issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of freely tradeable Common Stock
of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined in Section 13(b)), free and clear
of rights of call or first refusal, liens, encumbrances or other adverse claims,
as shall be equal to the result  obtained by (1)  multiplying  the then  current
Exercise  Price by the number of one quarter  shares of Common Stock for which a
Right is exercisable  immediately  prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13
Event  (or,  if a  Section  11(a)(ii)  Event  has  occurred  prior to the  first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event,  multiplying  the number of one quarter shares
of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence  of a  Section  11(a)(ii)  Event  by the  Exercise  Price  in  effect
immediately  prior to such first  occurrence)  and dividing that product (which,
following the first  occurrence  of a Section 13 Event,  shall be referred to as
the "Exercise  Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this  Agreement) by
(2) 50% of the Current Per Share  Market Price  (determined  pursuant to Section
11(d)  hereof)  of the  Common  Stock  of such  Principal  Party  on the date of
consummation  of  such  consolidation,  merger,  sale  or  transfer;  (ii)  such
Principal Party shall  thereafter be liable for, and shall assume,  by virtue of
such consolidation,  merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of
the  Company  pursuant  to  this  Agreement;  (iii)  the  term  "Company"  shall
thereafter be deemed to refer to such  Principal  Party,  it being  specifically
intended that the  provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply to such Principal
Party; and (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps  (including,  but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock
to permit  exercise of all  outstanding  Rights in accordance  with this Section
13(a)) in connection  with such  consummation as may be necessary to assure that
the provisions  hereof shall  thereafter be applicable,  as nearly as reasonably
may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock  thereafter  deliverable  upon
the exercise of the Rights.  The Company shall not enter into any transaction of
the kind set forth in this subsection if at the time of the consummation of such
transaction  there are any options,  warrants,  rights,  conversion  or exchange
provisions or securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements in effect
which, as a result of the consummation of such  transaction,  would eliminate or
substantially  diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.  If,
in the case of a  transaction  of the kind  described in clause (z) of the first
sentence  of this  subsection,  the Person or Persons to whom  assets or earning
power are sold or otherwise  transferred  are  individuals,  then the  preceding
sentences  of this  subsection  shall be  inapplicable,  and the  Company  shall
require as a condition to such sale or transfer  that such Person or Persons pay
to each holder of a Rights  Certificate,  upon its surrender to the Rights Agent
and in exchange therefor (without requiring payment by such holder), cash in the
amount  determined by multiplying the then current  Exercise Price by the number
of one quarter shares of Common Stock for which a Right is then exercisable.

     (b) "Principal Party" shall mean

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

     (ii) in the case of any  transaction  described  in clause (z) of the first
sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the

                                       20

<PAGE>

greatest  portion of the assets or earning  power  transferred  pursuant to such
transaction or transactions;

provided, however, that in any such case, (x) if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time and has not been  continuously  over the preceding  12-month
period  registered  under  Section 12 of the Exchange  Act, and such Person is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and
has been so registered,  "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; and
(y) in case such Person is a Subsidiary,  directly or  indirectly,  or more than
one  Person,  the  Common  Stocks  of two or more of which  are and have been so
registered,  "Principal  Party"  shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest  aggregate market value of shares
outstanding.

     (c) The Company shall not consummate any such  consolidation,  merger, sale
or transfer unless prior thereto (x) the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of  authorized  shares of its Common  Stock which have not been issued or
reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with this  Section  13, and (y) the Company  and each  Principal  Party and each
other Person who may become a Principal Party as a result of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental  agreement  providing  for the terms set forth in Section 13(a) and
(b) and further  providing  that, as soon as  practicable  after the date of any
consolidation,  merger,  sale or transfer of assets  mentioned in Section 13(a),
the Principal Party at its own expense 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  that at all times meets the  requirements  of the Securities  Act)
until the Final Expiration Date;

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

     (iii) 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

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

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

     Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

     (a) The Company shall not be required to issue  fractions of Rights,  or to
distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu

                                       21

<PAGE>

of such fractional  Rights,  there may be paid to the registered  holders of the
Right  Certificates  with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable,  an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right.  For purposes of this Section 14(a),  the current market
value of a whole Right shall be the closing  price per Right for the Trading Day
immediately  prior to such  date on which  fractional  Rights  would  have  been
otherwise issuable. The closing price for any Trading Day shall be the last sale
price,  regular  way,  or, in case no such sale takes place on such Trading Day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices,  regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities  listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock  Exchange or,
if the  Rights  are not  listed or  admitted  to  trading  on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national  securities exchange
on which the Rights  are listed or  admitted  to  trading;  or, if not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities  exchange,  the last quoted price
(or,  if not so quoted,  the  average of the last  quoted 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  Trading Day no bids for the Rights are
quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
as  furnished  by a  professional  market  maker  making a market in the  Rights
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market
maker is making a market in the Rights the current market value of the Rights on
such Trading Day shall be  determined  reasonably  and with utmost good faith to
the  holders  of the  Rights by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  whose
determination  shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be binding on the Rights Agent.

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

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

     Section  15.  Rights of  Action.  All  rights of action in  respect of this
Agreement,  other than rights of action  vested in the Rights Agent  pursuant to
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective  registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and prior to the Distribution  Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock);  and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution  Date, of the Common Stock),  without the consent of the Rights
Agent  or of the  holder  of any  other  Right  Certificate  (or,  prior  to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock),  may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit,  enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against  the Company to enforce,  or  otherwise  act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Right evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided in
such Right Certificate and in this Agreement.  Without limiting the foregoing or
any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the  holders  of Rights  would not have an  adequate  remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the

                                       22

<PAGE>

obligations  hereunder  and  injunctive  relief  against  actual  or  threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Holders  of  Rights  shall be  entitled  to  recover  the  reasonable  costs and
expenses,  including  attorneys' fees, incurred by them in any action to enforce
the provisions of this Agreement.

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

     (a) prior to the  Distribution  Date, each Right will be transferable  only
simultaneously and together with the transfer of shares of Common Stock;

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

     (c) subject to Sections 6 and 11, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem
and  treat  the  person  in whose  name a Right  Certificate  (or,  prior to the
Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) is registered as the
absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby  (notwithstanding any
notations of ownership or writing on the Right  Certificates  or the  associated
Common  Stock  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; and

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

     Section 17. Right Certificate  Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder.  No holder,
as such, of any Right Certificate  shall be entitled to vote,  receive dividends
or be deemed for any  purpose  the  holder of the shares of Common  Stock or any
other  securities  of the  Company  which  may at any  time be  issuable  on the
exercise of the Rights represented  thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Right  Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate,  as such,  any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the  election of  directors  or upon any matter  submitted  to
shareholders  at any  meeting  thereof,  or to give or  withhold  consent to any
corporate  action,  or to receive notice of meetings or other actions  affecting
shareholders  (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription  rights,  or otherwise,  until the Right or Rights  evidenced by
such  Right  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,

                                       23

<PAGE>

on demand of the Rights  Agent,  its  reasonable  expenses  and counsel fees and
disbursements  and  other  disbursements  incurred  in  the  administration  and
execution  of this  Agreement  and the exercise  and  performance  of its duties
hereunder.  The  Company  also  agrees to  indemnify  the  Rights  Agent and its
directors, officers, employees and agents for, and to hold each of them harmless
against any loss,  liability,  or expense,  incurred  without gross  negligence,
recklessness,  bad faith or willful  misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent,
for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent or such other indemnified party
in connection  with the acceptance and  administration  of this Agreement or the
performance  of the Rights  Agent's  duties  hereunder,  including the costs and
expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly
or indirectly.

     (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 or the performance of the Rights Agent's duties
hereunder in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for Common Stock
or other securities of the Company,  instrument of assignment or transfer, power
of  attorney,  endorsement,   affidavit,  letter,  notice,  direction,  consent,
certificate,  statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed,  executed and, where necessary,  verified or acknowledged,  by
the proper  Person or Persons,  or in reliance upon the advice of counsel as set
forth in Section 20.

     (c) The indemnity  provided in this Section 18 shall survive the expiration
of the Rights and the termination of the Agreement.

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

     (a) Any  corporation  into which the Rights Agent or any  successor  Rights
Agent may be merged or with  which it may be  consolidated,  or any  corporation
resulting  from any merger or  consolidation  to which the  Rights  Agent or any
successor  Rights Agent shall be a party, or any  corporation  succeeding to the
corporate  trust or  shareholder  services  business of the Rights  Agent or any
successor  Rights  Agent,  shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the  parties  hereto,  provided  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 Right  Certificates  shall
have been  countersigned but not delivered,  any such successor Rights Agent may
adopt the  countersignature  of the  predecessor  Rights  Agent and deliver such
Right  Certificates so countersigned;  and in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have been  countersigned,  any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates  either in the name of the predecessor or in
the name of the  successor  Rights  Agent;  and in all  such  cases  such  Right
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in
this Agreement.

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


                                       24

<PAGE>

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

     (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel selected by it (who may
be legal  counsel for the  Company),  and the advice or opinion of such  counsel
shall be full and complete  authorization  and protection to the Rights Agent as
to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in  accordance  with such
advice or opinion.

     (b)  Whenever in the  performance  of its duties under this  Agreement  the
Rights  Agent  shall  deem it  necessary  or  desirable  that any 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 duly  authorized  officer of the Company and  delivered to the Rights Agent;
and such certificate shall be full and complete  authorization and protection to
the  Rights  Agent as to any  action  taken or  omitted  by it in good  faith in
reliance upon such certificate.

     (c) The  Rights  Agent  shall be  liable  hereunder  only for its own gross
negligence, recklessness, 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 Right
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 Right 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 Right Certificate;  nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the
Rights  becoming  void  pursuant  to Section  11(a)  hereof)  or any  adjustment
required  under  the  provisions  of  Sections  3, 11,  13,  23 or 24  hereof or
responsible  for the  manner,  method or amount  of any such  adjustment  or the
ascertaining  of the existence of facts that would  require any such  adjustment
(except with respect to the exercise of Rights  evidenced by Right  Certificates
after  receipt of a  certificate  describing  any such  adjustment  furnished in
accordance  with  Section  12  hereof),  nor  shall  it be  responsible  for any
determination  by the Board of Directors of the Company of current  market value
of the Rights or Common Stock  pursuant to the  provisions of Section 14 hereof;
nor  shall it by any act  hereunder  be  deemed  to make any  representation  or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to
be issued  pursuant to this Agreement or any Right  Certificate or as to whether
any shares of Common  Stock  will,  when so issued,  be validly  authorized  and
issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable;  nor shall it be under any obligation to
institute  any  action,  suit or legal  proceeding  or to take any other  action
likely to involve  expense  unless the Company or one or more of the  registered
holders of the Rights  Certificates shall furnish the Rights Agent with security
and  indemnity  to its  satisfaction  for any  costs and  expenses  which may be
incurred; nor shall it be liable for any failure to perform any duties except as
specifically set forth herein and no

                                       25

<PAGE>

implied  covenants or obligations  shall be read into this Agreement against the
Rights Agent,  whose duties and  obligations  shall be determined  solely by the
express provisions hereof.

     (f) The Company  agrees that it will inform the Rights Agent  promptly upon
the Company's  determination  that a Person has become an Acquiring Person,  and
the Rights Agent will not be  responsible  for making such  determination  or be
deemed  to have  knowledge  thereof  prior to such  notice by the  Company.  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  and
certificates delivered pursuant to any provision hereof from any duly authorized
officer of the  Company,  and is  authorized  to apply to any such  officer  for
advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable
for any action  taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in  accordance
with  instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while awaiting
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 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
such application on or after the date specified in such application  (which date
shall not be less than five  Business  Days  after the date any  officer  of the
Company actually receives such  application,  unless any such officer shall have
consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action
(or the effective date in the case of an omission),  the Rights Agent shall have
received  written  instructions in response to such  application  specifying the
action to be taken or omitted.

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

     (i) The Rights  Agent may execute and  exercise any of the rights or powers
vested in it or perform  any of its duties  hereunder  either  directly 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 attorney or
agent or for any loss to the  Company  resulting  from  any such  act,  default,
neglect or  misconduct,  provided the Rights Agent was not grossly  negligent in
the selection or continued employment of such agent.

     (j) If, with  respect to any Right  Certificate  surrendered  to the Rights
Agent  for  exercise  or  transfer,  the  certificate  attached  to the  form of
assignment  or form of election to purchase,  as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative  response to clause (1) or clause (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.


                                       26

<PAGE>

     (k) Anything in this  Agreement to the  contrary  not  withstanding,  in no
event shall the Rights  Agent be liable for special,  indirect or  consequential
loss or  damage  of any  kind  whatsoever  (including  but not  limited  to lost
profits).

     (l) No provision in 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.

     Section  21.  Change of Rights  Agent.  The Rights  Agent or any  successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged  from its duties under this  agreement
upon  thirty (30) days'  notice in writing  mailed to the  Company,  and to each
transfer  agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified  mail, and to the
holders of the Right  Certificates  by first-class  mail. The Company may remove
the Rights  Agent or any  successor  Rights  Agent (with or without  cause) upon
thirty (30) days'  notice in writing,  mailed to the Rights  Agent or  successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock
by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class  mail.  If the  Rights  Agent  shall  resign or be  removed or shall
otherwise become  incapable of acting,  the Company shall appoint a successor to
the Rights Agent.  If the Company shall fail to make such  appointment  within a
period  of 30 days  after  giving  notice of such  removal  or after it has been
notified  in writing of such  resignation  or  incapacity  by the  resigning  or
incapacitated  Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right  Certificate (who shall,
with such notice,  submit his Right  Certificate for inspection by the Company),
then  the  incumbent  Rights  Agent  or  the  registered  holder  of  any  Right
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) a  corporation  or  trust  company
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of the State
of State of South  Carolina (or of any other state of the United  States so long
as such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking institution in the
State of South Carolina), in good standing,  which is authorized under such laws
to exercise  shareholder  services or  corporate  trust powers and is subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state  authority or (b) an Affiliate of
a corporation described in clause (a) of this sentence.  After appointment,  the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers,  rights, duties and
responsibilities  as if it had been  originally  named as Rights  Agent  without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose.  Not later than the  effective  date of any such  appointment,  the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the  predecessor  Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and mail a notice thereof in writing
to the registered holders of the Right 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 Right Certificates.  Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary,  the Company may,
at its option,  issue new Right  Certificates  evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the  Exercise  Price and the number or kind or class of shares of stock or other
securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in

                                       27

<PAGE>

accordance  with the provisions of this  Agreement.  In addition,  in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock  following the  Distribution
Date and prior to the  redemption or  expiration of the Rights,  the Company (a)
shall,  with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the
exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the
exercise,  conversion or exchange of securities hereafter 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  Right  Certificates   representing  the
appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided,
however,  that (i) no such  Right  Certificate  shall be issued  if,  and to the
extent that,  the Company shall be advised by counsel that such  issuance  would
create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or
the person to whom such  Right  Certificate  would be  issued,  and (ii) no such
Right  Certificate  shall be issued  if,  and to the  extent  that,  appropriate
adjustments shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.

     Section 23. Redemption.

     (a) The Board of Directors  of the Company may, at its option,  at any time
prior to the earlier of (x) the Close of Business on the tenth day following the
Share  Acquisition  Date (or, if the Share  Acquisition Date shall have occurred
prior to the Record Date,  the Close of Business on the tenth day  following the
Record Date), or (y) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all
of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.001 per Right, as such
amount may be appropriately  adjusted,  as determined by the Board of Directors,
to reflect any  transaction  of the kind described in clauses (A) through (D) of
Section  11(a)(i)  occurring after the date hereof (such  redemption price being
hereinafter  referred to as the "Redemption  Price").  In considering whether to
redeem the Rights,  the Board of  Directors of the Company may consider the best
long-term  and  short-term   interests  of  the  Company,   including,   without
limitation,  the  effects  of the  redemption  of  the  Rights  upon  employees,
suppliers  and  customers  of the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the Company and
communities  in which  offices  or other  establishments  of the  Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company are located and all other pertinent factors, including
without   limitation  the  factors  set  forth  in  the  Company's  Articles  of
Incorporation  as amended from time to time. The redemption of the Rights by the
Board of Directors  may be  effective at such time,  on such basis and with such
conditions as such Board of Directors in its sole  discretion may establish.  In
addition  to the right of  redemption  reserved  in the first  sentence  of this
subsection, the Board of Directors may redeem all, but not less than all, of the
then outstanding  Rights at the Redemption Price after the occurrence of a Share
Acquisition  Date,  but prior to the  occurrence of any  transaction of the kind
described  in  Section  11(a)(ii)(A)  or (C) or Section  13(a),  if either (i) a
Person who is an Acquiring Person shall have  transferred or otherwise  disposed
of a  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  in one  transaction  or  series  of
transactions,  not directly or  indirectly  involving  the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries  and which did not result in the  occurrence of any  transaction of
the kind described in Section  11(a)(ii)(A)  or (C) or Section  13(a),  as shall
result in such Person  thereafter being a Beneficial Owner of 10% or less of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock of the Company,  and after such  transfer or
other  disposition there are no other Acquiring  Persons,  or (ii) in connection
with any  transaction of the kind described in Section  11(a)(ii)(A)  or Section
13(a) in which all  holders of the Common  Stock of the  Company are treated the
same and which shall not involve an Acquiring  Person, an Affiliate or Associate
of an  Acquiring  Person,  any other  Person  in which  such  Acquiring  Person,
Affiliate or Associate has any interest or any other Person acting,  directly or
indirectly, on behalf of or in association with such Acquiring Person, Affiliate
or Associate.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Rights
shall not be exercisable after

                                       28

<PAGE>

the first occurrence of an event specified in Section  11(a)(ii) until such time
as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has expired.

     (b)  Immediately  upon the action of the Board of  Directors of the Company
ordering  the  redemption  of the Rights,  and  without  any further  action and
without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only
right  thereafter  of the holders of Rights  shall be to receive the  Redemption
Price  for  each  Right so held.  Promptly  after  the  action  of the  Board of
Directors  ordering the redemption of the Rights,  the Company shall give notice
of such  redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then  outstanding
Rights by mailing  such  notice to the Rights  Agent and 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 Stock.  Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein  provided
shall be deemed given,  whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice  of  redemption  will  state  the  method  by which  the  payment  of the
Redemption Price will be made.  Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or
Associates  may  redeem,  acquire or purchase of value any Rights at any time in
any manner  other than that  specifically  set forth in this  Section  23, or in
connection  with the  purchase,  acquisition  or  redemption of shares of Common
Stock prior to the Distribution Date.

     (c) The  Company  may,  at its option,  pay the  Redemption  Price in cash,
shares of Common  Stock  (based on the  Current  Per Share  Market  Price of the
Common Stock as of the time of  redemption)  or any other form of  consideration
deemed appropriate by the Board.

     Section 24. Exchange.

     (a) The Board of Directors  of the Company may, at its option,  at any time
after any Person shall have become an Acquiring Person, exchange all or any part
of the then  outstanding and exercisable  Rights (which shall not include Rights
which have become void  pursuant to the  provisions  of Section  11(a)(ii))  for
Common Stock of the Company at an exchange  rate of one quarter  share of Common
Stock per Right,  appropriately adjusted to reflect any transaction specified in
clauses (A) through (D), inclusive, of Section 11(a)(i) occurring after the date
hereof  (such  exchange  rate being  hereinafter  called the  "Exchange  Rate");
provided,  however, that the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect
such an  exchange at any time after any Person  (other  than an Exempt  Person),
together with all Affiliates  and  Associates of such Person,  shall have become
the  Beneficial  Owner of 50% or more of the Common  Stock of the  Company  then
outstanding.

     (b)  Immediately  after any action by the Board of Directors of the Company
directing the exchange of any Rights  pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section
24,  notice of which  shall be filed  with the Rights  Agent,  and  without  any
further  action and without any notice,  the right to exercise such Rights shall
terminate and each registered holder of such Rights shall thereafter be entitled
to  receive  only the number of shares of Common  Stock  which  shall  equal the
number of Rights held by such registered holder multiplied by the Exchange Rate.
The Company shall give prompt public notice of any exchange directed pursuant to
such subsection (a); provided,  however, that the failure to give, or any defect
in, any such notice  shall not affect the validity of such  exchange.  Within 10
days after  action by such Board of  Directors  directing  the  exchange of such
Rights, the Company shall mail a notice of exchange to all registered holders of
such Rights at their last  addresses  appearing  upon the registry  books of the
Rights Agent or, prior to the  Distribution  Date, on the registry  books of the
transfer  agent for the Common  Stock.  Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein

                                       29

<PAGE>

provided shall be deemed given, whether or not received by the registered holder
to whom sent; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any
such notice shall not affect the validity of any such exchange. Each such notice
shall state the method by which the  exchange of Common Stock for Rights will be
effected and, in the event of any partial  exchange,  the number of Rights which
will be  exchanged.  Any partial  exchange  shall be effected pro rata among the
registered holders of the Rights based upon the number of Rights held (excluding
Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section  11(a)(ii));
and in such  case,  a new  Rights  Certificate  evidencing  the Rights not being
exchanged  shall be prepared and executed by the Company and  countersigned  and
delivered by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Rights subject to
the provisions of Section 14.

     (c) In the event that there  shall be an  insufficient  number of shares of
Common Stock  authorized  but unissued or issued and held in the treasury of the
Company to permit an exchange of Rights  directed by the Board of  Directors  of
the  Company,  the  Company  shall take all such action as may be  necessary  to
authorize  additional  shares of Common Stock for issuance upon such exchange of
the Rights.  In any such  exchange,  the Company may, at its option,  substitute
Equivalent  Common  Stock  for  some  or  all  of  the  Common  Stock  otherwise
exchangeable for the Rights.

     (d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractional  shares of Common
Stock in  exchange  for  Rights or to  distribute  certificates  which  evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock,
the Company  shall pay to the  registered  holders of the Rights with respect to
which such fractional Common Stock would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the Current Per Share Market Value of Common Stock
(as  determined  as provided in Section  11(d)) for the Trading Day  immediately
prior to the date of such exchange.

     Section 25. Notice of Certain Events

     (a) In case the Company shall propose,  at any time after the  Distribution
Date,  (i) to pay any  dividend  payable in stock of any class to the holders of
Common  Stock or to make any other  distribution  to the holders of Common Stock
(other  than a regular  periodic  cash  dividend  out of  earnings  or  retained
earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Common Stock rights
or warrants to  subscribe  for or to purchase  any  additional  shares of Common
Stock or  shares  of  stock of any  class or any  other  securities,  rights  or
options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Common Stock (other than
a  reclassification  involving only the  subdivision  of  outstanding  shares of
Common Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, or to
effect any sale,  non-ordinary  course  mortgage or other transfer (or to permit
one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale, non-ordinary course mortgage
or other transfer),  in one transaction or a series of related transactions,  of
50% or more of the assets or earning  power of the Company and its  Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to, any other person  (other than a Subsidiary of the Company
in one or more  transactions  each of which is not  prohibited  by Section 11(o)
hereof),  or (v) to effect  the  liquidation,  dissolution  or winding up of the
Company,  then,  in each such case,  the Company  shall give to each holder of a
Right  Certificate,  in  accordance  with  Section 26  hereof,  a notice of such
proposed  action,  which shall  specify the record date for the purposes of such
stock dividend,  distribution  of rights or warrants,  or the date on which such
reclassification,    consolidation,   merger,   sale,   transfer,   liquidation,
dissolution,  or  winding  up is to take  place  and the  date of  participation
therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock,  if any such date is to be
fixed,  and such notice shall be so given,  in the case of any action covered by
clause (i) or (ii) above, at

                                       30

<PAGE>

least ten (10) days  prior to the  record  date for  determining  holders of the
shares of Common Stock for purposes of such action,  and in the case of any such
other  action,  at least ten (10) days  prior to the date of the  taking of such
proposed  action or the date of  participation  therein  by the  holders  of the
shares of Common Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.

     (b) In case any Section  11(a)(ii)  Event shall  occur,  then,  in any such
case,  the  Company  shall  as  soon  as  practicable  thereafter  give  to each
registered holder of a Right 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 Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

     Section 26. Notices.  Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be
given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right  Certificate  to
or on the Company  shall be  sufficiently  given or made if sent by  first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:

                      Delta Woodside Industries, Inc.
                      233 North Main Street
                      Hammond Square, Suite 200
                      Greenville, South Carolina 29601
                      Attn:  Secretary

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

                       First Union National Bank
                       1525 West W.T. Harris Boulevard, 3C3
                       Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-1153
                       Attention: Shareholder Services Group

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

     Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date, the
Company and the Rights Agent shall, if so directed by the Company, supplement or
amend any  provision  of this  Agreement  without the approval of any holders of
certificates  representing  Common Stock. From and after the Distribution  Date,
the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend this Agreement without the approval of any holder of Right Certificates in
order (i) to cure any  ambiguity,  (ii) to correct or  supplement  any provision
contained  herein  which  may  be  defective  or  inconsistent  with  any  other
provisions  herein,  (iii) to shorten or lengthen  any time period  hereunder or
(iv) to change or supplement  the  provisions  hereunder in any manner which the
Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect, as
determined solely by the Company,  the interests of the holders of the Rights or
the Right  Certificates  (other  than an  Acquiring  Person or an  Affiliate  or
Associate of an Acquiring Person);  provided,  however,  that this Agreement may
not be supplemented or amended  pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence (A) to
lengthen  any  time  period  unless  such  lengthening  is for  the  purpose  of
protecting, enhancing or

                                       31

<PAGE>

clarifying  the rights of,  and/or the  benefits to,  registered  holders of the
Rights,  or (B) to lengthen  any time period  relating to when the Rights may be
redeemed if at such time the Rights are not then  redeemable.  Upon the delivery
of such certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that
the proposed  supplement  or amendment is in  compliance  with the terms of this
Section  27, the Rights  Agent  shall  execute  such  supplement  or  amendment.
Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this  Agreement  to the  contrary,  no
supplement or amendment  shall be made on or after the  Distribution  Date which
changes the Redemption  Price,  the Final Expiration Date, the Exercise Price or
the number of shares (or portions  thereof) of Common Stock for which a Right is
exercisable,  and no supplement or amendment  that changes the rights and duties
of the Rights Agent under this Agreement shall be effective  without the consent
of the Rights  Agent.  Prior to the  Distribution  Date,  the  interests  of the
holders of Rights shall be deemed  coincident  with the interests of the holders
of Common Stock.

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

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

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

     Section 31. Severability.  If any term, provision,  covenant or restriction
of this  Agreement  is  held  by a court  of  competent  jurisdiction  or  other
authority  to be invalid,  void or  unenforceable,  the  remainder of the terms,
provisions,

                                       32

<PAGE>

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
the Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of the Agreement, the
right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall
not expire  until the Close of Business on the tenth day  following  the date of
such determination by the Board of Directors.

     Section  32.  Governing  Law.  This  Agreement,  each  Right and each Right
Certificate  issued  hereunder  shall be deemed to be a contract  made under the
laws of the State of South  Carolina 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 to be performed entirely within South Carolina.

     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.

                          SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE

                                       33

<PAGE>

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


ATTEST:                                       DELTA WOODSIDE INDUSTRIES, INC.


By: /s/David R. Palmer                        By: /s/ E. Erwin Maddrey II
Name: David R. Palmer                             E. Erwin Maddrey, II,
      Controller                                  President

ATTEST:                                       FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK


By: /s/ Francis S, Beam                       By:   /s/ Patrick J. Edwards
Name: Francis S. Beam                         Name:   Patrick J. Edwards
Title: Vice President                         Title: Vice President


                                       34

<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit A
                           [Form of Right Certificate]

Certificate No. R-______________                              __________ Rights


NOT  EXERCISABLE  AFTER  DECEMBER 22, 2009 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION IS
GIVEN.  THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION,  AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY,  AT
$.001 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS  AGREEMENT.  [UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES,  RIGHTS  BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY 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  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).  THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY
BECOME VOID UNDER  CERTAIN  CIRCUMSTANCES  AS SPECIFIED IN SECTION  11(a) OF THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]


                                RIGHT CERTIFICATE
                         DELTA WOODSIDE INDUSTRIES, 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
Shareholder  Rights  Agreement  dated  as  of  December10,   1999  (the  "Rights
Agreement") between Delta Woodside Industries,  Inc. (the "Company"),  and First
Union  National Bank (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 the Close of  Business  on December  22,  2009,  at the
office or  offices of the  Rights  Agent  designated  for such  purpose,  or its
successors as Rights Agent, one quarter of a fully paid and nonassessable  share
of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company,
at an  exercise  price  of  $5.00  per  quarter  share  (the  "Exercise  Price")
equivalent to $20.00 for each share),  upon  presentation  and surrender of this
Right  Certificate  with  the  Form of  Election  to  Purchase  and the  related
Certificate  duly  executed.  The  number  of  Rights  evidenced  by this  Right
Certificate  (and the  number of shares  which may be  purchased  upon  exercise
thereof) set forth above and the Exercise  Price per share set forth above,  are
the number and Exercise Price as of _________________, based on the Common Stock
as constituted at such date.

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

     As provided in the Rights  Agreement,  the Exercise Price and the number of
shares of Common  Stock or other  securities  which  may be  purchased  upon the
exercise  of the Rights  evidenced  by this  Right  Certificate  are  subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.


                                        1

<PAGE>

     This Right  Certificate  is subject  to all of the  terms,  provisions  and
conditions of the Rights Agreement,  which terms,  provisions and conditions are
hereby  incorporated  herein by  reference  and made a part  hereof and to which
Rights Agreement  reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations  of rights,  obligations,  duties and  immunities  hereunder  of the
Rights  Agent,  the  Company and the  holders of the Right  Certificates,  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  offices  of the
Company and the Rights Agent and are also available upon written  request to the
Company or the Rights Agent.

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

     Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement,  the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be redeemed by the Board of Directors of the Company at its
option at a redemption  price of $.001 per Right (payable in cash,  Common Stock
or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors),  or may be
exchanged, in whole or in part, for Common Stock.

     No  fractional  shares of Common  Stock 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,  as such, of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive  dividends  or be deemed for any  purpose the holder of shares of Common
Stock or 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 Right  Certificate  shall have been
exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.

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

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

Dated as of ____________, 20__.

ATTEST:                                      DELTA WOODSIDE INDUSTRIES, Inc.


By:________________________                  By:________________________
   Secretary                                    President


                                       2
<PAGE>

Countersigned:

FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
as Rights Agent

By: _______________________________

Title: ____________________________

                                        3
<PAGE>

                   [Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]


                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
                (To be executed by the registered holder if such
               holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)

FOR  VALUE  RECEIVED  ____________________________  hereby  sells,  assigns  and
transfers  unto  ______________________________________________________  (please
print name and address of transferee) this Right Certificate,  together with all
right, title and interest therein,  and does hereby  irrevocably  constitute and
appoint   ________________________   Attorney,  to  transfer  the  within  Right
Certificate  on the  books  of the  within-named  Company,  with  full  power of
substitution.

Dated: _________________ 20___                  ______________________________
                                                          Signature

Signature Guaranteed:____________________


                                   CERTIFICATE

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

     (1) the Rights evidenced by this Right  Certificate __ are __ are not being
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,  the
undersigned  __ did  __ did  not  directly  or  indirectly  acquire  the  Rights
evidenced  by this  Right  Certificate  from any Person who is, was or became an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.

Dated: ____________, 20___                     ______________________________
                                                           Signature


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


                                        4

<PAGE>

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

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

To: Delta Woodside Industries, Inc.:

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

______________________________________________________________________________
                         (Please print name and address)

                      ___________________________________
          (Please insert social security or other identifying number)

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

______________________________________________________________________________
                         (Please print name and address)

                      ___________________________________
          (Please insert social security or other identifying number)

Dated: ____________, 20___


____________________________________
           Signature


Signature Guaranteed:______________________

                                        5
                                                                     Exhibit B

<PAGE>

                         DELTA WOODSIDE INDUSTRIES, INC.
                   SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK


     On December 9, 1999, the Board of Directors of Delta  Woodside  Industries,
Inc.  (the  "Company")  declared a  dividend  distribution  of one Common  Stock
Purchase  Right for each  outstanding  share of Common  Stock of the  Company to
stockholders of record at the close of business on December 22, 1999. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one quarter share of
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), at a cash exercise
price of $5.00 per quarter share,  subject to adjustment.  The  description  and
terms of the Rights are set forth in a Shareholder  Rights Agreement between the
Company and First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent.

     Initially,  the Rights  will not be  exercisable,  will be  attached to all
outstanding  shares of Common Stock, and no separate Right  Certificates will be
distributed.  The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a  Distribution
Date will occur upon the earliest of (i) 10 days following a public announcement
that a person  or group of  affiliated  or  associated  persons  (an  "Acquiring
Person")  (other than an Exempt Person as defined in the Agreement) has acquired
beneficial  ownership of 20% or more of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock
(the date of this  announcement  being  referred  to as the  "Share  Acquisition
Date") and (ii) 10 business days following the commencement of a tender offer or
exchange  offer that would result in a Person or group owning 20% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock.

     Until the  Distribution  Date (or earlier  redemption  or expiration of the
Rights),  (a) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock  certificates and
will be  transferred  only with such Common Stock  certificates,  (b) new Common
Stock  certificates  issued  after  December  22,  1999 will  contain a notation
incorporating  the  Shareholder  Rights  Agreement  by  reference,  and  (c) the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock will also constitute
the transfer of the Rights  associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate.

     The Rights are not exercisable  until the Distribution Date and will expire
at the close of business on December 22, 2009 unless previously  redeemed by the
Company as described below.

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

     In the event that (i) a Person acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more
of the Company's Common Stock, (ii) the Company is the surviving  corporation in
a merger with an Acquiring  Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person and the Common  Stock is not  changed or  exchanged,  (iii) an  Acquiring
Person engages in one of a number of self-dealing  transactions specified in the
Shareholder  Rights  Agreement,  or (iv) an  event  occurs  that  results  in an
Acquiring  Person's  ownership  interest being increased by more than 1%, proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will  thereafter  have the
right to receive upon exercise thereof at the then current exercise price, that

                                        1

<PAGE>

number of shares of Common Stock (or in certain  circumstances,  cash, property,
or other  securities  of the  Company)  having a market  value of two times such
exercise price. However, the Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence
of any of the  events  set forth  above  until the time the Rights are no longer
redeemable as set forth below. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, upon any of
the events set forth  above,  rights that are or were  beneficially  owned by an
Acquiring Person shall become null and void.

     In the event that, at any time  following the Share  Acquisition  Date, (i)
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or
(ii) 50% or more of the Company's  assets or earning power is sold,  each holder
of a Right shall  thereafter  have the right to receive,  upon exercise,  common
stock of the  acquiring  company  having a market  value  equal to two times the
exercise price of the Right.

     At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring  Person and prior to such
the time such Person,  together with its Affiliates and Associates,  becomes the
Beneficial  Owner of 50% or more of the outstanding  Common Stock,  the Board of
Directors of the Company may  exchange  the Rights  (other than Rights that have
become void),  in whole or in part, at the exchange rate of one quarter share of
Common  Stock per  Right,  subject  to  adjustment  as  provided  in the  Rights
Agreement.

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

     With  certain  exceptions,  no  adjustment  in the  exercise  price will be
required  until  cumulative  adjustments  amount to at least 1% of the  exercise
price.  No  fractional  shares of Common Stock will be issued upon exercise of a
Right  and,  in lieu  thereof,  a payment in cash will be made based on the fair
market  value of the Common  Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of
exercise.

     The Rights may be redeemed in whole,  but not in part,  at a price of $.001
per  Right  (payable  in  cash,  Common  Stock  or  other  consideration  deemed
appropriate  by the Board of  Directors)  by the Board of  Directors at any time
prior to the close of business on the tenth day after the Share Acquisition Date
or the final  expiration  Date of the Rights  (whichever is earlier).  After the
redemption  period  has  expired,  the  Company's  right  of  redemption  may be
reinstated  upon the approval of the Board of  Directors if an Acquiring  Person
reduces his  beneficial  ownership to 10% or less of the  outstanding  shares of
Common Stock in transaction or series of transactions  not involving the Company
and there are no other  Acquiring  Persons.  Immediately  upon the action of the
Board of Directors ordering  redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate
and  thereafter  the only right of the  holders of Rights will be to receive the
redemption price.

     Until a Right is exercised, the holder will have no rights as a stockholder
of the Company (beyond those as an existing stockholder), including the right to
vote or to receive dividends.


                                        2

<PAGE>

     Any of the  provisions of the Rights  Agreement may be amended by the Board
of  Directors  of  the  Company  prior  to  the  Distribution  Date.  After  the
Distribution  Date,  the  provisions of the Rights  Agreement,  other than those
relating to the principal  economic  terms of the Rights,  may be amended by the
Board to cure any ambiguity,  defect or  inconsistency,  to make changes that do
not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests
of any  Acquiring  Person),  or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the
Rights  Agreement.   Amendments   adjusting  time  periods  may,  under  certain
circumstances, be limited.

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

     A copy of the Shareholder Rights Agreement is available free of charge from
the  Company.  This  summary  description  of the Rights  does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Shareholder Rights
Agreement.

                                        3


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