CATALYTICA INC
8-A12G, 1996-11-19
COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
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<PAGE>
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



                                   __________



                                    FORM 8-A



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



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



              Delaware                                     94-2262240
    -----------------------------                  --------------------------
(State of incorporation or organization)       (IRS Employer Identification No.)


                               430 Ferguson Drive
                            Mountain View, CA  94043
              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

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


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

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

                  None                                None



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

                        Preferred Share Purchase Rights
                        -------------------------------
                                (Title of Class)
<PAGE>
 
Item 1.   Description of Securities to be Registered.
          ------------------------------------------ 

          On October 23, 1996 pursuant to a Preferred Shares Rights Agreement
(the "Rights Agreement") between Catalytica, Inc. (the "Company") and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.P., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"),
the Company's Board of Directors declared a dividend of one right (a "Right") to
purchase one one-thousandth share of the Company's Series A Participating
Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred") for each outstanding share of Common
Stock, $.001 par value ("Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is
payable on November 29, 1996 (the "Record Date") to stockholders of record as of
the close of business on that date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to
purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred at
an exercise price of $25.00 (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment.

          The following summary of the principal terms of the Rights Agreement
is a general description only and is subject to the detailed terms and
conditions of the Rights Agreement.  A copy of the Rights Agreement is attached
as Exhibit 1 to this Registration Statement and is incorporated herein by
reference.

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

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


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

          The Rights will separate from the Common Shares, Rights Certificates
will be issued and the Rights will become exercisable upon the earlier of:  (i)
10 days (or such later date as may be determined by a majority of the Board of
Directors, excluding directors affiliated with the Acquiring Person, as defined
below (the "Continuing Directors")) following a public announcement that a
person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has
acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 20% or more
of the outstanding Common Shares, or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date
as may be determined by a majority of the Continuing 

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
Directors then in office) following the commencement of, or announcement of an
intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which
would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares. The earlier of such dates is referred to as the
"Distribution Date."


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

          As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as
of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Rights
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights from and after the Distribution
Date.  All Common Shares issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued
with Rights.  Common Shares issued after the Distribution Date may be issued
with Rights if such shares are issued (i) upon the conversion of outstanding
convertible debentures or any other convertible securities issued after adoption
of the Rights Agreement or (ii) pursuant to the exercise of stock options or
under employee benefit plans or arrangements unless such issuance would result
in (or create a risk that) such options, plans or arrangements would not qualify
for otherwise available special tax treatment.  Except as otherwise determined
by the Board of Directors, no other Common Shares issued after the Distribution
Date will be issued with Rights.  The Rights will expire on the earliest of (i)
October 23, 2006 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) redemption or exchange of
the Rights as described below, or (iii) consummation of an acquisition of the
Company satisfying certain conditions by a person who acquired shares pursuant
to a Permitted Offer as described below.

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

          Following the Distribution Date, and until one of the further events
described below, holders of the Rights will be entitled to receive, upon
exercise and the payment of $25.00 per Right, one one-thousandth share of the
Series A Preferred.  In the event that the Company does not have sufficient
Series A Preferred available for all Rights to be exercised, or the Board
decides that such action is necessary and not contrary to the interests of
Rights holders, the Company may instead substitute cash, assets or other
securities for the Series A Preferred for which the Rights would have been
exercisable under this provision or as described below.


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

          Unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, in the event that an Acquiring
Person becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company's Common
Shares then outstanding (other than pursuant to a Permitted Offer), then proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right which has not theretofore
been exercised (other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person,
which will thereafter be void) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise, Common Shares having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price.
Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of an event as described
above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as
set forth below.

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

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


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

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

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
Exchange Provision
- ------------------

          At any time after the acquisition by an Acquiring Person of 20% or
more of the Company's outstanding Common Shares and prior to the acquisition by
such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the Company's outstanding Common Shares,
the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights
owned by the Acquiring Person), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one
Common Share per Right.


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

          At any time on or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i)
the 10th day following the acquisition by an Acquiring Person (the "Share
Acquisition Date") or such later date as may be determined by a majority of the
Continuing Directors then in office and publicly announced by the Company, or
(ii) the Final Expiration Date of the Rights, the Company may redeem the Rights
in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right.


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

          The Purchase Price payable, the number of Rights, and the number of
Series A Preferred or Common Shares or other securities or property issuable
upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time in
connection with the dilutive issuances by the Company as set forth 

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
in the Rights Agreement. With certain exceptions, no adjust ment in the Purchase
Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at
least 1% in such Purchase Price.


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

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


No Stockholders' Rights Prior to Exercise
- -----------------------------------------

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


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

          The provisions of the Rights Agreement may be supplemented or amended
by the Board of Directors in any manner prior to the close of business on the
Distribution Date without the approval of Rights holders.  After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to make changes
which 

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the
interests of any Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period
under the Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the
time period governing redemption shall be made at such time as the Rights are
not redeemable.


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

          Series A Preferred purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable.  Each share of Series A Preferred will be entitled to an aggregate
dividend of 1,000 times the dividend declared per Common Share.  In the event of
liquidation, the holders of the Series A Preferred will be entitled to a minimum
preferential liquidation payment equal to the greater of (i) $2,500 per share or
(ii) 1,000 times the per share amount to be distributed to the holders of the
Common Shares.  Each share of Series A Preferred will have 1,000 votes, voting
together with the Common Shares.  In the event of any merger, consolidation or
other transaction in which the Common Shares are changed or exchanged, each
share of Series A Preferred will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount
received per Common Share.  These rights are protected by customary anti-
dilution provisions.

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

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
Certain Anti-takeover Effects
- -----------------------------

          The Rights approved by the Board are designed to protect and maximize
the value of the outstanding equity interests in the Company in the event of an
unsolicited attempt by an acquiror to take over the Company, in a manner or on
terms not approved by the Board of Directors.  Takeover attempts frequently
include coercive tactics to deprive the Company's Board of Directors and its
stockholders of any real opportunity to determine the destiny of the Company.
The Rights have been declared by the Board in order to deter such tactics,
including a gradual accumulation of shares in the open market of a 20% or
greater position to be followed by a merger or a partial or two-tier tender
offer that does not treat all stockholders equally.  These tactics unfairly
pressure stockholders, squeeze them out of their investment without giving them
any real choice and deprive them of the full value of their shares.

          The Rights are not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company and
will not do so. The Rights may be redeemed by the Company at $.001 per Right
within ten days (or such later date as may be determined by a majority of the
Board of Directors then in office, excluding directors affiliated with an
Acquiring Person) after the accumulation of 20% or more of the Company's shares
by a single acquiror or group. Accordingly, the Rights should not interfere with
any merger or business combination approved by the Board of Directors.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
          Issuance of the Rights does not in any way weaken the financial
strength of the Company or interfere with its business plans.  The issuance of
the Rights themselves has no dilutive effect, will not affect reported earnings
per share, should not be taxable to the Company or to its shareholders, and will
not change the way in which the Company's shares are presently traded.  The
Company's Board of Directors believes that the Rights represent a sound and
reasonable means of addressing the complex issues of corporate policy created by
the current takeover environment.

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


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

          1.        Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of October 23,
                    1996 between Catalytica, Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder
                    Services, L.L.P., including the Certificate of Designation,
                    the form of Rights Certificate and the Summary of Rights
                    attached thereto as Exhibits A, B and C, respectively.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURE

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

                                       Catalytica, Inc.


Date: November 18, 1996
                                       By:/s/ Ricardo B. Levy
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Richard B. Levy, President and Chief
                                          Executive Officer
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Page Number Under
Exhibit                                                      Sequential Numbering
   No.                          Exhibit                      System
- -------                         -------                      -------------------- 
<S>                             <C>                          <C>
1                               Preferred Shares Rights
                                Agreement dated as of
                                October 23, 1996, between
                                Catalytica, Inc. and
                                ChaseMellon Shareholder
                                Services, L.L.P.,
                                including the form of
                                Rights Certificate and
                                the Certificate of
                                Designation, the Summary
                                of Rights Attached
                                thereto as Exhibits A, B
                                and C, respectively.
 
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT 1
                                                                       ---------

 
                                CATALYTICA, INC.

                                      and

                    ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.P.

                                  Rights Agent



                       PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT



                          Dated as of October 23, 1996
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                PAGE
                                                                                                                ----
<S>           <C>                                                                                               <C>
Section 1     Certain Definitions.............................................................................    1

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

Section 3     Issuance of Rights Certificates.................................................................    8

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

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

Section 6     Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost
              or Stolen Rights Certificates...................................................................   11

Section 7     Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights...................................   12

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

Section 9     Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares................................................   14

Section 10    Preferred Shares Record Date....................................................................   15

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

Section 12    Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares......................................   22

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

Section 14    Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.........................................................   26

Section 15    Rights of Action................................................................................   27

Section 16    Agreement of Rights Holders.....................................................................   27

Section 17    Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder..............................................   28

Section 18    Concerning the Rights Agent.....................................................................   29

Section 19    Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.......................................   29

Section 20    Duties of Rights Agent..........................................................................   30
</TABLE>
                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                PAGE
                                                                                                                ----
<S>           <C>                                                                                               <C>
Section 21    Change of Rights Agent..........................................................................   32

Section 22    Issuance of New Rights Certificates.............................................................   33

Section 23    Redemption......................................................................................   33

Section 24    Exchange........................................................................................   34

Section 25    Notice of Certain Events........................................................................   36

Section 26    Notices.........................................................................................   36

Section 27    Supplements and Amendments......................................................................   37

Section 28    Successors......................................................................................   37

Section 29    Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.......................................   37

Section 30    Benefits of this Agreement......................................................................   38

Section 31    Severability....................................................................................   38

Section 32    Governing Law...................................................................................   38

Section 33    Counterparts....................................................................................   38

Section 34    Descriptive Headings............................................................................   38
 

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A     Form of Certificate of Designation

Exhibit B     Form of Rights Certificate

Exhibit C     Summary of Rights
</TABLE>

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
 
                               RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                               ----------------


          Agreement, dated as of October 23, 1996, between Catalytica, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.P., a New Jersey limited liability company (the "RIGHTS AGENT").

          On October 23, 1996 (the "RIGHTS DIVIDEND DECLARATION DATE"), the
Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend of one
Preferred Share purchase right (a "RIGHT") for each Common Share (as hereinafter
defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter
defined) on November 29, 1996 (the "RECORD DATE"), each Right representing the
right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement), having the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in the
form of Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the
                                                          ---------          
terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and further authorized and
directed the issuance of one Right (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement) with respect to each Common Share that shall
become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution
Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), and in
certain circumstances after the Distribution Date.

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

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

          (a) "ACQUIRING PERSON" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, but shall not include the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common Shares
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person as the result of an
acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of
shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially
owned by such Person to 20% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial
             --------  -------                                              
Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding by
reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases
by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of
the Company (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by
the Company on the outstanding Common Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a
split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares), then such Person shall
be deemed to be an Acquiring Person unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of
such additional Common Shares of the Company such Person does not beneficially
own 20% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if a majority of the Continuing Directors
then in office
<PAGE>
 
determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring
Person", as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a),
has become such inadvertently, (including, without limitation, because (A) such
Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of the Common Shares
that would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person," as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), or (B) such Person
was aware of the extent of the Common Shares it beneficially owned but had no
actual knowledge of the consequences of such beneficial ownership under this
Agreement) and without any intention of changing or influencing control of the
Company, and if such Person divested or divests as promptly as practicable a
sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be an
"Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be or to have become an
"Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement; and (ii) if, as of the
date hereof, any Person is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common
Shares outstanding, such Person shall not be or become an "Acquiring Person," as
defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), unless and
until such time as such Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of additional
Common Shares (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by
the Company on the outstanding Common Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a
split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares), unless, upon becoming
the Beneficial Owner of such additional Common Shares, such Person is not then
the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding.

          (b) "ADJUSTMENT RATIO" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
               ----------------
11(n) hereof.

          (c) "ADJUSTMENT SHARES" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
               -----------------
11(a)(ii) hereof.

          (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.

          (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 owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder (or any comparable or
successor law or regulation);

              (ii)  which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise;
provided, however, that a Person shall 
- --------  -------

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
not be deemed pursuant to this Section 1(e)(ii)(A) to be the Beneficial Owner
of, or to beneficially own, (1) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for
purchase or exchange, or (2) securities which a Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates may be deemed to have the right to acquire pursuant to
any merger or other acquisition agreement between the Company and such Person
(or one or more of its Affiliates or Associates) if such agreement has been
approved by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to there being an
Acquiring Person; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be
                              --------  -------
deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security under this
Section 1(e)(ii)(B) if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such
security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such
Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to,
and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act
and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or
any comparable or successor report); or

              (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect
to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section
1(e)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company; provided, however,
                                                            --------  ------- 
that in no case shall an officer or director of the Company be deemed (x) the
Beneficial Owner of any securities beneficially owned by another officer or
director of the Company solely by reason of actions undertaken by such persons
in their capacity as officers or directors of the Company or (y) the Beneficial
Owner of securities held of record by the trustee of any employee benefit plan
of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of any employee
of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than the officer or
director, by reason of any influence that such officer or director may have over
the voting of the securities held in the plan.

          (f) "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
a day on which banking institutions in California are authorized or obligated by
law or executive order to close.

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

          (h) "COMMON SHARES" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
the shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.001 par value.  "Common Shares"
when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the
capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other
Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or
Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned 

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
Person.

          (i) "COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

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

          (k) "CURRENT PER SHARE MARKET PRICE" on any security (a "Security" for
purposes of this definition), for all computations other than those made
pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall mean the average of the daily
closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30) consecutive
Trading Days immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of computations
made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Per Share Market Price
of any Security on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily
closing prices per share of such Security for the ten (10) consecutive Trading
Days immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that
                                     --------  -------                        
the Current Per Share Market Price of the Security is determined during a period
following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (i) a dividend or
distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities
convertible into such shares or (ii) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration of the requisite
thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, after the ex-dividend
date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the Current Per
Share Market Price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market
price per share equivalent of such Security.  The closing price for each day
shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place
on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in
either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the
New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last sale price or, if such last sale price is not reported, the
average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the
Security is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid
and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a 

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
market in the Security selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on
any such date no market maker is making a market in the Security, the fair value
of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company shall be used. If the Security is not publicly held or
so listed or traded, Current Per Share Market Price shall mean the fair value
per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.

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

          (m) "DISTRIBUTION DATE" shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of
a majority of Continuing Directors then in office) after the Shares Acquisition
Date (or, if the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date occurs before the
Record Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date) or (ii) the Close of
Business on the Tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by
action of a majority of Continuing Directors then in office) after the date that
a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary
of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of
the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the
Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or
sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, if, assuming the successful consummation
thereof, such Person would be an Acquiring Person.

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

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

          (p) "EXCHANGE FRACTION" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(p) hereof.

          (q) "EXCHANGE RATIO" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a)
 hereof.

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

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

          (t) "FINAL EXPIRATION DATE" shall mean October 23, 2006.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
          (u)  "NASDAQ" shall mean the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System.

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

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

          (x)  "POST-EVENT TRANSFEREE" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(e) hereof.

          (y)  "PREFERRED SHARES" shall mean shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company.

          (z)  "PRE-EVENT TRANSFEREE" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(e) hereof.

          (aa) "PRINCIPAL PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(b) hereof.
 
          (bb) "RECORD DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals at
the beginning of this Agreement.

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

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

          (ee) "RIGHTS AGENT" shall mean ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.P. or its successor or replacement as provided in Sections 19 and 21 hereof.

          (ff) "RIGHTS CERTIFICATE" shall mean a certificate substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

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

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
          (hh) "TRIGGER DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.

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

          (jj) "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

          (kk) "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such;
                                                                            
provided that, if such Person is determined not to have become an Acquiring
- -------------                                                              
Person pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition Date shall be
deemed to have occurred.

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

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

          (nn) "SUBSTITUTION PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.

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

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

          (qq) A "TRIGGERING EVENT" shall be deemed to have occurred upon any
Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becoming an
Acquiring Person.

     Section 2 Appointment of Rights Agent.  The Company hereby appoints the
               ---------------------------                                  
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company 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.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 3 Issuance of Rights Certificates.
               ------------------------------- 

          (a) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof) by the certificates
for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which
certificates shall also be deemed to be Rights Certificates) and not by separate
Rights Certificates and (ii) the right to receive Rights Certificates will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares.  Until the
earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the surrender for
transfer of such certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute the
surrender for transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented thereby.  As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the
Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the
Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested,
send) by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common
Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Rights Certificate evidencing
one Right for each Common Share so held, subject to adjustment as provided
herein.  In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per Common
Share has been made pursuant to Section 11(a)(i), Section 11(h) or Section 11(n)
hereof, then at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company
shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance
with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole
numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional
Rights.  As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by
such Rights Certificates and may be transferred by the transfer of the Rights
Certificates as permitted hereby, separately and apart from any transfer of one
or more Common Shares, and the holders of such Rights Certificates as listed in
the records of the Company or any transfer agent or registrar for the Rights
shall be the record holders thereof.

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

          (c) Unless the Board of Directors by resolution adopted at or before
the time of the issuance (including pursuant to the exercise of rights under the
Company's benefit plans) of any Common Shares specifies to the contrary, Rights
shall be issued in respect of all Common Shares that are issued after the Record
Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date
or, in certain circumstances provided in Section 22 hereof, after the
Distribution Date.  Certificates representing such Common Shares shall also be
deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend:

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
     THIS CERTIFICATE ALSO EVIDENCES AND ENTITLES THE HOLDER HEREOF TO CERTAIN
     RIGHTS AS SET FORTH IN A RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN CATALYTICA, INC. AND
     CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.P. AS THE RIGHTS AGENT, DATED AS OF
     OCTOBER 23, 1996 (THE "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY
     INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE
     PRINCIPAL EXECU TIVE OFFICES OF CATALYTICA, 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.  CATALYTICA, INC. WILL MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE
     A COPY OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN
     REQUEST THEREFOR.  UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
     AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO, OR HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES
     AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS
     ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD BY OR ON
     BEHALF OF SUCH PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER, MAY BECOME NULL AND
     VOID.

With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such
certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Shares represented thereby.  In the event that the Company purchases or
acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution
Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and
retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights
associated with the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding.

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

          (a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
Common Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of
                             ---------                                  
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange or a national market system on which
the Rights may from time to time be listed or included, or to conform to usage.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights
Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date (or in
the case of Rights issued with respect to Common Shares issued by the Company
after the Record Date, as of the date of issuance of such Common Shares) and on
their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one-
thousandths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one one-
thousandth of a Preferred Share being hereinafter referred to as the "EXERCISE
PRICE" and the aggregate Exercise Price of all Preferred Shares issuable upon
exercise of one Right being hereinafter referred to as the "TOTAL EXERCISE
PRICE"), but the number and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of
each Right and the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided
herein.

          (b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section
22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by:  (i) an Acquiring Person
or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such or (iii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which a majority of the Continuing Directors then in
office has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has
as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights
Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer,
exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to
in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:

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

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

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

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate,
shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate,
although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person
was not such an officer.

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

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

          (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, at
any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior
to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered
holder to purchase a like number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or,
following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the
case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then
entitled such holder to purchase.  Any registered holder desiring to transfer,
split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall
surrender the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred, split
up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose.  Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take
any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered
Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed
the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.  Thereupon the
Rights Agent shall, subject to Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, countersign and
deliver to the person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.  The Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of
Rights Certificates.

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

                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 7 Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
               ------------------------------------------------------------- 

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

          (b) The Exercise Price for each one-thousandth of a Preferred Share
issuable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be twenty-five
dollars ($25.00), shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided
in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United
States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.

          (c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the Exercise Price for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share (or other securities or property, as the case may be) to be purchased and
an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder
of such Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9 (e) hereof, the Rights
Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A)
requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make available,
if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for the Preferred Shares) a
certificate or certificates for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer
agent to comply with all such requests or (B) if the Company shall have elected
to deposit the total number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable
upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from
the depositary agent of depositary receipts representing such number of one-
thousandths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company
hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu
of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii)
after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be
delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.  The payment
of the Exercise Price (as such amount may be reduced (including to zero)
pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) and an amount equal to any applicable
transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in
accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, may be made in cash or by certified bank
check, cashier's check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company.  In
the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities of the
Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so 

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
that such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for
distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.

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

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

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

     Section 8 Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.  All Rights
               ---------------------------------------------------             
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for

                                     -13-
<PAGE>
 
cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall
be canceled by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof
except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The
Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and
the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificate
purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof.
The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Rights Certificates to the Company,
or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Rights
Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction
thereof to the Company.

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

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

          (b) If the Company shall hereafter list any of its Preferred Shares on
a national securities exchange, then so long as the Preferred Shares (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other
securities) issuable and deliverable upon exercise of the Rights may be listed
on such exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and
after such time as the Rights become exercisable (but only to the extent that it
is reasonably likely that the Rights will be exercised), all shares reserved for
such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance
upon such exercise.

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

                                     -14-
<PAGE>
 
compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in
connection with the exercisability of the Rights. Notwithstanding any provision
of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any
jurisdiction, unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have
been obtained, or an exemption therefrom shall be available, and until a
registration statement has been declared effective.

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

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

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

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

                                     -15-
<PAGE>
 
          (a)    (i)   Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding in the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in
Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine
the outstanding Preferred Shares (by reverse stock split or otherwise) into a
smaller number of Preferred Shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock
in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such event,
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11 and Section 7(e) hereof: (1)
each of the Rights outstanding at the time of the record date for such dividend
or the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall
be proportionately adjusted to that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
one ten-thousandth (1/10,000) of a Right) equal to a fraction (the "EXCHANGE
FRACTION"), the numerator of which shall be the total number of Preferred Shares
or shares of capital stock issued in such reclassification of the Preferred
Shares outstanding immediately following such time and the denominator of which
shall be the total number of Preferred Shares outstanding immediately prior to
such time, and the number of Rights that shall thereafter be issued with respect
to each Common Share or share of such other capital stock that shall be issued
in a reclassification of the Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date shall
be equal to the total number of outstanding Rights immediately after such event
(as adjusted pursuant to this clause (1)) divided by the total number of
outstanding Common Shares or shares of such other capital stock immediately
after such event (subject to further adjustment pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement); (2) the Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date
for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification shall be adjusted so that the Exercise Price thereafter shall
equal the result obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately
prior to such time by the Exchange Fraction; provided, however, that in no event
                                             --------  -------
shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than
the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable
upon exercise of such Right; and (3) the number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share or shares of such other capital stock issuable upon the exercise
of each Right shall remain unchanged immediately after such event, but, in the
event of a reclassification, the kind of shares issuable upon the exercise of
each Right immediately after such reclassification shall be adjusted to be the
kind of shares of such other capital stock issued in such reclassification,
rather than Preferred Shares.

                 (ii)  Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event a
Triggering Event shall have occurred, then promptly following such Triggering
Event each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall
thereafter have the right to receive for each Right, upon exercise thereof in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the Exercise Price in
effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the Triggering Event, in lieu of a
number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share, such number of Common Shares of
the Company as shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the Exercise Price
in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the Triggering Event by the
number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable
(or would have been exercisable if the Distribution Date had occurred)
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, and dividing
that 

                                     -16-
<PAGE>
 
product by 50% of the Current Per Share Market Price for Common Shares on the
date of occurrence of the Triggering Event (such number of shares being
hereinafter referred to as the "ADJUSTMENT SHARES"); provided, however, that the
Exercise Price and the number of Common Shares of the Company so receivable upon
exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in
accordance with Section 11(e) hereof to reflect any events occurring in respect
of the Common Shares of the Company after the occurrence of the Triggering
Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii), the
right to buy Common Shares of the Company pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
shall not arise as a result of any Person becoming an Acquiring Person through
an acquisition of Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer.

                 (iii) In lieu of issuing Common Shares in accordance with
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if a majority of the Continuing
Directors then in office determines that such action is necessary or appropriate
and not contrary to the interest of holders of Rights (and, in the event that
the number of Common Shares which are authorized by the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other
than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit the exercise in
full of the Rights, or if any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance
has not been obtained by the Company, the Company shall):  (A) determine the
excess of (1) the value of the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of a
Right (the "CURRENT VALUE") over (2) the Exercise Price (such excess, the
"SPREAD") and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to
substitute for such Common Shares, upon exercise of the Rights, (1) cash, (2) a
reduction in the Exercise Price, (3) other equity securities of the Company
(including, without limitation, shares or units of shares of any series of
preferred stock which a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office has
deemed to have the same value as Common Shares (such shares or units of shares
of preferred stock are herein called "Common Stock Equivalents")), except to the
extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory
approval for such issuance, (4) debt securities of the Company, except to the
extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory
approval for such issuance, (5) other assets or (6) any combination of the
foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such
aggregate value has been determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors
then in office based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office;
                                                                               
provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to
- --------  -------                                                          
deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the
later of (x) the first occurrence of a Triggering Event and (y) the date on
which the Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the
later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "SECTION 11(A)(ii) TRIGGER
DATE"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for
exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Exercise Price, Common
Shares (to the extent available), except to the extent that the Company has not
obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for such issuance, and
then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal
to the Spread.  If a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office shall
determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional Common
Shares could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights or

                                     -17-
<PAGE>
 
that any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance will be obtained, the
thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary,
but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in
order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of
such additional shares or take action to obtain such regulatory approval (such
period, as it may be extended, the "SUBSTITUTION PERIOD").  To the extent that
the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first
and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall
provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly
to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights
until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any
authorization of additional shares, to take any action to obtain any required
regulatory approval and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be
made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof.  In the
event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as
well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect.  For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Shares
shall be the Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Shares on the Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be
deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares on such date.

          (b) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this
Agreement, fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to
all holders of Preferred Shares entitling such holders (for a period expiring
within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or
purchase Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares or securities convertible into
Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares at a price per share (or having a
conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares or
Equivalent Shares) less than the then Current Per Share Market Price of the
Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares on such record date, then, in each such
case, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of
Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date,
plus the number of Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be,
which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares or
Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, to be offered or issued (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities to be offered
or issued) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of
which shall be the number of Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any)
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional Preferred Shares
or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, to be offered for subscription or
purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are
initially convertible).  In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value
of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by a majority of the
Continuing Directors then in office, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent
and the holders of the Rights.  Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares owned by
or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the
purpose of any such computation.  Such adjustment shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, options
or 

                                     -18-
<PAGE>
 
warrants are not so issued, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the
Exercise Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.

          (c) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this
Agreement, fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of
the Preferred Shares or of any class or series of Equivalent Shares (including
any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend, if any, or
a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights, options or
warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), then, in each such
case, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Per Share
Market Price of a Preferred Share or an Equivalent Share on such record date,
less the fair market value per Preferred Share or Equivalent Share (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of
the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be
distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a Preferred
Share or Equivalent Share, as the case may be, and the denominator of which
shall be such Current Per Share Market Price of a Preferred Share or Equivalent
Share on such record date.  Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever
such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so
made, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would
have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

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

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

                                     -19-
<PAGE>
 
          (f) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

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

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

          (i) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or
the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the
Rights Certificates theretofore and 

                                     -20-
<PAGE>
 
thereafter issued may continue to express the Exercise Price per one one-
thousandth of a Preferred Share and the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.

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

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

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

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

          (n) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this
Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares,
(B) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, (C) combine the outstanding Common
Shares (by reverse stock split or otherwise) into a smaller number of Common
Shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of
the Common Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with 

                                     -21-
<PAGE>
 
a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving
corporation), then, in each such event, except as otherwise provided in this
Section 11 and Section 7(e) hereof: (1) each of the Rights outstanding at the
time of the record date for such dividend or the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be adjusted to that number of
Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth (1/10,000) of a Right)
equal to a fraction (the "ADJUSTMENT RATIO"), the numerator of which shall be
the total number of Common Shares or shares of capital stock issued in such
reclassification of the Common Shares outstanding immediately following such
time and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately prior to such time, and each Common Share that shall
become outstanding after such event shall have issued with respect to it that
number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding immediately prior to such
event had issued with respect to it, (2) the Exercise Price in effect at the
time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be adjusted so that the
Exercise Price thereafter shall equal the result obtained by dividing the
Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such time by the Adjustment Ratio;
provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the
- --------  -------                                                              
exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of
capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of such Right; and (3) the
number of Preferred Shares or shares of such other capital stock issuable upon
the exercise of each Right shall remain unchanged immediately after such event.
If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section
11(n) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section
11(n) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment
required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

     Section 12  Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares.
                 ----------------------------------------------------------  
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Shares a copy of
such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights
Certificate in accordance with Section 26 hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, the failure of the Company to make such certification or give such
notice shall not affect the validity of such adjustment or the force or effect
of the requirement for such adjustment.  The Rights Agent shall be fully
protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment contained
therein and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless and
until it shall have received such certificate.

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

          (a) In the event that, following a Triggering Event, directly or
indirectly:

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

                                     -22-
<PAGE>
 
              (ii)  any Person (other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction that complies with Sections 11(m) and 11(n) hereof)
shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the Company and the
Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation
or merger; or

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

                   then, and in each such case,

                   (A) each holder of a Right (except as provided in Section
7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at a price equal to the Total Exercise Price applicable immediately
prior to the occurrence of the Section 13 Event in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and freely tradeable Common Shares of the Principal Party (as
hereinafter defined), free of any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal
or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by dividing
such Total Exercise Price by 50% of the Current Per Share Market Price of the
Common Shares of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such
Section 13 Event; provided, however, that the Exercised Price and the number of
                  -----------------
Common Shares of such Principal Party so receivable upon exercise of a Right
shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section
11(e) hereof;

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

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

                   (D) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including,
but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares)
in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary
to ensure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly
as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable
upon the exercise of the Rights; and

                   (E) upon the subsequent occurrence of any consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer of assets or other extraordinary transaction in respect
of such Principal Party, each holder of a Right shall thereupon be entitled to
receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the Total 

                                     -23-
<PAGE>
 
Exercise Price as provided in this Section 13(a), such cash, shares, rights,
warrants and other property which such holder would have been entitled to
receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the Common
Shares of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of such Right
pursuant to this Section 13(a), and such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be
necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with the
terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property.

          (b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "PRINCIPAL PARTY" shall
mean:

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

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

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

                                     -24-
<PAGE>
 
venture as if the Person owned by the joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or
all of such joint venturers, and the Principal Party in each such case shall
bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ration as its
interest in such Person bears to the total of such interests.
 
          (c) The Company shall not consummate any Section 13 Event unless the
Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized Common Shares that
have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of
the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the
Company and such issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement confirming that such Principal Party shall, upon
consummation of such Section 13 Event, assume this Agreement in accordance with
Sections 13(a) and 13(b) hereof, that all rights of first refusal or preemptive
rights in respect of the issuance of Common Shares of such Principal Party upon
exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived, that there are no rights,
warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or
arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would
eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights and that such transaction shall not result in a default by such Principal
Party under this Agreement, and further providing that, as soon as practicable
after the date of such Section 13 Event, such Principal Party will:

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

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

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

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

          (d) In case the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(b) hereof
has provision in any of its authorized securities or in its certificate of
incorporation or by-laws or other instrument governing its corporate affairs,
which provision would have the effect of (i) causing 

                                     -25-
<PAGE>
 
such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to
Section 13 hereof), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation
of a Section 13 Event, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such Principal
Party at less than the then Current Per Share Market Price thereof or securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such
Principal Party at less than such then Current Per Share Market Price, or (ii)
providing for any special payment, tax or similar provision in connection with
the issuance of the Common Shares of such Principal Party pursuant to the
provisions of Section 13 hereof, then, in such event, the Company hereby agrees
with each holder of Rights that it shall not consummate any such transaction
unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed
and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the
provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled, waived
or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the
applicable provision will have no effect in connection with or as a consequence
of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.

          (e) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Distribution Date, effect or permit to occur any Section 13 Event, if
(i) at the time or immediately after such Section 13 Event there are any rights,
warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect
which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended
to be afforded by the Rights, (ii) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately
after such Section 13 Event, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or
would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(b) hereof
shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or
any of its Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature of organization
of the Principal Party would preclude or limit the exercisability of the Rights.

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

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

     Section 14  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
                 --------------------------------------- 

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

                                     -26-
<PAGE>
 
there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with
regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in
cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right.
For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole
Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise
issuable, as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(k) hereof.

          (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are
integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share).  Interests in
fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agree ment between the Company and a
depositary selected by it; provided, that such agreement shall provide that the
                           --------                                            
holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and
preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred
Shares represented by such depositary receipts.  In lieu of fractional Preferred
Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at
the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current market value of a Preferred Share.  For
purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Preferred Share
shall be one thousand times the closing price of a Common Share (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(k) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

          (c) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares
upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. In lieu of such fractional Common
Shares, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates
at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal
to the same fraction of the current market value of a Common Share.  For
purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of a Common Share shall
be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second
sentence of Section 1(k) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the
date of such exercise.
 
          (d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives his or her right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right.

     Section 15  Rights of Action.  All rights of action in respect of this
                 ----------------                                          
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior
to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his or her own behalf and for
his or her own benefit, enforce, and may institute 

                                     -27-
<PAGE>
 
and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or
otherwise act in respect of, his or her right to exercise the Rights evidenced
by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and
in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to
the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of
Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this
Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under,
and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the
obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.

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

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

          (b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed; and

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

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

                                     -28-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 18  Concerning the Rights Agent.
                 --------------------------- 

          (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder.  The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability in the premises.  In no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for
special, indirect, incidental or consequential losses or damages of any kind
whatsoever, even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such
losses or damages.

          (b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection
with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights
Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Shares or Common Shares or for
other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by
the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set
forth in Section 20 hereof.

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

          (a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to
the corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent,
shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation would be eligible for
                -----------------                                             
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof.  In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor
Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.

          (b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned
but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its
prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so 

                                     -29-
<PAGE>
 
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not
have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such
cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.

     Section 20  Duties of Rights Agent.  The Rights Agent undertakes the duties
                 ----------------------                                         
and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
          (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

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

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

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

          (e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights or any
adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount
thereof) provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of
the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except
with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after
receipt by the 

                                     -30-
<PAGE>
 
Rights Agent of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12 describing such
change or adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any
Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares will, when issued, be validly
authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

          (g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of
any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those
instructions.  Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from
the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any
action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Rights
Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such
omission shall be effective.  The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any
action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal
included in any such application on or after the date specified in such
application (which date shall not be less than five (5) Business Days after the
date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any
such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior
to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission),
the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such
application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

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

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

                                     -31-
<PAGE>
 
          (j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.

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

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

                                     -32-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 22  Issuance of New Rights Certificates.  Notwithstanding any of
                 -----------------------------------                         
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Exercise Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.  In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and
prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with
respect to Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee plan or arrangement or upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of the convertible subordinated debentures of the Company
outstanding at the date hereof or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
securities hereinafter issued by the Company and (b) may, in any other case, if
deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company, issue
Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection
with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights
                            --------  -------                         
Certificate shall be issued and this sentence shall be null and void ab initio
if, and to the extent that, such issuance or this sentence would create a
significant risk of or result in material adverse tax consequences to the
Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued or would
create a significant risk of or result in such options' or employee plans' or
arrangements' failing to qualify for otherwise available special tax treatment
and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof.

     Section 23  Redemption.
                 ---------- 

          (a) The Company may, at its option and with the approval of the Board
of Directors, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of (i)
the tenth day following the Shares Acquisition Date or such later date as may be
determined by action of a majority of Continuing Directors then in office and
publicly announced by the Company and (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all
but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of
$0.001 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption
price being herein referred to as the "Redemption Price") and the Company may,
at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares (based on the
Current Per Share Market Price thereof at the time of redemption) or cash. Such
redemption of the Rights by the Company may be made effective at such time, on
such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion may establish; provided, however, if the Board of Directors of the
                          --------  -------                                  
Company authorizes redemption of the Rights on or after the time a Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, then there must be Continuing Directors then in
office and such authorization shall require the concurrence of a majority of
such Continuing Directors.  The date on which the Board of Directors elects to
make the redemption effective shall be referred to as the "REDEMPTION DATE."

          (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been
filed with the Rights 

                                     -33-
<PAGE>
 
Agent, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders
of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly
give public notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the failure
                                           --------  -------
to give or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such
redemption. Within ten (10) days after the action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such
redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by
mailing such notice to all such holders at their last addresses as they appear
upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date,
on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state
the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither
the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or
purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that
specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24 hereof, and other
than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution
Date.

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

          (a) Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, and subject to
subsection 24(c) below, the Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the
Board of Directors and a majority vote of the Continuing Directors, at any time
after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, exchange all or part of the then
outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have
become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Shares
at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the
"EXCHANGE RATIO").  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall
not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other
than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the
Common Shares then outstanding.

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

                                     -34-
<PAGE>
 
effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which
will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the
number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.

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

          (d)  The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares.
In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, there shall be paid to the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common
Shares would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction
of the current market value of a whole Common Share (as determined pursuant to
the second sentence of Section 1(k) hereof).

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


                                     -35-
<PAGE>
 
          (f)  Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection 24(e) of this Section 24 and
without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such
Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such
Rights shall be to receive that number of rights in exchange therefor as has
been determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with subsection 24(e)
above. The Company shall give public notice of any such exchange; provided,
                                                                  --------
however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not
- -------      
affect the validity of such exchange. The Company shall mail a notice of any
such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as
they appear upon the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common
Shares of the Company. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice.
Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of
the Rights will be effected.

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

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

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

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

                    CATALYTICA, INC.
                    430 Ferguson Drive
                    Mountain View, CA 94043
                    Attn:  Lawrence Briscoe, Chief Financial Officer

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

                    ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.P.
                    50 California Street
                    10th Floor
                    San Francisco, California  94111
                    Attn: Relationship Management Division

                                     -36-
<PAGE>
 
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.

     Section 27  Supplements and Amendments.  Prior to the occurrence of a
                 --------------------------                               
Triggering Event, the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement in any
respect without the approval of any holders of Rights and the Rights Agent
shall, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or amendment.  From
and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company and the Rights Agent
may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of
any holders of Rights in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) shorten or lengthen any
time period hereunder (which shortening or lengthening shall be effective only
if there are Continuing Directors and shall require the concurrence of a
majority of such Continuing Directors) or (iv) to change or supplement the
provisions hereunder in any manner that the Company may deem necessary or
desirable and that shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of
Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person); provided, this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended
                   --------                                                   
to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time period
relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not
then redeemable or (B) any other time period unless such lengthening is for the
pur pose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the
benefits to, the holders of Rights.  Upon the delivery of a certificate from an
appropriate officer of the Company that states that the proposed supplement or
amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment.  Prior to the Distribution Date, the
interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests
of the holders of Common Shares.

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

     Section 29  Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.  For
                 ----------------------------------------------------------     
all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common Shares
outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the
particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is
the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule
13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.  The
Board of Directors of the Company (or, where 

                                     -37-
<PAGE>
 
specifically provided for herein, the Continuing Directors) shall have the
exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all
rights and powers specifically granted to the Board, or the Company (or, where
specifically provided for herein, the Continuing Directors), or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y)
below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by
the Board (or, where specifically provided for herein, by the Continuing
Directors) in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights Certificates and all other
parties and (y) not subject the Board or the Continuing Directors to any
liability to the holders of the Rights.

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

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

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

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

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

                                     -38-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

"COMPANY"                                CATALYTICA, INC.


                                By:_________________________________________

                                Name:_______________________________________

                                Title:______________________________________


"RIGHTS AGENT"                  ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.P.


                                By:_________________________________________

                                Name:_______________________________________

                                Title:______________________________________


                                     -39-
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                       ---------


               CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF RIGHTS, PREFERENCES
                               AND PRIVILEGES OF
                     SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
                              OF CATALYTICA, INC.


     The undersigned, Ricardo B. Levy does hereby certify:

     1.   That he is the duly elected and acting President and Secretary,
respectively, of Catalytica, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "CORPORATION").

     2.   That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors
by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the said
Corporation, the said Board of Directors on October 23, 1996, 1996 adopted the
following resolution creating a series of 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock
designated as Series A Participating Preferred Stock:

     "RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors
of the corporation by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the
Board of Directors does hereby provide for the issue of a series of Preferred
Stock of the Corporation and does hereby fix and herein state and express the
designations, powers, preferences and relative and other special rights and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such series of Preferred Stock
as follows:

     Section 1   Designation and Amount.  The shares of such series shall be
                 ----------------------                                     
designated as "SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK." The Series A
Participating Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.001 per share, and
the number of shares constituting such series shall be 100,000.

     Section 2   Proportional Adjustment.  In the event the Corporation shall at
                 -----------------------                                        
any time after the issuance of any share or shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock of the Corporation
("COMMON STOCK") payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the
outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Corporation shall
simultaneously effect a proportional adjustment to the number of outstanding
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.

     Section 3   Dividends and Distributions.
                 --------------------------- 

          (a)    Subject to the prior and superior right of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares
of Series A Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders
of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive
when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally
available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day
of January, 
<PAGE>
 
April, July and October in each year (each such date being referred
to herein as a "QUARTERLY DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE"), commencing on the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction
of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate per share
amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount
(payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other (except
as provided in Section 2 hereof) than a dividend payable in shares of Common
Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.

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

          (c)    Dividends shall begin to accrue on outstanding shares of Series
A Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A Participating Preferred
Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such
shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless
the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall
begin to accrue from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such
dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro
rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of
a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more
than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

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

          (a)    Each share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of
the stockholders of the Corporation.

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

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
          (c)    Except as required by law, holders of Series A Participating
Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not
be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of
Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

     Section 5   Certain Restrictions.
                 -------------------- 

          (a)    The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make any
distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a
share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock unless concurrently therewith it
shall declare a dividend on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as
required by Section 3 hereof.

          (b)    Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as provided
in Section 3 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not

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

                        (ii)  declare or pay dividends on, make any other
distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends
or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with Series A Participating
Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Participating
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in
arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such
shares are then entitled;

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

                        (iv)  purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock
ranking on a parity with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock, except in
accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such
terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual
dividend rates and 

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes,
shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among
the respective series or classes.

          (c)    The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of
this Section 5, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.

     Section 6   Reacquired Shares.  Any shares of Series A Participating
                 -----------------                                       
Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof.
All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued
shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of
Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein.

     Section 7   Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
                 -------------------------------------- 

          (a)    Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Participating Preferred Stock unless,
prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock
shall have received twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) per share (the
"SERIES A LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE"), plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of
such payment.  Following the payment of the full amount of the Series A
Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the holders
of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the
holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the
"COMMON ADJUSTMENT") equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the Series A
Liquidation Preference by 1,000.  Following the payment of the full amount of
the Series A Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all
outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock and Common Stock,
respectively, holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock and holders of
shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of
the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the 1,000 to 1 with
respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis,
respectively.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time after November 29,
1996 (the "RIGHTS DIVIDEND DECLARATION DATE") (i) declare any dividend on Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common
Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of
shares, then in each such case the Series A Liquidation Preference immediately
prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately after such event.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
          (b)    In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full to the Series A Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any,
which rank on a parity with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock, then
such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity
shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event,
however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in
full of the Common Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed
ratably to the holders of Common Stock.

     Section 8   Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter
                 --------------------------
into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly
exchanged or changed in an amount per share equal to 1,000 times the aggregate
amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind),
as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is
changed or exchanged.

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

     Section 10  Ranking.  The Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall rank
                 -------                                                        
junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any
such series shall provide otherwise.

     Section 11  Amendment.  The Amended and Restated Certificate of
                 ---------                                          
Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be further amended in any manner
which would materially alter or change the powers, preference or special rights
of the Series A Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely
without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.

     Section 12  Fractional Shares.  Series A Participating Preferred Stock may
                 -----------------                                             
be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion
to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive
dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other
rights of holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.

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

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     I further declare under penalty of perjury that the matters set forth in
the foregoing Certificate of Designation are true and correct of my own
knowledge.

     Executed at Mountain View, California on November 15, 1996.


                                        ________________________________________
                                        Ricardo B. Levy, President and Secretary

                                     -6-
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT B
                                   ---------


                           FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE


Certificate No. R-                                              _________ Rights


        NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF (i) OCTOBER 23, 2006 (ii) THE DATE
        TERMINATED BY THE COMPANY OR (iii) THE DATE THE COMPANY EXCHANGES THE
        RIGHTS PURSUANT TO THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
        REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER RIGHT ON THE
        TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES,
        RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR
        ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
        RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME
        NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
        WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING
        PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
        TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS
        CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID
        IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH RIGHTS
        AGREEMENT.]*



                               RIGHTS CERTIFICATE

                                CATALYTICA, INC.


     This certifies that ______________________________, or registered assigns,
is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights Agreement dated as of October 23, 1996 (the "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"),
between ____________, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and
_________________ ( the "RIGHTS AGENT"), to purchase from the Company at any
time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., New York time, on October 23, 2006 at the
office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office of its
successor as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a 


- ------------
*  The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentence.
<PAGE>
 
fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, no
par value, (the "PREFERRED SHARES"), of the Company, at a Exercise Price of
twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) per one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the
"EXERCISE PRICE"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate
with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of one-
thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof)
set forth above are the number and Exercise Price as of October 23, 1996 based
on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights
Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number and kind of Preferred Shares or
other securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment
upon the happening of certain events.

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

          Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company, at its
option, at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged by
the Company in whole or in part for Common Shares, substantially equivalent
rights or other consideration as determined by the Company.

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

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

          No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time
be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder 

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right
to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in
the Rights Agreement.

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

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


ATTEST:                       CATALYTICA, INC.


___________________________________          By: ______________________________

________________________, Secretary          President

 

Countersigned:

ChaseMellon Shareholder Services L.L.P.
as Rights Agent

By: ________________________________

Its: _______________________________



                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
                   FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
                               ------------------

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


          FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto

                 (Please print name and address of transferee)

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


Dated: ______________________, 19____


 
                                             Signature


Signature Guaranteed:

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

                                      -1-
<PAGE>
 
                                  CERTIFICATE
                                  -----------


     The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

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

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

Dated: _______________, 19____



 
                                                Signature


Signature Guaranteed:

     Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
<PAGE>
 
            FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE -- CONTINUED

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

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

To:  ___________________________

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

Please insert social security
or other identifying number


                        (Please print name and address)


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

Please insert social security
or other identifying number


                        (Please print name and address)


Dated: ___________________ , 19____


 
                                    Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

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

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
                                  CERTIFICATE
                                  -----------


     The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

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

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

Dated: _______________, 19____


 
                                    Signature


Signature Guaranteed:

     Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
<PAGE>
 
            FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE -- CONTINUED


                                     NOTICE
                                     ------


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


                            STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
                                CATALYTICA, INC.


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


Distribution and                                                                
- ----------------                                                                
Transfer of Rights;                                                             
- -------------------                                                             
Rights Certificate:     The Board of Directors has declared a dividend of one
- ------------------      Right for each share of Catalytica, Inc. Common Stock
                        outstanding. Prior to the Distribution Date referred to
                        below, the Rights will be evidenced by and trade with
                        the certificates for the Common Stock. After the
                        Distribution Date, Catalytica, Inc. (the "COMPANY") will
                        mail Rights certificates to the Company's stockholders
                        and the Rights will become transferable apart from the
                        Common Stock.
 

Distribution Date:      Rights will separate from the Common Stock and become
- -----------------       exercisable following (a) the tenth day (or such later
                        date as may be determined by a majority of the Directors
                        not affiliated with the acquiring person or group (the
                        "CONTINUING DIRECTORS")) after a person or group
                        acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the
                        Company's Common Stock or (b) the tenth business day (or
                        such later date as may be determined by a majority of
                        the Continuing Directors) after a person or group
                        announces a tender or exchange offer, the consummation
                        of which would result in ownership by a person or group
                        of 20% or more of the Company's Common Stock.
                        


Preferred Stock
- ---------------
Purchasable Upon
- ----------------
Exercise of Rights:     After the Distribution Date, each Right will entitle the
- ------------------      holder to purchase for $25.00, a fraction of a share of
                        the Company's Preferred Stock with economic terms
                        similar to that of one share of the Company's Common
                        Stock.


Flip-In:                If an acquiror (an "ACQUIRING PERSON") obtains 20% or
- -------                 more of the Company's Common Stock (other than pursuant
                        to a tender offer deemed adequate and in the best
                        interests of the Company and its stockholders by the
                        Continuing Directors (a "PERMITTED OFFER")), then each
                                                                     ----
                        Right (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person or
                        its affiliates) will entitle the holder thereof to
                        purchase, for the Exercise Price, a number of shares of
                        the Company's Common Stock having a then current market
                        value of twice the Exercise Price.


Flip-Over:              If, after an Acquiring Person obtains 20% or more of the
- ---------               Company's Common Stock, (a) the Company merges into
                        another entity, (b) an acquiring entity merges into the
                        Company 
<PAGE>
 
                        or (c) the Company sells more than 50% of the
                        Company's assets or earning power, then each Right
                                                           ----
                        (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person or its
                        affiliates) will entitle the holder thereof to purchase,
                        for the Exercise Price, a number of shares of Common
                        Stock of the Person engaging in the transaction having a
                        then current market value of twice the Exercise Price
                        (unless the transaction satisfies certain conditions and
                        is consummated with a Person who acquired shares
                        pursuant to a Permitted Offer, in which case the Rights
                        will expire).


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


Redemption of
- -------------
the Rights:             Rights will be redeemable at the Company's option for
- ----------              $0.001 per Right at any time on or prior to the tenth
                        day (or such later date as may be determined by a
                        majority of the Continuing Directors) after public
                        announcement that a Person has acquired beneficial
                        ownership of 20% or more of the Company's Common Stock
                        (the "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE").


Expiration of
- -------------
the Rights:             The Rights expire on the earliest of (a) October 23,
- ----------              2006, (b) exchange or redemption of the Rights as
                        described above, or (c) consummation of a merger or
                        consolidation resulting in expiration of the Rights as
                        described above.


Amendment of
- ------------
Terms of Rights:        The terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be
- ---------------         amended in any respect without the consent of the Rights
                        holders on or prior to the date an Acquiring Person
                        obtains 20% or more of the Company's Common Stock;
                        thereafter, the terms of the Rights and the Rights
                        Agreement may be amended without the consent of the
                        Rights holders in order to cure any ambiguities or to
                        make changes which do not adversely affect the interests
                        of Rights holders (other than the Acquiring Person).


Voting Rights:          Rights will not have any voting rights.
- -------------                                          


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

                                     -2-
<PAGE>
 
Taxes:                  The Rights distribution should not be taxable for
- -----                   federal income tax purposes. However, following an event
                        which renders the Rights exercisable or upon redemption
                        of the Rights, stockholders may recognize taxable
                        income.

The foregoing is a summary of certain principal terms of the Stockholder Rights
Plan only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed terms of
the Rights Agreement dated as of October 23, 1996, between the Company and the
Rights Agent.

                                     -3-


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