HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT INC /MN/
8-A12G, 1997-04-10
INSURANCE AGENTS, BROKERS & SERVICE
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       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


                          HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Minnesota                                  41-1407404
(State of incorporation or organization)     (I.R.S. Employer Identification 
                                                                        No.)

                              8000 West 78th Street
                          Minneapolis, Minnesota 55439

                    (Address of principal executive offices)

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                               Not Applicable




     If this Form relates to the  registration of a class of debt securities and
is effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(1),  please check
the following box. |_|

     If this Form relates to the  registration of a class of debt securities and
is effective  simultaneously with the effectiveness of a concurrent registration
statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1993  pursuant  to General  Instruction
A.(c)(2), please check the following box. |_|

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

                          Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
                                (Title of Class)


                                      


<PAGE>



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

     On April 4, 1997,  the Board of Directors of Health Risk  Management,  Inc.
(the  "Company")  declared a dividend of one preferred  stock  purchase right (a
"Right") for each  outstanding  share of common stock,  par value $.01 per share
(the "Common Stock"), of the Company.  The dividend is payable on April 18, 1997
(the  "Record  Date") to the  shareholders  of record on that  date.  Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of
a share of Series A Preferred  Stock,  par value $.01 per share (the  "Preferred
Stock"),  of the  Company  at a  price  of  $50.00  per one  one-hundredth  of a
Preferred Share (the "Exercise Price"),  subject to adjustment.  The description
and terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights  Agreement dated as of April
4, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota,
N.A. as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

     Until the  earlier of (i) 10 days  following a public  announcement  by the
Company or a person or group of affiliated or associated  persons (an "Acquiring
Person") that such an Acquiring Person has acquired beneficial  ownership of 15%
or more of the outstanding  Common Stock or (ii) 10 business days (or such later
date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time
as any  person or group of  affiliated  persons  becomes  an  Acquiring  Person)
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 15% or more of the  outstanding  Common Stock
(the earlier of such dates being  called the  "Distribution  Date"),  the Rights
will  be  evidenced,  with  respect  to  any of the  Common  Stock  certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Stock  certificate with a copy
of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.

     The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights),  the Rights will be  transferable  with
and only  with  the  Common  Stock.  Until  the  Distribution  Date (or  earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights),  new Common Stock  certificates  issued
after the Record Date upon  transfer or new  issuance of shares of Common  Stock
will contain a notation  incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference.  Until
the Distribution Date (or earlier  redemption or expiration of the Rights),  the
surrender  for  transfer  of  any   certificates  for  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding as of the Record Date,  even without such notation or a copy of this
Summary of Rights being attached  thereto,  will also constitute the transfer of
the  Rights  associated  with the  shares of Common  Stock  represented  by such
certificate.  As soon as practicable  following the Distribution Date,  separate
certificates  evidencing  the Rights  ("Right  Certificates")  will be mailed to
holders  of  record  of the  Common  Stock as of the  close of  business  on the
Distribution Date and such separate Right  Certificates  alone will evidence the
Rights.

     The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire  on April 4,  2007  (the  "Final  Expiration  Date"),  unless  the  Final
Expiration  Date is extended  or unless the Rights are  earlier  redeemed by the
Company, as described below.

     The Exercise Price payable,  and/or the number of shares of Preferred Stock
or other  securities  or  property  issuable,  upon  exercise  of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent  dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision,  combination or  reclassification  of, or
certain  distributions  on, the Common  Stock,  (ii) the  issuance to holders of
Preferred  Stock of certain  rights or  warrants  to  subscribe  for or purchase
Preferred Stock at a price, or securities  convertible into Preferred Stock with
a conversion  price,  less than less than the then  current  market price of the
Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock
of  evidences  of  indebtedness  or assets  (other than  regular  periodic  cash
dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants.

     Preferred  Stock  purchasable  upon  exercise  of the  Rights  will  not be
redeemable.  Each  share  of  Preferred  Stock  will be  entitled  to a  minimum
preferential  quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share but will be entitled to
an  aggregate  dividend of 100 times the  dividend  declared per share of Common
Stock. In the event of  liquidation,  the holders of the Preferred Stock will be
entitled  to a minimum  preferential  liquidation  payment of $100 per share but
will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per share
of Common  Stock.  Each share of  Preferred  Stock  will have 100 votes,  voting
together  with  the  Common  Stock.   Finally,  in  the  event  of  any  merger,
consolidation  or other  transaction  in which Common Stock is  exchanged,  each
share of  Preferred  Stock  will be  entitled  to  receive  100 times the amount
received  per share of Common  Stock.  These  rights are  protected by customary
anti-dilution provisions.
<PAGE>

     Because of the nature of the Preferred  Stock's  dividend,  liquidation and
voting rights,  the value of the one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock
purchasable  upon  exercise of each Right  should  approximate  the value of one
share of Common Stock.

     In the event that any person or group of affiliated  or associated  persons
becomes an Acquiring Person,  proper provision shall be made so that each holder
of a Right, other than Rights  beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which
will  thereafter  be  void),  will  thereafter  have the right to  receive  upon
exercise  that number of shares of Preferred  Stock having a market value of two
(2) times the Exercise Price of the Right. In the event that,  after a person or
group has become an  Acquiring  Person,  the  Company is acquired in a merger or
other  business  combination  transaction  or fifty percent (50%) or more of its
consolidated  assets or earning power are sold, proper provision will be made so
that  each  registered  holder  of a Right  will  thereafter  have the  right to
receive,  upon the exercise  thereof at the then current  Exercise  Price of the
Right,  that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring  company which at
the time of such  transaction  will  have a market  value of two (2)  times  the
Exercise Price of the Right.

     At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior
to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more of the
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,  the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights  (except the Rights owned by such person or group which will
have become void),  in whole or in part, with each Right to be exchanged for the
number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result  obtained by dividing
the then  current  Exercise  Price by the then market value of a share of Common
Stock. This exchange ratio is subject to further adjustment to reflect any stock
splits, stock dividends or similar transactions  occurring thereafter.  If there
are  insufficient  shares of Common Stock  authorized but unissued to permit the
Company to complete any exchange of the Rights,  the Company may,  under certain
circumstances, substitute for each share of Common Stock that would otherwise be
issued upon such exchange of the Rights,  shares of Preferred  Stock with market
value  equal to the  market  value of the  shares of  Common  Stock  that  would
otherwise be issuable upon such exchange of the Rights.

     No  fractional  shares  of  Preferred  Stock  will be  issued  (other  than
fractions  which  are  integral  multiples  of one  one-hundredth  of a share of
Preferred  Stock or, if a Right shall then be  exercisable  for a fraction other
than one one-hundredth of a share, integral multiples of that fraction, which in
either case may, at the  election of the Company,  be  evidenced  by  depositary
receipts) and in lieu  thereof,  an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
fair market value of the shares of Preferred Stock on the date of exercise.

     At any  time  prior to ten  days  (subject  to  extension  by the  Board of
Directors of the Company)  after the time an Acquiring  Person becomes such, the
Board of Directors  may redeem the Rights in whole,  but not in part, at a price
of $.001 per Right,  subject to adjustment for stock splits,  stock dividends or
similar transactions, (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights 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.  The right to exercise
the Rights will terminate immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, and the
only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

     The terms of the Rights may be  amended  by the Board of  Directors  of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights.
<PAGE>

     Until a Right is  exercised,  the  holder  thereof,  as such,  will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.

     The foregoing description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and
is qualified in its  entirety by reference to the Rights  Agreement  and related
exhibits to this Form 8-A, which are incorporated herein by reference.


Item 2.  Exhibits.

         Exhibit No.     Description

              1          Rights  Agreement  dated as of April  4,  1997  between
                         Health  Risk   Management,   Inc.   and  Norwest   Bank
                         Minnesota,  N.A.  as Rights  Agent,  together  with the
                         following exhibits thereto:

                          (A)      Certificate of Designations of Series A 
                                   Preferred Stock of Health Risk Management, 
                                   Inc.

                          (B)       Summary  of  Rights  to  Purchase  Shares of
                                    Series A  Preferred  Stock  which,  together
                                    with    certificates     representing    the
                                    outstanding  Common  Stock  of  Health  Risk
                                    Management, Inc., shall represent the Rights
                                    prior to the Distribution Date

                           (C)      Form of Right  Certificate  (pursuant to the
                                    Rights  Agreement,  Right  Certificates will
                                    not  be   delivered   until   as   soon   as
                                    practicable after the Distribution Date)


                                    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, thereunto duly authorized.


                          HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.


April 7, 1997                        By:  /s/ Gary McIlroy
                                         ------------------
                                         Gary T. McIlroy, M.D.
                                         Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


<PAGE>



                          HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.
                                    FORM 8-A

                                  Exhibit Index



 Exhibit           Description

    1               Rights Agreement dated April 4, 1997 between Health Risk
                    Management, Inc. and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., with the
                    following exhibits thereto:

                    (A)  Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred  Stock
                         (Exhibit A to Rights Agreement)

                    (B)  Summary  of  Rights  to  Purchase  Shares  of  Series A
                         Preferred Stock (Exhibit B to Rights Agreement)

                    (C)  Form  of  Right   Certificate   (Exhibit  C  to  Rights
                         Agreement)






                          HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.
                                       and
                          NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N.A.
                                 as Rights Agent



                                Rights Agreement


                            Dated as of April 4, 1997




<PAGE>



                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     This  Agreement,  dated as of April 4, 1997,  by and  between  HEALTH  RISK
MANAGEMENT,  INC., a Minnesota  corporation  ("the  Company"),  and NORWEST BANK
MINNESOTA, N.A. (the "Rights Agent"),

                                   WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS,  on April 4, 1997,  the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  (the
"Board")  authorized  the issuance  of, and declared a dividend  payable in, one
right (a "Right") for each share of Common Stock,  $.01, par value per share, of
the  Company  outstanding  as of the close of  business  on April 18,  1997 (the
"Record  Date"),  each  such  Right  representing  the  right  to  purchase  one
one-hundredth  (1/100)  of a share of Series A  Preferred  Stock of the  Company
("Preferred  Stock")  authorized  by the Board of  Directors of the Company (the
"Board")  on April 4,  1997,  upon  the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions
hereinafter set forth; and

     WHEREAS, the Board further authorized the issuance of one Right (subject to
adjustment)  with  respect  to each  share of Common  Stock  which may be issued
between the Record Date and the earlier to occur of the  Expiration  Date or the
Final Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined);

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

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

     (a)  "Acquiring  Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is hereinafter
defined) who or which,  together with all  Affiliates  and  Associates  (as such
terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as
such term is  hereinafter  defined) of 15% or more of the shares of Voting Stock
(as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company then outstanding; provided,
that,  an Acquiring  Person shall not include an (i) Exempt Person (as such term
is hereinafter  defined),  or (ii) any Person,  together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person,  who or which would be an Acquiring  Person solely by
reason  of (A)  being the  Beneficial  Owner of  shares  of Voting  Stock of the
Company,  the Beneficial Ownership of which was acquired by such Person pursuant
to any  action or  transaction  or series of  related  actions  or  transactions
approved by a majority of the Continuing  Directors before such Person otherwise
became  an  Acquiring  Person or (B) a  reduction  in the  number of issued  and
outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company pursuant to a transaction or a
series  of  related  transactions  approved  by a  majority  of  the  Continuing
Directors,  or (iii) any Person who or which,  together with all  Affiliates and
Associates  of such  Person,  was  (based  upon such  Person's  Schedule  13D or
Schedule 13G filings under the Exchange Act) the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more
of the  shares  of  Voting  Stock  of the  Company  as of the date  this  Rights
Agreement was first  adopted by the Board where such  Person's  status as a more
than 15% Beneficial Owner of Voting Stock of the Company was expressly  approved
by the Board at the time this Rights  Agreement  was first adopted by the Board;
provided,  further, that, in the event that such Person described in clause (ii)
does not become an Acquiring  Person by reason of  subclause  (A) or (B) of this
clause (ii),  such Person  nonetheless  shall become an Acquiring  Person in the
event such Person thereafter acquires  Beneficial  Ownership of an additional 1%
of the Voting Stock of the Company,  unless the  acquisition of such  additional
Voting  Stock would not result in such person  becoming an  Acquiring  Person by
reason of subclause (A) or (B) of this clause (ii); provided, further, that such
Person described in clause (iii) shall nonetheless become an Acquiring Person in
the event such Person thereafter acquires Beneficial  Ownership of an additional
1% of the Voting Stock of the Company unless such acquisition is pursuant to any
action or transaction or series of related actions or transactions approved by a
majority of the Continuing  Directors.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  if the
Board determines in good faith (but only if at the time of such determination by
the Board there are then in office not less than two  Continuing  Directors  and
such  action is  approved  by a majority  of the  Continuing  Directors  then in
office) that a Person who would  otherwise be an  "Acquiring  Person" as defined
pursuant  to the  foregoing  provisions  of this  paragraph  (a) has become such
inadvertently,  and such Person  divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient
number  of shares of  Common  Stock 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 an  "Acquiring  Person" for
any purposes of this Rights Agreement.
<PAGE>

     (b) "Affiliate" and  "Associate"  shall have the meanings  ascribed to such
terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and  Regulations  under the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange  Act"), as in effect on the date
of this Rights Agreement.

     (c) A Person shall be deemed the  "Beneficial  Owner" of, to  "Beneficially
Own," or to have "Beneficial Ownership" of, 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 Regulations 13D
               and 13G  thereunder  as in  effect  on the  date  of this  Rights
               Agreement; or

          (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 or the
               fulfillment  of a condition or both)  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, other rights
               (other than these  Rights),  warrants or options,  or  otherwise;
               provided,  however,  that  a  Person  shall  not  be  deemed  the
               Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially  Own securities  tendered
               pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any
               of such Person's  Affiliates  or  Associates  until such tendered
               securities are accepted for purchase or exchange or (B) the right
               to  vote,  alone  or in  concert  with  others,  pursuant  to any
               agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding  (whether  or  not  in
               writing);  provided,  however,  that a Person shall not be deemed
               the Beneficial  Owner of, or to Beneficially  Own, any securities
               if the  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding  to vote  such
               security  (1) arises  solely  from a  revocable  proxy or consent
               given in response to a public proxy or consent  solicitation made
               pursuant to, and in accordance  with,  the  applicable  rules and
               regulations under the Exchange Act and (2) is not then reportable
               by such Person on  Schedule  13D under the  Exchange  Act (or any
               comparable or successor  report) as being  beneficially  owned by
               such Person; or

          (iii)which are  Beneficially  Owned,  directly or  indirectly,  by any
               other  Person  with  which  such  Person or any of such  Person's
               Affiliates  or  Associates  has  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),  whether or not in writing,
               for the  purpose of  acquiring,  holding,  and voting  (except as
               described in clause (B) of  subparagraph  (ii) of this  paragraph
               (c)) or disposing  of any  securities  of the Company;  provided,
               however, that for purposes of determining Beneficial Ownership of
               securities under this Rights Agreement, officers and directors of
               the Company,  solely by reason of their status as such, shall not
               constitute a group  (notwithstanding  that they may be Associates
               of one  another  or may bc  deemed  to  constitute  a  group  for
               purposes of Section  13(d) of the Exchange  Act) and shall not be
               deemed to own shares owned by another  officer or director of the
               Company.

     Notwithstanding  anything in this paragraph (c) to the contrary, the phrase
"then outstanding," when used with reference to a Person's Beneficial  Ownership
of  securities  of the Company,  shall mean the number of such  securities  then
issued and  outstanding  together  with the number of such  securities  not then
actually  issued  and   outstanding   which  such  Person  would  be  deemed  to
Beneficially Own under this Rights Agreement. Further,  notwithstanding anything
in this  paragraph  (c) to the  contrary,  a Person  engaged in the  business of
underwriting  securities  shall  not  be  deemed  be  Beneficial  Owner  of,  to
Beneficially Own, or to have Beneficial Ownership of, any securities acquired in
good faith in a firm commitment  underwriting until the expiration of forty days
after the date of such acquisition.

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

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

     (f) "Common  Stock" when used with  reference to the Company shall mean the
common stock, par value $.01 per share of the Company.  "Common Stock" when used
with  reference to any Person other than the Company which shall be organized in
corporate  form shall mean the capital  stock or other equity  security with the
greatest per share voting  power of such Person.  "Common  Stock" when used with
reference to any Person  other than the Company  which shall not be organized in
corporate form shall mean units of beneficial interest which shall represent the
right to participate in profits,  losses,  deductions and credits of such Person
and which shall be entitled to exercise  the  greatest  voting power per unit of
such Person.

     (g) "Continuing  Director"  shall mean any member of the Board,  while such
person is a member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate
or  Associate  of an  Acquiring  Person,  or a  representative  or nominee of an
Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate,  but only if such member
either  (i) was a member  of the  Board  when this  Rights  Agreement  was first
adopted  by the Board or (ii)  subsequently  became a member of the Board  where
such  subsequent  member's  nomination for election or election to the Board was
recommended  or approved by a majority of the  Continuing  Directors then on the
Board.

     (h)  "Distribution  Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3(a)
hereof.

     (i) "Exchange Act" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(b) hereof.

     (j) "Exempt Person" shall mean (i) the Company,  (ii) any Subsidiary of the
Company or (iii) any employee benefit plan or employee stock plan of the Company
or any  Subsidiary  of the  Company,  or any  trust or other  entity  organized,
appointed,  established  or holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan.

     (k)  "Exercise  Price"  shall have the  meaning set forth in Sections 4 and
7(b) hereof.

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

     (m) "Fair Market  Value" of any security or other  property  shall mean the
fair market value of such  property as  determined  in  accordance  with Section
11(d) hereof.

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

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

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

     (q) "Preferred  Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Preferred  Stock,  par
value $.01 per share,  of the  Company,  having the rights and  preferences  set
forth in Exhibit A hereto.

     (r) "Qualifying Tender Offer" shall mean a tender or exchange offer for all
outstanding  shares of Common Stock of the Company approved by a majority of the
Board (provided that at the time of such approval of the Board there are then in
office not less than two  Continuing  Directors  and such offer is approved by a
majority of the Continuing Directors then in office),  after taking into account
the  potential  long-term  value of the Company and all other  factors that they
consider relevant.
<PAGE>

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

     (t) "Right  Certificate"  shall have the meaning set forth in Section  3(d)
hereof.

     (u) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date on which there shall
be a public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring
Person has become such (which,  for purposes of this definition,  shall include,
without  limitation,  a report filed  pursuant to Section  13(d) of the Exchange
Act) or such earlier date as a majority of the Continuing Directors shall become
aware of the existence of an Acquiring Person.

     (v)  "Subsidiary" of a Person shall mean any corporation or other entity of
which securities or other ownership  interests having voting power sufficient to
elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons  performing  similar
functions are Beneficially Owned,  directly or indirectly,  by such Person or by
any corporation or other entity that is otherwise controlled by such Person.

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

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

     (y) "Voting  Stock" shall mean (i) the Common Stock of the Company and (ii)
any other shares of capital stock of the Company  entitled to vote  generally in
the election of directors or entitled to vote  together with the Common Stock in
respect of any merger,  consolidation,  sale of all or substantially  all of the
Company's assets, liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

     Any determination required to be made by the Board for purposes of applying
the  definitions  contained  in this  Section 1 shall be made in good faith by a
majority of the Continuing Directors, or, if there are none, by the Board, which
determination  shall be  binding  on the  Rights  Agent and the  holders  of the
Rights.

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

     Section 3. Issuance of Right Certificates.

     (a) Until the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date
or (ii) the tenth  Business  Day (or such  later  date as may be  determined  by
action of the  Board,  but only if at the time of such  determination  there are
then in  office  not less  than two  Continuing  Directors  and such  action  is
approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office, prior to such
time  as  any  Person  becomes  an  Acquiring  Person)  after  the  date  of the
commencement by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of, or the first public
announcement  of the  intent of any  Person  (other  than an Exempt  Person)  to
commence,  a tender or exchange offer upon the successful  consummation of which
such Person,  together  with its  Affiliates  and  Associates,  would become the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the then  outstanding  shares of Voting Stock
of the  Company  (irrespective  of whether  any shares  are  actually  purchased
pursuant to any such offer) (the earlier of such dates being herein  referred to
as  the  "Distribution  Date"),  (i)  the  Rights  shall  be  evidenced  by  the
certificates  for Common  Stock  registered  in the name of the holders  thereof
(together with, in the case of certificates  for Common Stock  outstanding as of
the Record Date, the Summary of Rights) and not by separate  Right  certificates
(and the record  holders of such  certificates  for  Common  Stock  shall be the
record holders of the Rights represented thereby), and (ii) the right to receive
Right Certificate shall be transferable  only  simultaneously  and together with
the transfer of a share of Common Stock  (subject to adjustment  as  hereinafter
provided).  Until the Distribution Date (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date or
Final Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common
Stock  shall  constitute  the  surrender  for  transfer  of the  Right or Rights
associated with the Common Stock evidenced  thereby,  whether or not accompanied
by a copy of the Summary of Rights.

     (b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable  thereafter,  the Company
shall  send a copy of a  Summary  of  Rights  to  Purchase  Shares  of  Series A
Preferred  Stock,  in  substantially  the form of Exhibit B attached hereto (the
"Summary  of  Rights"),  by first class mail,  postage  prepaid,  to each record
holder of the Common  Stock as of the close of business on the Record  Date,  at
the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company.

     (c) Rights  shall be issued in  respect of all shares of Common  Stock that
become  outstanding  after  the  Record  Date but  prior to the  earlier  of the
Distribution   Date,  the  Expiration  Date  or  the  Final   Expiration   Date.
Certificates   for  Common  Stock   issued   (including,   without   limitation,
certificates  issued  upon  original  issuance,  transfer  or exchange of Common
Stock) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date,
the Expiration Date, or the Final Expiration Date shall have impressed, printed,
written or stamped thereon or otherwise affixed thereto the following legend:
<PAGE>

     This  certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to the same
number of Rights (subject to adjustment) as the number of shares of Common Stock
represented by this certificate,  such Rights being on the terms provided in the
Rights  Agreement  between  HEALTH  RISK  MANAGEMENT,  INC.  and  NORWEST  BANK,
MINNESOTA,  N.A.,  dated as of April 4, 1997,  as it may be amended from time to
time (the "Rights  Agreement"),  the terms of which are  incorporated  herein by
reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal  executive  offices of
HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT,  INC. Under certain  circumstances,  as set forth in the
Rights  Agreement,  such Rights shall be evidenced by separate  certificates and
shall no longer be evidenced by this certificate.  HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT,  INC.
shall mail to the  registered  holder of this  certificate  a copy of the Rights
Agreement  without  charge after receipt of a written  request  therefor.  Under
certain  circumstances  as  provided  in Section  7(e) of the Rights  Agreement,
Rights issued to or Beneficially  Owned by Acquiring Persons or their Affiliates
or  Associates  (as such  terms are  defined  in the  Rights  Agreement)  or any
subsequent  holder  of  such  Rights  shall  be  null  and  void  and may not be
transferred to any Person.

     (d) 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 mail, postage prepaid, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the
close of  business  on the  Distribution  Date,  as shown by the  records of the
Company,  at the address of such holder shown on such records,  a certificate in
the form provided by Section 4 hereof (a "Right  Certificate"),  evidencing  one
Right (subject to adjustment as provided  herein) for each share of Common Stock
so held. As of and after the  Distribution  Date,  the Rights shall be evidenced
solely by Right Certificates and may be transferred by the transfer of the Right
Certificate as permitted  hereby,  separately and apart from any transfer of one
or more shares of Common Stock.

     Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates and the forms
of election to purchase  and  assignment  to be printed on the reverse  thereof,
shall be  substantially  in the form set forth in  Exhibit C hereto and may have
such marks of  identification  or  designation  and such  legends,  summaries or
endorsements  printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate,  or as may be
required to comply with any applicable  law,  rule, or regulation  made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Common
Stock or the  Rights  may from  time to time be listed  or  conform  to usage or
otherwise  and as are not  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  this  Rights
Agreement.   Subject  to  the  provisions  of  Section  22  hereof,   the  Right
Certificates  evidencing  Rights whenever  issued,  (i) shall be dated as of the
date of  issuance  of the  Rights  they  represent;  (ii)  shall be  subject  to
adjustment from time to time as provided  herein;  and (iii) on their face shall
entitle  the  holders  thereof  to  purchase  such  number of shares  (including
fractional shares which are integral  multiples of one one-hundredth of a share)
of  Preferred  Stock as shall be set forth  therein  at the price  payable  upon
exercise of a Right provided by Section 7(b) hereof as the same may from time to
time be adjusted as provided herein (the "Exercise Price").

     Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.

     (a) Each Right  Certificate  shall be  executed on behalf of the Company by
its Chairman, Chief Executive Officer,  President or any Vice President,  either
manually or by facsimile signature, and attested by the Chief Financial Officer,
the Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary of the Company,  either  manually or by
facsimile signature. Each Right Certificate shall be countersigned by the Rights
Agent either  manually or by facsimile  signature and shall not be valid for any
purpose  unless so  countersigned.  If any officer of the Company who signed any
Right   Certificate   ceases  to  be  such   officer  of  the   Company   before
countersignature   by  the  Rights  Agent  and  issuance  and  delivery  of  the
certificate  by  the  Company,  such  Right  Certificate,  nevertheless,  may be
countersigned  by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered  with the same force
and  effect as though the person  who  signed  such Right  Certificates  had not
ceased to be such officer of the Company. Any Right Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any person who,  on the date of the  execution  of such
Right  Certificate,  shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right
Certificate,  although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any
such person was not such an officer.
<PAGE>

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

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

     (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 7(f) and 14 hereof,  at any
time after the Close of Business on the  Distribution  Date,  and at or prior to
the  Close of  Business  on the  earlier  of the  Expiration  Date or the  Final
Expiration Date, any Right Certificate may be transferred, or split up, combined
or exchanged for one or more other Right Certificates,  entitling the registered
holder to  purchase  a like  number of  shares of  Preferred  Stock as the Right
Certificate  or Right  Certificates  surrendered  then  entitled  such holder to
purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer any Right Certificate shall
surrender the Right Certificate at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
that purpose with the form of  certificate  and  assignment  on the reverse side
thereof  duly  endorsed  (or  enclosed  with such  Right  Certificate  a written
instrument  of  transfer  in a form  satisfactory  to the Company and the Rights
Agent),  duly  executed by the  registered  holder  thereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing,  and with such signature duly guaranteed.  Any registered
holder  desiring to split up,  combine or exchange any Right  Certificate  shall
make such request in writing  delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender
the Right Certificate to be split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the
Rights Agent designated therefor.  Thereupon, the Rights Agent shall countersign
and  deliver  to the  person  entitled  thereto  a Right  Certificate  or  Right
Certificates,  as the case may be, as so  requested.  The  Company  may  require
payment of a sum  sufficient  to cover any  transfer  tax that may be imposed in
connection  with any transfer,  split up,  combination  or exchange of any Right
Certificates.


     (b) Subject to the  provisions of Sections 7(e),  7(f) and 14 hereof,  upon
receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably  satisfactory
to them of the loss,  theft,  destruction or mutilation of a Right  Certificate,
and, in case of loss, theft or destruction,  of indemnity or security reasonably
satisfactory  to them and, if  requested by the  Company,  reimbursement  to the
Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable  expenses  incidental thereto, or
upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right  Certificate if
mutilated,  the Company shall issue and deliver a new Right  Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights  Agent for delivery to the  registered  owner in lieu of the
Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
<PAGE>

     Section 7. Exercise of Rights: Exercise Price: Expiration Date of Rights.

     (a) The Rights shall not be exercisable until, and shall become exercisable
on, the Distribution Date (unless otherwise provided herein, including,  without
limitation,  the restrictions on  exercisability  set forth in Sections 7(e) and
23(a) hereof). Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights may be exercised,
in whole or in part,  at any time  commencing  with the  Distribution  Date upon
surrender  of the Right  Certificate,  with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed (with  signatures duly
guaranteed),  to the Rights Agent at the principal office of the Rights Agent in
South Saint Paul,  Minnesota,  together with payment of the Exercise  Price with
respect to the total number of one  one-hundredths  (1/100) of a share (or other
securities,  cash  or  other  assets,  as the  case  may  be) as to  which  such
surrendered  Rights are then  exercisable,  subject to adjustment as hereinafter
provided,  at or prior to the Close of  Business  on the earlier of (i) April 4,
2007 (the  "Final  Expiration  Date") or (ii) the date on which the  Rights  are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (such earlier date herein  referred to
as the "Expiration Date").

     (b) The  Exercise  Price for each one  one-hundredth  (1/100) of a share of
Preferred  Stock  pursuant to the  exercise of a Right shall  initially be Fifty
Dollars ($50.00). The Exercise Price and the number of shares of Preferred Stock
or other  securities to be acquired upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to
adjustment  from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall
be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.

     (c)  Except  as  otherwise  provided  herein,   upon  receipt  of  a  Right
Certificate with the form of election to purchase duly executed,  accompanied by
payment by certified check,  cashier's check,  bank draft or money order payable
to the Company or the Rights  Agent of the  Exercise  Price for the shares to be
purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid
by the holder of the Right  Certificate in accordance  with Section 9(e) hereof,
the Rights  Agent shall  thereupon  promptly (i)  requisition  from any transfer
agent  of  the  Preferred  Stock  of  the  Company  one  or  more   certificates
representing the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be so purchased, and the
Company  hereby  authorizes  and directs such transfer  agent to comply with all
such  requests;  (ii) as  provided  in Section  14(b),  at the  election  of the
Company,  cause depository receipts to be issued in lieu of fractional shares of
Preferred Stock; (iii) if the election provided for in the immediately preceding
clause (ii) has not been made,  requisition  from the Company the amount of cash
to be paid in lieu of the  issuance  of  fractional  shares in  accordance  with
Section 14(b) hereof;  (iv) after receipt of such Preferred Stock  certificates,
and if  applicable,  depository  receipts,  cause the same to be delivered to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in
such  name  or  names  as may  be  designated  by  such  holder;  and  (v)  when
appropriate,  after receipt,  promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of
the registered holder of such Right Certificate;  provided, however, that in the
case of a purchase  of  securities,  other than  Preferred  Stock,  pursuant  to
Section 13 hereof, the Rights Agent shall promptly take the appropriate  actions
corresponding  in such case to that  referred  to in the  foregoing  clauses (i)
through (v) of this Section 7(c).  Notwithstanding  the foregoing  provisions of
this Section  7(c),  the Company may suspend the issuance of shares of Preferred
Stock upon exercise of a Right for a reasonable  period, not in excess of ninety
(90) days,  during which time the Company seeks to register under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),  and any  applicable  securities law of any
other  jurisdiction,  the shares of Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to the
Rights;  provided,  however,  that nothing  contained in this Section 7(c) shall
relieve the Company of its obligations under Section 9(c) hereof.
<PAGE>

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

     (e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Rights Agreement to the contrary,
from and after the first  occurrence of an event described in Section  11(a)(ii)
herein,  any  Rights  Beneficially  Owned  by (i) an  Acquiring  Person,  or any
Associate  or  Affiliate  of such  Acquiring  Person,  which a  majority  of the
Continuing Directors, in their sole discretion, determines is or was involved in
or caused or facilitated,  directly or indirectly  (including through any change
in the Board), such event, (ii) a transferee of any Rights Beneficially Owned by
such  Acquiring  Person (or of any such  Associate or  Affiliate)  who becomes a
transferee  after such  Acquiring  Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of
any Rights Beneficially owned by such Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with such Acquiring
Person  becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether  or not for  consideration)  from such  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  has  determined  is  part  of  a  plan,   arrangement  or
understanding  which has a primary  purpose or effect of avoiding the provisions
of this Section 7(e),  shall become null and void without any further action and
any  holder of such  Rights  shall  thereafter  have no rights  whatsoever  with
respect to such Rights,  whether under any provision of this Rights Agreement or
otherwise.  The  Company  shall use all  reasonable  efforts to ensure  that the
provisions of this Section 7(e) are complied  with,  but shall have no liability
to any  holder  of Right  Certificates  or any  other  Person as a result of its
failure to make any  determination  with respect to an  Acquiring  Person or its
Affiliates,  Associates or transferees hereunder.  No Right Certificate shall be
issued pursuant to Section 3 hereof that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by
an Acquiring  Person whose Rights would be void  pursuant to the  provisions  of
this Section 7(e) or any Associate or Affiliate  thereof;  no Right  Certificate
shall be issued  at any time upon the  transfer  of any  Rights to an  Acquiring
Person  whose Rights would be void  pursuant to the  provisions  of this Section
7(e) or any Associate or Affiliate  thereof or to any nominee of such  Acquiring
Person,  Associate  or  Affiliate;  and any Right  Certificate  delivered to the
Rights  Agent for  transfer to an  Acquiring  Person  whose Rights would be void
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7(e) shall be cancelled.

     (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  following the form of election to purchase
set forth on the  reverse  side of the Right  Certificate  surrendered  for such
exercise  and (ii)  provided  such  additional  evidence of the  identity of the
Beneficial  Owner (or  former  Beneficial  Owner) or  Affiliates  or  Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.

     Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right  Certificates.  All Rights
Certificates  surrendered  for the  purpose  of  exercise,  transfer,  split up,
combination  or exchange  shall,  if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents,  be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered  to the Rights Agent,  shall be cancelled by it, and no Right
Certificates  shall be issued in lieu thereof  except as expressly  permitted by
any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement,  and the Rights Agent shall cancel
and retire, any Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise
than upon the exercise  thereof.  The Rights Agent shall  deliver all  cancelled
Right Certificates to the Company.
<PAGE>

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

     (a) The Company  covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and
kept  available out of its  authorized  and unissued  shares of Preferred  Stock
(and, following the occurrence of an event described in Section 11(a)(ii) or 13,
out of  its  authorized  and  unissued  shares  of  Common  Stock  and/or  other
securities),  the  number of shares  of  Preferred  Stock  (and,  following  the
occurrence of an event described in Section 11(a)(ii) or 13, Common Stock and/or
other  securities)  that,  as  provided  in  this  Agreement  including  Section
11(a)(iii)  hereof,  will  be  sufficient  to  permit  exercise  in  full of all
outstanding Rights.

     (b) The Company  shall use its best  efforts to cause,  from and after such
time as the Rights become  exercisable,  all shares of Preferred Stock issued or
reserved for  issuance in  accordance  with this Rights  Agreement to be listed,
upon  official  notice  of  issuance,  upon the  principal  national  securities
exchange,  if any,  upon which the Common  Stock is listed or, if the  principal
market for the Common Stock is not on any national  securities  exchange,  to be
eligible for  quotation  in the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers'
Automated  Quotation  System  ("NASDAQ")  or  any  successor  thereto  or  other
comparable quotation system.

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

     (d) The  Company  shall  use  its  best  efforts  to (i)  file,  as soon as
practicable following the occurrence of the event described in Section 11(a)(ii)
or 13, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution  Date, as the
case  may be, a  registration  statement  under  the 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 Act)
until  the  earlier  of (A) the  date  as of  which  the  Rights  are no  longer
exercisable  for  such  securities,  and (B) the date of the  expiration  of the
Rights. The Company may temporarily  suspend,  for a period not to exceed ninety
(90) days,  the  issuance  of  securities  upon  exercise of a Right in order to
prepare and file a registration  statement under the Act and permit it to become
effective.  Upon  any  such  suspension,   the  Company  shall  issue  a  public
announcement  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.  The Company will also take such action as may be  appropriate
under,  or to ensure  compliance  with, the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of the
various   states  in  connection   with  the   exercisability   of  the  Rights.
Notwithstanding  any  provision of this Rights  Agreement to the  contrary,  the
Rights  shall  not be  exercisable  in any  jurisdiction  unless  the  requisite
qualification  in  such  jurisdiction  shall  have  been  obtained  and  until a
registration  statement  under the Act if  required,  shall  have been  declared
effective.

     (e) The Company  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  issuance  or  delivery  of  the  Right  Certificates  or of any
securities  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 a Right  Certificate  to a Person other than,  or the issuance or
delivery of certificates  for securities upon exercise of Rights in a name other
than that of, the registered  holder of the Right  Certificate,  and the Company
shall not be required to issue or deliver a Right Certificate or certificate for
such  securities  to a Person other than such  registered  holder until any such
transfer tax shall have been paid (any such  transfer  tax being  payable by the
holder of such Right  Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been
established to the Company's  reasonable  satisfaction that no such transfer tax
is due.
<PAGE>

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

     Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price or Number of Shares.  The Exercise
Price and the number and kind of shares which may be purchased  upon exercise of
a Right are subject to adjustment  from time to time as provided in this Section
11.

          (a) (i) In the event the  Company  shall at any time after the date of
     this  Rights  Agreement  (A) declare or pay any  dividend  on Common  Stock
     payable in shares of Common Stock,  (B) subdivide or split the  outstanding
     shares of Common  Stock into a greater  number of shares or (C)  combine or
     consolidate the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of
     shares or effect a reverse split of the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
     then and in each such  event  the  number  and kind of shares of  Preferred
     Stock or capital  stock  issuable  upon the  exercise  of a Right after the
     Record Date for such event (if one shall have been  established or, if not,
     after the date of such  event)  shall be the number of shares of  Preferred
     Stock or capital stock issuable pursuant to such right immediately prior to
     such event  multiplied by a fraction,  the numerator of which is the number
     of Rights outstanding  immediately prior to such event, and the denominator
     of which is the number of Rights  outstanding  immediately after such event
     and the  Exercise  Price  after such event shall be the  Exercise  Price in
     effect  immediately prior to such event multiplied by such fraction.  If an
     event  occurs  which would  require an  adjustment  under both this Section
     11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment  provided for in this
     Section  11(a)(i)  shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any
     adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
<PAGE>

          (ii)  Subject to Sections  23(a) and 24 herein,  in the event that any
     Person (other than an Exempt Person), alone or together with its Affiliates
     and  Associates,  shall become an Acquiring  Person,  except  pursuant to a
     Qualifying  Tender Offer and except as  otherwise  provided in this Section
     11, each holder of a Right,  except as  provided  in Section  7(e)  hereof,
     shall  thereafter  have the right to receive upon exercise of such Right in
     accordance  with the terms of this  Rights  Agreement  and  payment  of the
     Exercise Price,  the greater of (A) the amount of Preferred Stock for which
     such Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of the
     event  described in this  Section  11(a)(ii) or (B) the amount of Preferred
     Stock,  based on the per share Fair  Market  Value of the  Preferred  Stock
     (determined  pursuant  to Section  11(d)  hereof) on the date of such first
     occurrence,  having a value equal to twice the  Exercise  Price;  provided,
     however,  that if the  transaction  that would  otherwise  give rise to the
     foregoing  adjustment  is also  subject  to the  provisions  of  Section 13
     hereof,  then only the  provisions  of Section 13 hereof shall apply and no
     adjustment  shall  be made  pursuant  to this  Section  11(a)(ii);  further
     provided,  however,  in lieu of  Preferred  Stock,  each holder of a Right,
     except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof,  may thereafter elect to receive
     upon and at the time of exercise  of such  Right,  such number of shares of
     Common  Stock as,  based upon the per share Fair Market Value of the Common
     Stock  (determined  pursuant to Section  11(d)  hereof) on the date of such
     first occurrence,  have a value equal to twice the Exercise Price. From and
     after the occurrence of an event  described  above,  any Rights that are or
     were  acquired  or  Beneficially  Owned  by any  Acquiring  Person  (or any
     Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person) or any transferee of any of
     the foregoing shall be void and any holder of such Rights shall  thereafter
     have  no  right  to  exercise  such  Rights  under  any  provision  of this
     Agreement.  No Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 that
     represents  Rights  Beneficially  Owned by an Acquiring Person whose rights
     would be void  pursuant  to the  preceding  sentence  or any  Associate  or
     Affiliate  thereof,  and no Right  Certificate  shall be issued pursuant to
     Section 3 upon the  transfer  of any Rights to an  Acquiring  Person  whose
     Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or
     Affiliate  thereof,  or to any  transferee  or nominee of such an Acquiring
     Person,  Associate or Affiliate, and any Right Certificate delivered to the
     Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person whose rights would be void
     pursuant to the preceding  sentence or any  Associate or Affiliate  thereof
     shall be cancelled.  In the event that any Person shall become an Acquiring
     Person and any Rights shall be outstanding,  the Company shall not take any
     action  that would  eliminate  or  diminish  the  benefits  intended  to be
     afforded by the Rights.

          (iii) In the event that the Company does not have available sufficient
     authorized  but  unissued  Preferred  Stock and Common  Stock to permit the
     adjustments  required  pursuant to the  foregoing  subparagraph  (i) or the
     exercise  in  full  of  the  Rights  in   accordance   with  the  foregoing
     subparagraph  (ii),  the  Company  shall  take  all such  action  as may be
     necessary to authorize  and reserve for issuance  such number of additional
     shares  of  Preferred  Stock and  Common  Stock as may from time to time be
     required to be issued upon the  exercise in full of all Rights from time to
     time  outstanding  and, if necessary,  shall use its best efforts to obtain
     stockholder  approval thereof. In lieu of issuing shares of Preferred Stock
     in accordance  with the foregoing  subparagraphs  (i) and (ii), the Company
     may,  subject to approval by a majority of the Continuing  Directors of the
     Board,  if it determines  that such action is necessary or appropriate  and
     not contrary to the  interests of holders of the Rights,  elect to issue or
     pay,  upon the  exercise  of the  Rights,  cash,  property,  or  shares  of
     Preferred  Stock or Common Stock, or any  combination  thereof.  Such cash,
     property,  or shares of Preferred  Stock or Common Stock shall have a value
     equal to the Fair  Market  Value of the  shares  of  Preferred  Stock  that
     otherwise  would have been  required to be issued upon such exercise of the
     Rights.  The Fair Market Value of the  Preferred  Stock shall be determined
     pursuant to Section 11(d).  Subject to Section 23 hereof, any such election
     by the  Continuing  Directors  must be made and publicly  announced  within
     thirty  (30) days  after the date on which the event  described  in Section
     11(a)(ii) occurs.
<PAGE>

     (b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights,
options or warrants  to all holders of  Preferred  Stock  entitling  them (for a
period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for
or purchase  Preferred  Stock (or shares having the same rights,  privileges and
preferences  as  the  Preferred  Stock  ("equivalent   preference  shares"))  or
securities convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preference shares at a
price per share of Preferred Stock or equivalent  preference  share (or having a
conversion  price per share, if a security  convertible  into Preferred Stock or
equivalent  preference shares) less than the then current Fair Market Value of a
share of Preferred Stock  (determined  pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such
record date,  the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction,  the numerator of which shall be the number of shares
of Preferred Stock and equivalent  preference shares  outstanding on such record
date plus the  number of shares of  Preferred  Stock and  equivalent  preference
shares  which the  aggregate  offering  price of the  total  number of shares of
Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preference shares so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate  initial  conversion  price  of the  convertible  securities  so to be
offered) would purchase at such current Fair Market Value and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent preference
shares  outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional  shares of
Preferred  Stock  and/or   equivalent   preference  shares  to  be  offered  for
subscription  or purchase  (or into which the  convertible  securities  so to be
offered are initially  convertible);  provided,  however, that in no event shall
the  consideration  to be paid upon the  exercise  of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company  issuable upon
exercise  of one  Right.  In  case  such  subscription  price  may be  paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value
of such consideration  shall be as determined in good faith by a majority of the
Continuing  Directors,  or, if there are none,  by the Board of Directors of the
Company,  whose  determination  shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent.  Shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent  preference shares owned
by or held for the account of the Company  shall not be deemed  outstanding  for
the purpose of any such computation.  Such adjustment shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options
or warrants are not so issued,  the  Exercise  Price shall be adjusted to be the
Exercise  Price  which  would then be in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.

     (c) In case the  Company  shall  fix a  record  date  for the  making  of a
distribution  to  all  holders  of  the  Preferred  Stock  (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 or a dividend payable in
Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to
in Section 11(b)  hereof),  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
then  current Fair Market Value of a share of the  Preferred  Stock  (determined
pursuant  to Section  11(d)  hereof) on such record  date,  less the Fair Market
Value (as  determined in good faith by a majority of the  Continuing  Directors,
or,  if  there  are  none,  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 assets or evidences of  indebtedness  so to be distributed or
of such  subscription  rights or warrants  applicable  to one share of Preferred
Stock and the  denominator  of which shall be such  current  Fair  Market  Value
(determined  pursuant to Section  11(d)  hereof) of a share of Preferred  Stock;
provided,  however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the
exercise  of one Right be less  than the  aggregate  par value of the  shares of
capital  stock of the  Company to be issued  upon  exercise  of one Right.  Such
adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and
in the event that such  distribution  is not so made,  the Exercise  Price shall
again be adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.
<PAGE>

     (d) For the purpose of this Rights  Agreement,  the "Fair Market  Value" of
any share of  Preferred  Stock,  Common Stock or any other stock or any Right or
other security or any other property on any date shall be determined as provided
in this Section 11(d). In the case of a publicly traded stock or other security,
the Fair Market Value on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily
closing  prices per share of such stock or per unit of such other  security  for
the  30  consecutive  Trading  Days  (as  such  term  is  hereinafter   defined)
immediately prior to such date;  provided,  however,  that in the event that the
Fair Market Value per share of any share of Common Stock is determined  during a
period  which  includes  any date that is within 30  Trading  Days after (i) the
ex-dividend  date for a dividend or distribution on such stock payable in shares
of Common Stock or securities  convertible  into shares of Common Stock, or (ii)
effective date of any subdivision,  split, combination,  consolidation,  reverse
stock split or  reclassification of such stock, then, and in each such case, the
Fair  Market  Value  shall  be  appropriately  adjusted  by a  majority  of  the
Continuing Directors,  or, if there are none, by the Board, to take into account
ex-dividend or post-effective date trading.  The closing price for any day shall
be the last sale  price,  regular  way,  or, in case no such sale takes place on
such day,  the  average of the  closing  bid and asked  prices,  regular way (in
either case, as reported in the  applicable  transaction  reporting  system with
respect  to  securities  listed or  admitted  to  trading  on the New York Stock
Exchange),  or, if the  securities  are not listed or admitted to trading on the
New York Stock  Exchange,  as reported in the applicable  transaction  reporting
system with respect to securities  listed on the principal  national  securities
exchange on which such  security  is listed or  admitted to trading;  or, if not
listed or  admitted to trading on any  national  securities  exchange,  the last
quoted  price (or,  if not so quoted,  the average of the 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 no bids for such  security  are  quoted by any such
organization,  the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional  market  maker  making a market in such  security  selected  by the
Board.  The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal  national
securities  exchange on which such  security is listed or admitted to trading is
open for the  transaction  of  business  or, if such  security  is not listed or
admitted to trading on any national  securities  exchange,  a Business Day. If a
security is not publicly  held or not so listed or traded,  "Fair Market  Value"
shall  mean the fair  value per share of stock or per other  unit of such  other
security, as determined by an independent investment banking firm experienced in
the  valuation  of  securities  selected  in good  faith  by a  majority  of the
Continuing  Directors,  or,  if there  are none,  by the  Board,  or, if no such
investment  banking  firm is, in the good faith  judgment  of a majority  of the
Continuing  Directors  or the  Board,  as  applicable,  available  to make  such
determination,  in good faith by a majority of the Continuing Directors,  or, if
there are none, by the Board; provided, however, that for purposes of making the
adjustment provided for by Section 11(a)(ii)(B) hereof, the Fair Market Value of
a share of  Preferred  Stock  shall not be less than 100% of the  product of the
Fair Market  Value of a share of Common  Stock  multiplied  by the higher of the
then Dividend  Multiple or Vote Multiple  applicable to the Preferred  Stock (as
defined in the Certificate of Designation  relating to the Preferred  Stock) and
shall not exceed 105% of the product of the then Fair Market Value of a share of
Common  Stock  multiplied  by the higher of the then  Dividend  Multiple or Vote
Multiple  applicable to the Preferred  Stock. In the case of property other than
securities, the "Fair Market Value" thereof shall be determined in good faith by
a majority of the  Continuing  Directors,  or, if there are none,  by the Board,
based upon such appraisals or valuation reports of such independent experts as a
majority of the Continuing Directors or the Board, as applicable,  shall in good
faith determine to be appropriate in accordance with good business practices and
the interests of the holders of Rights.  Any such  determination  of Fair Market
Value shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
binding upon the Rights Agent.

     (e) All  calculations  under this  Section 11 shall be made to the  nearest
cent or to the nearest one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share, as the case may be.
<PAGE>

     (f)  Irrespective  of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or the
securities  issuable  upon the  exercise of the Rights,  the Right  Certificates
theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Exercise Price and
the number of shares to be issued upon  exercise of the Rights as in the initial
Right  Certificates  issued  hereunder but,  nevertheless,  shall  represent the
Rights as so adjusted.

     (g) Before  taking any action that would cause an  adjustment  reducing the
purchase price per whole share purchasable upon exercise of the Rights below the
then per share par value,  the  Company  shall use its best  efforts to take any
corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order
that the Company may  validly  and legally  issue fully paid and  non-assessable
shares at such adjusted purchase price per share.

     (h)  Notwithstanding  anything in this Section 11 to the  contrary,  in the
event of any  reclassification of stock of the Company or any  recapitalization,
reorganization or partial liquidation of the Company or similar transaction, the
Company  shall make such  further  adjustments  in the number and kind of shares
which may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights,  and such  adjustments in the
Exercise Price therefor,  in addition to those adjustments expressly required by
the other  paragraphs of this Section 11, as a majority of Continuing  Directors
(or, if there are none, the Board) shall in good faith determine to be necessary
or  appropriate  in order for the  holders  of the  Rights  in such  event to be
treated  equitably and in accordance  with the purpose and intent of this Rights
Agreement or in order that any such event shall not, but for such adjustment, in
the opinion of counsel to the Company, result in the stockholders of the Company
being  subject to any United  States  federal  income  tax  liability  by reason
thereof.

     (i) In the event the  Company  shall at any time after the Record Date make
any distribution on the shares of Common Stock of the Company, whether by way of
a dividend or a reclassification of stock, a recapitalization, reorganization or
partial liquidation of the Company or otherwise,  in cash or any security,  debt
security,  debt  instrument,  subscription  right,  warrant,  real  or  personal
property  or any other  property  or  security  (other than any shares of Common
Stock) and the amount of such cash  dividend  or the Fair  Market  Value of such
security,  right,  warrant,  debt security,  debt instrument or property exceeds
150% of the  aggregate  amount  of the cash  dividends  declared  or paid on the
Common Stock of the Company in the 15-month  period  immediately  preceding such
distribution,  then and in each such event,  unless such distribution is part of
or is made in  connection  with a  transaction  to which  Section  11(a)(ii)  or
Section 13 hereof  applies,  the  Exercise  Price  shall be reduced by an amount
equal to the cash or the Fair Market Value of such distribution, as the case may
be, per share of Common Stock. For purposes hereof, the Fair Market Value of any
property  distributed to the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be the Fair
Market Value of such property as determined by an independent investment banking
firm  experienced  in the  valuation  of  securities  or the other  property  so
distributed,  as the  case may be,  selected  in good  faith  by the  Continuing
Directors,  or, if there  are  none,  by the  Board,  or, if no such  investment
banking  firm is in the good  faith  judgment  of a majority  of the  Continuing
Directors or the Board, as applicable,  available to make such determination, in
good faith by a majority of the Continuing Directors,  or, if there are none, by
the Board, whose  determination  shall be final and binding on the Company,  the
Rights Agent and the holders of Rights.

     Section 12.  Certification of Adjusted  Exercise Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever  an  adjustment  is made as provided in Section 11, 13 or 23(c) of this
Rights Agreement,  the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate  setting
forth such  adjustment,  and a brief  statement of the facts giving rise to such
adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent
for the Preferred Stock a copy of such  certificate and (c) mail a brief summary
thereof to each holder of a Right  Certificate in accordance  with Section 25 of
this Rights Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing  sentence,  the failure of
the Company, to make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the
validity of or the force or effect of the requirement for such  adjustment.  Any
adjustment  to be made  pursuant  to  Section  11,  13 or 23(c)  of this  Rights
Agreement  shall be  effective  as of the date of the event  giving rise to such
adjustment.  The Rights  Agent shall be fully  protected  in relying on any such
certificate and on any adjustment  therein  contained and shall not be deemed to
have  knowledge of any  adjustment  unless and until it shall have received such
certificate.
<PAGE>

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

     (a) In the event that,  following the Stock Acquisition  Date,  directly or
indirectly,  (w) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any
other Person  (other than an Exempt  Person),  and the Company  shall not be the
surviving or continuing  corporation of such consolidation or merger, or (x) any
Person (other than an Exempt Person) shall  consolidate  with, or merge with and
into,  the  Company,  and the  Company  shall  be the  continuing  or  surviving
corporation  of such  consolidation  or  merger  and,  in  connection  with such
consolidation or merger,  all or part of the outstanding  shares of Common Stock
shall be changed into or exchanged  for stock or other  securities  of any other
Person (or the  Company) or cash or other  property,  or (y) the  Company  shall
effect a statutory  share exchange with the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock
being  exchanged  for stock or other  securities  of any other Person or cash or
other  property,  or (z) the Company or one or more of its  Subsidiaries  shall,
directly or indirectly,  sell or otherwise  transfer to any other Person, or any
Affiliate  or  Associate of such  Person,  in one or more  transactions,  or the
Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries  shall sell or otherwise  transfer to
any Persons in one or a series of related transactions,  assets or earning power
aggregating  more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions) then, on the first
occurrence of any such event,  proper  provision  shall be made so that (i) each
holder of record of a Right,  except as provided in Section 7(e)  hereof,  shall
thereafter have the right to receive,  upon the exercise  thereof and payment of
the Exercise Price in accordance with the terms of this Rights  Agreement,  such
number of  shares of  validly  issued,  fully  paid,  nonassessable  and  freely
tradable Common Stock of the Principal Party (as defined herein), not subject to
any liens,  encumbrances,  rights of first refusal or other adverse  claims,  as
shall, based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock of the Principal Party
on the date of the consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer,
equal twice the Exercise Price;  (ii) such Principal  Party shall  thereafter be
liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such  consolidation,  merger, sale or
transfer,  all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Rights
Agreement;  (iii) the term  "Company" for all purposes of this Rights  Agreement
shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party; (iv) such Principal
Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a
sufficient  number  of  shares  of its  Common  Stock  in  accordance  with  the
provisions of Section 9 hereof) in connection  with such  consummation as may be
necessary to assure that the provisions  hereof shall  thereafter be applicable,
as nearly  as  reasonably  may be, in  relation  to its  shares of Common  Stock
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; provided,  however, that
upon the  subsequent  occurrence  of any merger,  consolidation,  sale of all or
substantially all of the assets,  recapitalization,  reclassification of shares,
reorganization 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  Exercise  Price,  such  cash,  shares,
rights,  warrants and other  property which such holder would have been entitled
to receive had it, at the time of such  transaction,  owned the shares of Common
Stock of the Principal Party  purchasable upon the exercise of a Right, 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; and (v) the provisions of Section
11(a)(ii)  hereof shall be of no effect  following  the  occurrence of any event
described in clause (x), (y) or (z) above of this Section 13(a).
<PAGE>

         (b)      "Principal Party" shall mean

               (i) in the case of any  transaction  described in (w), (x) or (y)
          of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof:  (A) the Person that is
          the issuer of the securities  into which shares of Common Stock of the
          Company  are  changed or  otherwise  exchanged  or  converted  in such
          merger,  consolidation or exchange, or, if there is more than one such
          issuer,  the  issuer of the  Common  Stock of which  has the  greatest
          aggregate  market  value  of  shares  outstanding  or (B)  if no  such
          securities  are so issued,  (x) the Person  that is the other party to
          the merger,  consolidation  or exchange and that survives such merger,
          consolidation or exchange,  or, if there is more than one such Person,
          the Person the Common Stock of which has the greatest aggregate market
          value of shares  outstanding  or (y) if the  Person  that is the other
          party to the merger,  consolidation  or exchange  does not survive the
          merger,  consolidation  or exchange,  the Person that does survive the
          merge,  consolidation,  or  exchange  (including  the  Company  if  it
          survives); and

               (ii) in the case of any transaction described in (z) of the first
          sentence in Section 13(a),  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 each  Person that is a
          party to such transaction or transactions receives the same 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 as is the issuer of Common Stock
          having the  greatest  aggregate  market  value of shares  outstanding;
          provided,  however, that in any such case, if the Common Stock of such
          Person  is not at such  time  and has not been  continuously  over the
          preceding  12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange
          Act,  and such  Person is a direct or indirect  Subsidiary  of another
          Person the Common  Stock of which is and has been so  registered,  the
          term  "Principal  Party" shall refer to such other Person,  or if such
          Person  is a  Subsidiary,  directly  or  indirectly,  of more than one
          Person,  the  Common  Stocks  of all of  which  are and  have  been so
          registered,  the term  "Principal  Party"  shall refer to whichever of
          such  Persons is the issuer of the Common  Stock  having the  greatest
          aggregate market value of shares outstanding.

     (c) The Company shall not consummate any  consolidation,  merger or sale or
transfer  of assets or earning  power  referred to in Section  13(a)  unless the
Principal  Party  shall have a  sufficient  number of  authorized  shares of its
Common  Stock  that have not been  issued or  reserved  for  issuance  to permit
exercise  in full of all Rights in  accordance  with this  Section 13 and unless
prior thereto the Company and the Principal  Party  involved  therein shall have
executed and  delivered to the Rights  Agent an  agreement  confirming  that the
Principal Party shall, upon consummation of such consolidation, merger, exchange
or sale or transfer of assets or earning power,  assume this Rights Agreement in
accordance  with Section  13(a)  hereof and that all rights of first  refusal or
preemptive  rights in respect of the  issuance of shares of Common  Stock of the
Principal  Party upon exercise of  outstanding  Rights have been waived and that
such transaction shall not result in a default by the Principal Party under this
Rights  Agreement,  and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the
date of any  consolidation,  merger,  exchange  or sale or transfer of assets or
earning power referred to in Section 13(a) hereof, the Principal Party will:
<PAGE>

               (i) prepare and file a registration  statement under the 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 Act)  until  the date of  expiration  of the
          Rights, and similarly comply with applicable state securities laws;

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

               (iii)  deliver  to holders  of the  Rights  historical  financial
          statements  for the 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 any of the transactions described in Section 13(a) hereof
shall  occur at any time after the  occurrence  of a  transaction  described  in
Section 11(a)(ii)  hereof,  the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  Section  7(e)  hereof,  thereafter  be
exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a) hereof.

     (d) The Company  shall not enter into any  transaction  referred to in this
Section 13 if at the time of such  transaction  there are any rights,  warrants,
instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements or other
provisions  which, as a result of the  consummation of such  transaction,  would
eliminate or substantially  diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.  In that  regard,  and  without  limiting  the  foregoing,  in case  the
Principal  Party  which is to be a party to a  transaction  referred  to in this
Section  13 has any  provision  in any of its  authorized  securities  or in its
Articles or Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or other instrument governing
its corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i) causing such
Principal  Party to  issue,  in  connection  with,  or as a  consequence  of the
consummation  of a transaction  referred to in this Section 13, shares of Common
Stock of such Principal  Party at less than the then Fair Market Value per share
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) or securities  exercisable for, or
convertible  into,  Common Stock of such Principal  Party at less than such then
Fair Market Value (other than to holders of Rights  pursuant to this Section 13)
or (ii) providing for any special tax or similar  payment in connection with the
issuance  to any  holder  of a Right of  Common  Stock of such  Principal  Party
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 13, then, in such event,  the Company
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  cancelled,  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.
<PAGE>

     Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

     (a) The Company  shall not be required to issue  fractions  of Rights or to
distribute Right Certificates which evidence  fractional Rights. In lieu of such
fractional  Rights,  there shall be paid to the registered  holders of the Right
Certificates  with regard to which such  fractional  Rights  would  otherwise be
issuable,  an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Fair Market Value
of the whole Right.

     (b) The  Company  shall not be  required  to issue  fractions  of shares of
Preferred  Stock  (other than  fractions  which are  integral  multiples  of one
one-hundredth of a share or, if a Right shall then be exercisable for a fraction
other than one  one-hundredth of a share,  integral  multiples of that fraction)
upon  exercise  of the  Rights  or to  distribute  certificates  which  evidence
fractional  shares  (other than  fractions  which are integral  multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share or, if a Right shall then be exercisable for a fraction
other than one one-hundredth of a share,  integral  multiples of that fraction).
In lieu of issuing  fractions of shares of Preferred  Stock, the Company may, at
its election,  issue depositary receipts evidencing fractions of shares pursuant
to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it,
provided that such agreement  shall provide that the holders of such  depositary
receipts shall have all of the rights,  privileges and preferences to which they
would be entitled as owners of the Preferred  Stock.  With respect to fractional
shares that are not integral  multiples of one one-hundredth of a share or, if a
Right shall then be exercisable for a fraction other than one one-hundredth of a
share,  are not  integral  multiples of that  fraction,  if the Company does not
issue such fractional shares or depositary receipts in lieu thereof, there shall
be paid to the  holders of record of Right  Certificates  at the time such Right
Certificates  are  exercised  as herein  provided an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the Fair Market Value of a share of Preferred Stock.

     (c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of a Right expressly waives his
right to receive any  fractional  Rights or any  fractional  shares of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of
a share or, if a Right shall then be  exercisable  for a fraction other than one
one-hundredth of a share,  integral multiples of that fraction) upon exercise of
a Right.

     Section  15.  Rights of  Action.  All  rights of action in  respect of this
Rights  Agreement,  except  the rights of action  given to the  Rights  Agent in
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective  registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock);  and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution  Date, of the Common Stock),  without the consent of the Rights
Agent  or of the  holder  of any  other  Right  Certificate  (or,  prior  to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock),  may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, institute, and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against
the Company to enforce,  or  otherwise  act in respect of, his right to exercise
the Rights  evidenced by such Right  Certificate in the manner  provided in such
Right Certificate and in this Rights  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  Rights  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.
<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

     Section 17. Right Certificate  Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.  No holder,
as such, of any Right Certificate  shall be entitled to vote,  receive dividends
or be  deemed  for any purpose  the  holder  of  Preferred  Stock or any  other
securities  of the Company  which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of
the Rights  represented  thereby,  nor shall anything contained herein or in any
Right  Certificate  be  construed  to  confer  upon  the  holder  of  any  Right
Certificate,  as such,  any of the rights of a 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  Right  Certificate  shall  have  been  exercised  in  accordance  with the
provisions hereof.

     Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.

     (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent  reasonable  compensation
for all services  rendered by it hereunder  and, from time to time, on demand of
the  Rights  Agent,   its  reasonable   expenses  and  counsel  fees  and  other
distributions  incurred  in the  administration  and  execution  of this  Rights
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
Rights  Agreement,  including  the costs and expenses of  defending  against any
claim of liability relating to the Rights or this Rights Agreement.

     (b) The  Rights  Agent  shall be  protected  against,  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 Rights Agreement in reliance upon any
Right  Certificate or certificate for Preferred Stock 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.
<PAGE>

     Section 19.  Merger or  Consolidation  of, or Change in Name of, the Rights
Agent.

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

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

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

     (a) The  Rights  Agent may  consult  with legal  counsel  (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 Rights  Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter 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 defined to be  conclusively  proved and
established  by a  certificate  signed by the  Chairman of the Board,  the Chief
Executive  Officer,  the  President  or any  Vice  President  and  by the  Chief
Financial  Officer,  the Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent. Any 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 Rights Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
<PAGE>

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

     (d) The Rights  Agent shall not be under any  responsibility  in respect of
the validity of this Rights  Agreement  or the  execution  and  delivery  hereof
(except  the due  execution  hereof by the  Rights  Agent) or in  respect of the
validity or  execution  of any Right  Certificate  (except its  countersignature
thereof);  nor shall it be  responsible  for any  breach by the  Company  of any
covenant  or  condition  contained  in this  Rights  Agreement  or in any  Right
Certificate;  nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment in the terms of the
Rights (including the manner,  method or amount required under the provisions of
Section 11 or 13 hereof) or for  ascertaining  the existence of facts that would
require  any such  adjustment  (except  with  respect to the  exercise of Rights
evidenced  by  Right  Certificates  after  receipt  of a  certificate  furnished
pursuant  to Section 12  describing  such  adjustment);  nor shall it by any act
hereunder  be  deemed  to  make  any   representation  or  warranty  as  to  the
authorization  or  reservation  of any  shares of  Preferred  Stock to be issued
pursuant to this Rights Agreement or any Right  Certificate or as to whether any
shares of Preferred Stock will, when issued,  be validly  authorized and issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

     (e) 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 Rights Agreement.

     (f)  The  Rights  Agent  is  hereby   authorized  and  directed  to  accept
instructions  with respect to the  performance of its duties  hereunder from the
Chairman of the Board,  the Chief Executive  Officer,  the President or any Vice
President  and  confirmed by the Chief  Financial  Officer,  the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Company,  and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties. The Rights Agent 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.

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

     (h) 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.
<PAGE>

     Section  21.  Change of Rights  Agent.  The Rights  Agent or any  successor
Rights  Agent may resign and be  discharged  from its duties  under this  Rights
Agreement upon thirty (30) days written notice mailed to the Company and to each
transfer  agent of the Common Stock and the  Preferred  Stock by  registered  or
certified mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor  Rights
Agent (with or without  cause) upon thirty (30) days written  notice,  mailed to
the Rights  Agent or  successor  Rights  Agent,  as the case may be, and to each
transfer  agent  of the  Common  Stock  and  Preferred  Stock by  registered  or
certified  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.  Notwithstanding the foregoing  provisions of this Section 21,
in no event will the resignation or removal of a Rights Agent be effective until
a successor  Rights Agent has been appointed and has accepted such  appointment.
If the  Company  shall fail to make such  appointment  within a period of thirty
(30) days after such  removal or after it has been  notified  in writing of such
resignation or incapacity by the resigning or  incapacitated  Rights Agent or by
the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right
Certificate for inspection by the Company),  then the incumbent  Rights Agent or
the  holder  of  record  of any  Right  Certificate  may  apply to any  court of
competent  jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor
Rights Agent,  whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a)
a corporation  organized and doing  business under the laws of the United States
or of any state thereof,  in good standing,  which is authorized under such laws
to  exercise  corporate  trust  or  stock  transfer  powers  and is  subject  to
supervision  or  examination  in the  conduct  of its  corporate  trust or stock
transfer  business by federal or state  authorities and which has at the time of
its  appointment  as Rights  Agent a combined  capital  and  surplus of at least
$100,000,000 or (b) an Affiliate controlled by a corporation described in clause
(a) of this sentence.  After  appointment,  the successor  Rights Agent shall be
vested with the same powers,  rights,  duties and  responsibilities as if it had
been  originally  named as Rights  Agent  without  further act or deed,  but the
predecessor  Rights  Agent shall  deliver and transfer to the  successor  Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance,  conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment,  the Company shall file written
notice thereof with the predecessor  Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the
Common  Stock and  Preferred  Stock,  and mail a written  notice  thereof to the
registered  holders  of the  Right  Certificates.  Failure  to give  any  notice
provided  for in this  Section 21,  however,  or any defect  therein,  shall not
affect the  legality  or validity  of the  resignation  or removal of the Rights
Agent or the  appointment  of the successor  Rights  Agent,  as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions,  in the event of resignation,  removal
or incapacity  of the Rights Agent,  the Company shall have the authority to act
as the Rights Agent until a successor Rights Agent shall have assumed the duties
of the Rights Agent hereunder.

     Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates.  Notwithstanding any of the
provisions  of this  Rights  Agreement  or of the  Rights to the  contrary,  the
Company may, at its option,  issue new Right  Certificates  evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change  in the  Exercise  Price per share and the  number or kind or class of
shares or other securities or property  purchasable under the Right Certificates
made in accordance with the provisions of this Rights Agreement.

     Section 23. Redemption.

     (a) The Board of  Directors  of the Company  may, at its option by majority
vote,  redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding  Rights,  at any
time  prior  to the  Close of  Business  on the  earlier  of (i) the  tenth  day
following  the Stock  Acquisition  Date  (subject to extension by the Company as
provided  in  Section  27  hereof)  or (ii)  the  Final  Expiration  Date,  at a
redemption price of $.001 per Right, subject to adjustments to reflect any stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction  occurring after the date hereof as
provided in subsection (c) below (the "Redemption  Price");  provided,  however,
the Company may redeem the Rights only if at the time of the action of the Board
there  are then in  office  not  less  than two  Continuing  Directors  and such
redemption is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable  pursuant to Section  11(a)(ii) prior to the expiration
of the Company's right of redemption hereunder.
<PAGE>

     (b)  Immediately  upon the Board's action ordering the redemption of rights
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 23, 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.  Within ten (10) days after the effective time of the action of the Board
ordering the  redemption  of the Rights,  the Company  shall give notice of such
redemption to 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 Stock.  Any notice which is mailed in
the manner  herein  provided  shall be deemed  given,  whether or not the holder
receives such notice.  Each notice of redemption  will state the method by which
payment of the  Redemption  Price will be made. At the option of the Board,  the
Redemption Price may be paid in cash to each Rights holder or by the issuance of
shares (and, at the Company's election pursuant to Section 14(b) hereof, cash or
depositary  receipts in lieu of fractions of shares other than  fractions  which
are integral  multiples of one  one-hundredth  (1/100) of a share or, if a Right
shall then be  exercisable  for a fraction  other  than one  one-hundredth  of a
share,  integral  multiples of that  fraction) of Preferred  Stock having a Fair
Market Value equal to such cash payment.

     (c) In the  event  the  Company  shall at any time  after  the date of this
Rights Agreement (A) pay any dividend on Common Stock in shares of Common Stock,
(B)  subdivide  or split the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock into a greater
number of shares or (C) combine or consolidate the outstanding  shares of Common
Stock  into a  smaller  number  of  shares  or  effect  a  reverse  split of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, then, and in each such event, the Redemption
Price  shall be  adjusted  so that the  Redemption  Price after such event shall
equal the  Redemption  Price  immediately  prior to such event  multiplied  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 outstanding immediately after such event.

         Section 24.  Exchange.

     (a) The Board may, at its option  (provided at the time of such election by
the Board there are then in office not less than two  Continuing  Directors  and
such  election is approved by a majority  of the  Continuing  Directors  then in
office), at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person,  exchange all
or part of the then outstanding and exercisable  Rights  (excluding  Rights that
have become void  pursuant to the  provisions of Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof) for
shares of Common  Stock,  with each  Right to be  exchanged  for such  number of
shares of Common  Stock as shall equal the result  obtained by dividing  (A) the
Exercise  Price by (B) the current  Fair  Market  Value of a share of the Common
Stock  (determined  pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof on the first  occurrence of
the event described in Section 11(a) (ii)) appropriately adjusted to reflect any
stock split, stock dividend or a similar transaction  occurring thereafter (such
exchange   ratio  is   hereinafter   referred  to  as  the  "Exchange   Ratio").
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the Board shall not be empowered to effect such
exchange at any time after any Person  (other than an Exempt  Person),  together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,  becomes the Beneficial Owner
of shares of Common Stock  aggregating fifty percent (50%) or more of the shares
of Common Stock then outstanding.
<PAGE>

     (b) Immediately upon the Board's action ordering the exchange of any Rights
pursuant to paragraph (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 of a holder of such rights thereafter shall be to receive that number
of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio.  The Company shall promptly 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 an exchange.  The Company
promptly  shall  mail a notice  of any such  exchange  to all of the  registered
holders of the Rights at their last  addresses  as they appear upon the registry
books of the Rights Agent.  Any notice mailed in  accordance  herewith  shall be
deemed  given,  whether or not the holder  receives  the notice.  Each notice of
exchange  will state the method by which the  exchange  of the Common  Stock for
Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of
Rights which will be exchanged.  Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata
based on the number of Rights  (other than Rights that have become void pursuant
to the provisions of Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof) held by each registered  Rights
holder.

     (c) In the event  that  there  are  insufficient  shares  of  Common  Stock
authorized  but  unissued to permit any  exchange of Rights as  contemplated  in
accordance  with this Section 24, the Company  shall take all such action as may
be necessary to authorize  additional  shares of Common Stock for issuance  upon
exchange of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after good faith effort,
be unable to take such action to authorize such  additional  number of shares of
Common Stock, the Company shall substitute,  for each share of Common Stock that
would  otherwise be issuable upon the exchange of Rights,  a number of shares of
Preferred Stock or a fraction thereof so that the Fair Market Value of one share
of Preferred  Stock  multiplied  by such number or fraction is equal to the Fair
Market  Value of one share of Common  Stock as of the date of  issuance  of such
shares of Preferred Stock or fraction thereof.

     (d) The  Company  shall not be  required  to issue  fractions  of shares of
Common Stock or to distribute  certificates which evidence  fractional shares of
Common Stock.  In lieu of fractional  shares of Common Stock,  the Company shall
pay to the registered  holders of the Right  certificates,  with regard to which
such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable, an amount in
cash equal to the same  fraction  of the Fair  Market  Value of a whole share of
Common  Stock.  For purposes of this  paragraph  (d), the Fair Market Value of a
whole share of Common  Stock  shall be the closing  price (as defined in Section
11(d)) of a share of Common Stock for the Trading Day  immediately  prior to the
date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
<PAGE>

     Section 25. Notice of Proposed Actions.

     (a) In case the Company,  after the Distribution Date, shall propose to (i)
effect any of the transactions referred to in Section 11(a)(i) or 11(i), or (ii)
offer to the holders of record of its Common Stock options,  warrants,  or other
rights to subscribe  for or to purchase  shares of Common Stock  (including  any
security  convertible  into or exchangeable for Common Stock) or shares of stock
of  any  class  or any  other  securities,  options,  warrants,  convertible  or
exchangeable securities or other rights, or (iii) effect any reclassification of
its Preferred Stock or Common Stock or any recapitalization or reorganization of
the Company, or (iv) effect any consolidation,  merger with or into, exchange or
any sale or other  transfer  (or to permit  one or more of its  Subsidiaries  to
effect any sale or other transfer),  in one or more  transactions,  of more than
fifty  percent  (50%) of the  assets or  earning  power of the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to, any other Person or Persons,  or (v) effect
the  liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company,  then, in each such
case, the Company shall give to each holder of record of a Right Certificate, in
accordance with Section 26 hereof,  notice of such proposed action,  which shall
specify the record  date for the  purposes  of such  transaction  referred to in
Section 11(a)(i) or 11(i) or such dividend or distribution, or the date on which
such reclassification,  recapitalization, reorganization, consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer of assets,  liquidation,  dissolution, or winding up is to take
place and the record date for determining  participation  therein by the holders
of record of Common Stock or Preferred  Stock,  if any such date is to be fixed,
and such  notice  shall be so given in the case of any action  covered by clause
(i) or (ii)  above  at  least  ten  (10)  days  prior  to the  Record  Date  for
determining  holders  of record of the  Preferred  Stock  for  purposes  of such
action,  and in the case of any such other action,  at least ten (10) days prior
to the date of the taking of such proposed  action or the date of  participation
therein by the holders of record of Common Stock or Preferred  Stock,  whichever
shall be the earlier.  The failure to give notice required by this Section 25 or
any defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity of the action taken
by the Company or the vote upon any such action.

     (b) In case any of the transactions referred to in Section 11(a)(i),  11(i)
or 13 of this Rights Agreement are proposed, then, in any such case, the Company
shall  give to each  holder of Rights,  in  accordance  with  Section 26 hereof,
notice of the  proposal  of such  transaction  at least  ten (10) days  prior to
consummating such transaction.  Such notice shall specify the proposed event and
the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(i), 11(i)
or 13 hereof, as the case may be, and upon consummating such transaction,  shall
similarly give notice thereof to each holder of Rights.
<PAGE>

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

                  HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.
                  8000 West 78th Street
                  Minneapolis, MN 55439
                  Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

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

                  NORWEST BANK, MINNESOTA, N.A.
                  Attention: Shareowner Services
                  161 North Concord Exchange
                  South St. Paul, MN 55075


     Notices or demands  authorized by this Rights Agreement to be given or made
by the  Company  or the  Rights  Agent to the  holder  of  record  of any  Right
Certificate or Right 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.  For as long as the Rights are then
redeemable  and except as provided in the last  sentence of this Section 27, the
Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion,  and the Rights Agent shall if
the  Company  so  directs,  supplement  or amend any  provision  of this  Rights
Agreement  without the  approval of any holders of the Rights.  At any time when
the Rights are then  redeemable  and except as provided in the last  sentence of
this  Section 27, the Company may upon  approval by the Board  (provided  at the
time of such  approval  by the Board  there are then in office not less than two
Continuing  Directors  and such  approval  is  joined  in by a  majority  of the
Continuing  Directors then in office), and the Rights Agent shall if the Company
so directs,  supplement or amend this Rights  Agreement  without the approval of
any holders of the Right Certificates (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct
or  supplement  any  provision  contained  herein  which  may  be  defective  or
inconsistent  with any  other  provisions  herein,  (iii) to  extend  the  Final
Expiration  Date or the period in which the Company  may redeem the  Rights,  or
(iv) to change or supplement  the  provisions  hereunder in any manner which the
Company may deem  necessary or desirable,  provided  that no such  supplement or
amendment pursuant to this clause shall materially adversely affect the interest
of the holders of the Right  Certificates.  Upon the  delivery of a  certificate
from an  appropriate  officer of the  Company  which  states  that the  proposed
supplement or amendment is in compliance  with the terms of this Section 27, the
Rights  Agent  shall  execute  such  supplement  or  amendment.  Notwithstanding
anything  contained in this Rights  Agreement to the contrary,  no supplement or
amendment shall be made which changes the Redemption  Price,  and supplements or
amendments  may be made  after the time that any  Person  becomes  an  Acquiring
Person (other than pursuant to a Qualifying Tender Offer) only if at the time of
the action of the Board approving such supplement or amendment there are then in
office not less than two Continuing  Directors and such  supplement or amendment
is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office.
<PAGE>

     Section 28.  Successors.  All the covenants  and  provisions of this Rights
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.  Benefits  of this  Rights  Agreement.  Nothing in this Rights
Agreement  shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company,  the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to
the Distribution  Date, the holders of Common Stock in their capacity as holders
of the Rights) any legal or equitable  right,  remedy or claim under this Rights
Agreement; but this Rights Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit
of the  Company,  the  Rights  Agent  and the  registered  holders  of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Stock).

     Section 30. Severability.  If any term, provision,  covenant or restriction
of this Rights  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 Rights Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

     Section 31. Governing Law. This Rights Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued  hereunder  shall be deemed to be a  contract  made under the laws of the
State of Minnesota  and for all purposes  shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts to be
made and performed entirely within such state.

     Section  32.  Counterparts.  This Rights  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  33.  Descriptive  Headings.  Descriptive  headings  of the several
Sections of this Rights  Agreement are inserted for  convenience  only and shall
not  control or affect  the  meaning or  construction  of any of the  provisions
hereof.

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

                                        HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.

                                        By:
                                        Its:



                                        NORWEST BANK, MINNESOTA, N.A.

                                        By:
                                        Its:


Exhibits:

         A - Certificate of Designations of Series A Preferred Stock

         B - Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Series A Preferred Stock

         C - Form of Right Certificate

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT A

                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

                                       OF

                            SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

                                       OF

                          HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.

                        (Pursuant to Chapter 302A of the
                       Minnesota Business Corporation Act)




     Health Risk  Management,  Inc., a corporation  organized and existing under
the Minnesota  Business  Corporation  Act  (hereinafter  called the  "Company"),
hereby  certifies  that the  following  resolution  was  adopted by the Board of
Directors  of the  Company as  required  by Section  302A.239  of the  Minnesota
Business Corporation Act at a meeting duly called and held on April 4, 1997:

     RESOLVED,  that,  pursuant  to the  authority  granted to and vested in the
Board of Directors of the Company  (hereinafter  called the "Board of Directors"
or the "Board") in  accordance  with the  provisions of the Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation,  as amended to date (hereinafter called the "Articles
of Incorporation"),  the Board of Directors hereby creates a series of Preferred
Stock,  par value $.01 per share (the  "Preferred  Stock"),  of the  Company and
hereby  states the  designation  and number of  shares,  and fixes the  relative
rights, preferences, and limitations thereof as follows:

         Series A Preferred Stock:

     Section 1.  Designation  and  Amount.  The shares of such  series  shall be
designated as "Series A Preferred Stock" (the "Series A Preferred  Stock"),  and
the number of shares  constituting  the Series A Preferred  Stock shall be Three
Hundred Thousand (300,000).  Such number of shares may be increased or decreased
by  resolution  of the Board of Directors;  provided,  that,  no decrease  shall
reduce the number of shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock to a number  less than
the number of shares then  outstanding  plus the number of shares  reserved  for
issuance upon the exercise of  outstanding  options,  rights or warrants or upon
the conversion of any outstanding  securities issued by the Company  convertible
into Series A Preferred Stock.
<PAGE>

                  Section 2.  Dividends and Distributions.

          (A)  Subject to the rights of the  holders of any shares of any series
     of Preferred  Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred  Stock"),  of
     the Company or Preferred  Stock (or any similar  stock)  ranking  prior and
     superior to the Series A Preferred  Stock with  respect to  dividends,  the
     holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders
     of Common  Stock,  par value $.01 per share (the  "Common  Stock"),  of the
     Company, and of any other junior 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 first day of
     March,  June,  September  and  December  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 Preferred  Stock, in an amount per
     share  (rounded to the nearest  cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1 or (b)
     subject to the provision for adjustment  hereinafter  set forth,  100 times
     (as adjusted,  the "Dividend  Multiple")  the aggregate per share amount of
     all cash  dividends,  and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable
     in kind) of all  non-cash  dividends or other  distributions,  other than a
     dividend  payable  in  shares  of  Common  Stock  or a  subdivision  of the
     outstanding  shares of Common  Stock (by  reclassification  or  otherwise),
     declared on the Common  Stock  since the  immediately  preceding  Quarterly
     Dividend  Payment  Date or, with  respect to the first  Quarterly  Dividend
     Payment Date,  since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share
     of Series A Preferred  Stock.  In the event the  Company  shall at any time
     declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
     Stock,  or effect a subdivision  or  combination  or  consolidation  of the
     outstanding shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification or otherwise) into
     a greater  or lesser  number of shares of Common  Stock,  then in each such
     case the Dividend  Multiple shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by
     a fraction,  the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
     outstanding  immediately  after such event and the  denominator of which is
     the  number of shares of Common  Stock  that were  outstanding  immediately
     prior to such event.

          (B) The Company shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series
     A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section  immediately
     after it declares a dividend or  distribution  on the Common  Stock  (other
     than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock);  provided, that, in the
     event no dividend or  distribution  shall have been  declared on the Common
     Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the
     next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1 per share
     on the  Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall  nevertheless  be payable on such
     subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

          (C) Dividends  shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on  outstanding
     shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
     next  preceding the date of issue of such shares,  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 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 and be
     cumulative from such Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date.  Accrued but unpaid
     dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A
     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 Preferred  Stock entitled to receive  payment
     of a dividend or distribution declared thereon,  which record date shall be
     not more than  sixty  (60)  days  prior to the date  fixed for the  payment
     thereof.
<PAGE>

     Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall have the following voting rights:

          (A) Subject to the provision  for  adjustment  hereinafter  set forth,
     each share of Series A Preferred  Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to
     100 votes (as adjusted,  the "Vote Multiple") on all matters submitted to a
     vote of the stockholders of the Company.  In the event the Company shall at
     any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock  payable in shares
     of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of
     the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification  or otherwise)
     into a greater  or lesser  number of shares of Common  Stock,  then in each
     such case the Vote Multiple shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by
     a fraction,  the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
     outstanding  immediately  after such event and the  denominator of which is
     the  number of shares of Common  Stock  that were  outstanding  immediately
     prior to such event.

          (B) Except as  otherwise  provided in Section 10 hereof,  in any other
     Certificate  of  Designations  creating a series of Preferred  Stock or any
     similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
     and the holders of shares of Common  Stock and any other  capital  stock of
     the Company  having  general voting rights shall vote together as one class
     on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Company.

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

     Section 4. Certain Restrictions.

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

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

               (ii) declare or pay dividends,  or 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  the  Series A
          Preferred  Stock,  except  dividends  paid  ratably  on the  Series  A
          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;
<PAGE>

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

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

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

     Section  5.  Reacquired  Shares.  Any  shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall be
retired and cancelled  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 subject to
the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Articles of
Incorporation,  or in any other Certificate of Designations creating a series of
Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by law.

     Section 6.  Liquidation,  Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any  liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company,  no distribution  shall be made (A) to
the holders of shares of stock  ranking  junior  (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation,  dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless,
prior  thereto,  the  holders of shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock shall have
received the greater of (i) $100 per share,  plus an amount equal to accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date
of such payment, or (ii) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth,  100 times (as  adjusted,  the  "Liquidation  Preference  Multiple")  the
aggregate  amount to be  distributed  per share to  holders  of shares of Common
Stock,  or (B) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity  (either as
to dividends or upon  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Preferred  Stock,  except  distributions  made ratably on the Series A Preferred
Stock and all such parity stock in  proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are entitled upon such  liquidation,  dissolution  or
winding  up. In the  event  the  Company  shall at any time  declare  or pay any
dividend  on the Common  Stock  payable in shares of Common  Stock,  or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding  shares of Common
Stock (by  reclassification  or  otherwise)  into a greater or lesser  number of
shares  of Common  Stock,  then in each  such  case the  Liquidation  Preference
Multiple  shall be  adjusted  by  multiplying  such  amount  by a  fraction  the
numerator  of  which  is the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  outstanding
immediately  after  such  event and the  denominator  of which is the  number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
<PAGE>

     Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case the Company shall enter into
any consolidation,  merger,  statutory exchange combination or other transaction
in which the shares of Common  Stock are  exchanged  for or  changed  into other
stock or securities,  cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each
share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly  exchanged
or changed into an amount per share,  subject to the  provision  for  adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times (as adjusted, the "Exchange Multiple")
the  aggregate  amount of stock,  securities,  cash  and/or  any other  property
(payable  in kind),  as the case may be,  into  which or for which each share of
Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Company shall at any time
declare  or pay any  dividend  on the Common  Stock  payable in shares of Common
Stock,  or  effect  a  subdivision  or  combination  or   consolidation  of  the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification  or otherwise)  into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common  Stock,  then in each such case the
Exchange  Multiple shall be adjusted by  multiplying  such amount by a fraction,
the  numerator  of which is the  number of shares  of Common  Stock  outstanding
immediately  after  such  event and the  denominator  of which is the  number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

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

     Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred  Stock shall rank,  with respect to
the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series of
any other class of Preferred Stock hereafter  issued that  specifically  provide
that they shall rank senior to the Series A Preferred Stock.

     Section  10.  Amendment.  If any  proposed  amendment  to the  Articles  of
Incorporation  or this  Certificate  of  Designation  would  alter or change the
preferences,  special rights or powers given to the Series A Preferred  Stock so
as to affect the Series A Preferred  Stock  adversely,  or would  authorize  the
issuance  of a class or  classes  of stock  having  preferences  or rights  with
respect to dividends or dissolutions or the distribution of assets that would be
superior to the preferences or rights of the Series A Preferred Stock,  then the
holders of the Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall be entitled to vote as a series
upon such amendment,  and the affirmative  vote of two-thirds of the outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred  Stock shall be necessary to the adoption  thereof,
in  addition to such other vote as may be  required  by the  Minnesota  Business
Corporation Act.

     Section 11.  Fractional  Shares.  Series A 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 Preferred Stock.

     I certify that I am authorized to execute this Certificate of Designations,
and I further  certify that I understand  that by signing this  Certificate I am
subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statutes,  Section
609.48, as if I had signed this Certificate under oath.


                                          Marlene O. Travis, President



<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT B


                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                       SHARES OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK


     On April 4, 1997,  the Board of Directors of Health Risk  Management,  Inc.
(the  "Company")  declared a dividend of one preferred  stock  purchase right (a
"Right") for each  outstanding  share of common stock,  par value $.01 per share
(the "Common Stock"), of the Company.  The dividend is payable on April 18, 1997
(the  "Record  Date") to the  stockholders  of record on that  date.  Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of
a share of Series A Preferred  Stock,  par value $.01 per share (the  "Preferred
Stock"),  of the  Company  at a  price  of  $50.00  per one  one-hundredth  of a
Preferred Share (the "Exercise Price"),  subject to adjustment.  The description
and terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights  Agreement dated as of April
4, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota,
N.A. as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

     Until the  earlier of (i) 10 days  following a public  announcement  by the
Company or a person or group of affiliated or associated  persons (an "Acquiring
Person") that such an Acquiring Person has acquired beneficial  ownership of 15%
or more of the outstanding  Common Stock or (ii) 10 business days (or such later
date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time
as any  person or group of  affiliated  persons  becomes  an  Acquiring  Person)
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 15% or more of the  outstanding  Common Stock
(the earlier of such dates being  called the  "Distribution  Date"),  the Rights
will  be  evidenced,  with  respect  to  any of the  Common  Stock  certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Stock  certificate with a copy
of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.

     The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights),  the Rights will be  transferable  with
and only  with  the  Common  Stock.  Until  the  Distribution  Date (or  earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights),  new Common Stock  certificates  issued
after the Record Date upon  transfer or new  issuance of shares of Common  Stock
will contain a notation  incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference.  Until
the Distribution Date (or earlier  redemption or expiration of the Rights),  the
surrender  for  transfer  of  any   certificates  for  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding as of the Record Date,  even without such notation or a copy of this
Summary of Rights being attached  thereto,  will also constitute the transfer of
the  Rights  associated  with the  shares of Common  Stock  represented  by such
certificate.  As soon as practicable  following the Distribution Date,  separate
certificates  evidencing  the Rights  ("Right  Certificates")  will be mailed to
holders  of  record  of the  Common  Stock as of the  close of  business  on the
Distribution Date and such separate Right  Certificates  alone will evidence the
Rights.
<PAGE>

     The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire  on April 4,  2007  (the  "Final  Expiration  Date"),  unless  the  Final
Expiration  Date is extended  or unless the Rights are  earlier  redeemed by the
Company, as described below.

     The Exercise Price payable,  and/or the number of shares of Preferred Stock
or other  securities  or  property  issuable,  upon  exercise  of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent  dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision,  combination or  reclassification  of, or
certain  distributions  on, the Common  Stock,  (ii) the  issuance to holders of
Preferred  Stock of certain  rights or  warrants  to  subscribe  for or purchase
Preferred Stock at a price, or securities  convertible into Preferred Stock with
a conversion  price,  less than the then current  market price of the  Preferred
Stock or (iii)  upon the  distribution  to  holders  of the  Preferred  Stock of
evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than regular periodic cash dividends)
or of subscription rights or warrants.

     Preferred  Stock  purchasable  upon  exercise  of the  Rights  will  not be
redeemable.  Each  share  of  Preferred  Stock  will be  entitled  to a  minimum
preferential  quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share but will be entitled to
an  aggregate  dividend of 100 times the  dividend  declared per share of Common
Stock. In the event of  liquidation,  the holders of the Preferred Stock will be
entitled  to a minimum  preferential  liquidation  payment of $100 per share but
will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per share
of Common  Stock.  Each share of  Preferred  Stock  will have 100 votes,  voting
together  with  the  Common  Stock.   Finally,  in  the  event  of  any  merger,
consolidation  or other  transaction  in which Common Stock is  exchanged,  each
share of  Preferred  Stock  will be  entitled  to  receive  100 times the amount
received  per share of Common  Stock.  These  rights are  protected by customary
anti-dilution provisions.

     Because of the nature of the Preferred  Stock's  dividend,  liquidation and
voting rights,  the value of the one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock
purchasable  upon  exercise of each Right  should  approximate  the value of one
share of Common Stock.

     In the event that any person or group of affiliated  or associated  persons
becomes an Acquiring Person,  proper provision shall be made so that each holder
of a Right, other than Rights  beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which
will  thereafter  be  void),  will  thereafter  have the right to  receive  upon
exercise  that number of shares of Preferred  Stock having a market value of two
(2) times the Exercise Price of the Right. In the event that,  after a person or
group has become an  Acquiring  Person,  the  Company is acquired in a merger or
other  business  combination  transaction  or fifty percent (50%) or more of its
consolidated  assets or earning power are sold, proper provision will be made so
that  each  registered  holder  of a Right  will  thereafter  have the  right to
receive,  upon the exercise  thereof at the then current  Exercise  Price of the
Right,  that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring  company which at
the time of such  transaction  will  have a market  value of two (2)  times  the
Exercise Price of the Right.

     At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior
to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more of the
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,  the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights  (except the Rights owned by such person or group which will
have become void),  in whole or in part, with each Right to be exchanged for the
number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result  obtained by dividing
the then  current  Exercise  Price by the then market value of a share of Common
Stock. This exchange ratio is subject to further adjustment to reflect any stock
splits, stock dividends or similar transactions  occurring thereafter.  If there
are  insufficient  shares of Common Stock  authorized but unissued to permit the
Company to complete any exchange of the Rights,  the Company may,  under certain
circumstances, substitute for each share of Common Stock that would otherwise be
issued upon such exchange of the Rights,  shares of Preferred  Stock with market
value  equal to the  market  value of the  shares of  Common  Stock  that  would
otherwise be issuable upon such exchange of the Rights.
<PAGE>

     No  fractional  shares  of  Preferred  Stock  will be  issued  (other  than
fractions  which  are  integral  multiples  of one  one-hundredth  of a share of
Preferred  Stock or, if a Right shall then be  exercisable  for a fraction other
than one one-hundredth of a share, integral multiples of that fraction, which in
either case may, at the  election of the Company,  be  evidenced  by  depositary
receipts) and in lieu  thereof,  an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
fair market value of the shares of Preferred Stock on the date of exercise.

     At any  time  prior to ten  days  (subject  to  extension  by the  Board of
Directors of the Company)  after the time an Acquiring  Person becomes such, the
Board of Directors  may redeem the Rights in whole,  but not in part, at a price
of $.001 per Right,  subject to adjustment for stock splits,  stock dividends or
similar transactions, (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights 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.  The right to exercise
the Rights will terminate immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, and the
only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

     The terms of the Rights may be  amended  by the Board of  Directors  of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights.

     Until a Right is  exercised,  the  holder  thereof,  as such,  will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.

     A copy of the  Rights  Agreement  has been filed  with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a Registration  Statement on Form 8-A dated
April 7, 1997. A copy of the Rights  Agreement is available  free of charge from
the  Company.  This  summary  description  of the Rights  does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights  Agreement,
which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
<PAGE>
                                                                
                                    EXHIBIT C

                           [Form of Right Certificate]


Certificate No. R-_______                                   _______ Rights


     NOT EXERCISABLE  AFTER APRIL 4, 2007 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY.
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $.001 PER
RIGHT (SUBJECT TO  ADJUSTMENT)  ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS  AGREEMENT.
UNDER CERTAIN  CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT,  RIGHTS THAT ARE
BENEFICIALLY  OWNED  BY,  OR WERE  ACQUIRED  FROM,  AN  ACQUIRING  PERSON  OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING  PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT) SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID.

                                Right Certificate

                          HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.


     This certifies that , or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the
number of Rights set forth above,  each of which  entitle the holder to thereof,
subject to the terms,  provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement,  dated
as of April 4, 1997 (the "Rights  Agreement"),  between HEALTH RISK  MANAGEMENT,
INC., a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"),  and NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N.A.
(the  "Rights  Agent"),  to  purchase  from the  Company  at any time  after the
Distribution  Date (as defined in the Rights  Agreement)  and prior to 5:00 P.M.
(Minneapolis time) on April 4, 2007 at the office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose,  or its  successors as Rights Agent,  one-hundredth
(1/100) of a fully paid,  non-assessable  share of Series A Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred  Stock")  of  the  Company,   at  a  purchase  price  of  $50.00  per
one-hundredth  (1/100) of a share (the "Exercise Price"),  upon presentation and
surrender  of this Right  Certificate  with the Form of Election to Purchase and
related Certificate duly executed.

     The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of
shares which may be purchased  upon exercise  thereof) set forth above,  and the
Exercise Price set forth above, are the number and Exercise Price as of April 4,
1997,  based on the Preferred  Stock as constituted at such date. As provided in
the Rights  Agreement,  the Exercise  Price and the number and kind of shares of
Preferred Stock or other  securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of
the Rights  evidenced by this Right  Certificate  are subject to adjustment upon
the occurrence of certain events.

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

     This Right  Certificate,  with or without  other Right  Certificates,  upon
surrender at the principal  office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such  purpose,   may  be  exchanged  for  another  Right  Certificate  or  Right
Certificates  of like tenor and date evidencing  Rights  entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
as  the  Rights  evidenced  by  the  Right  Certificate  or  Right  Certificates
surrendered  shall  have  entitled  such  holder  to  purchase.  If  this  Right
Certificate  shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive
upon surrender  hereof another Right  Certificate or Right  Certificates for the
number of whole Rights unexercised.
<PAGE>

     Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement,  the Rights evidenced by
this  Certificate  (i)  may be  redeemed  by the  Company  at  its  option  at a
redemption  price of $.001 per Right,  subject to  adjustment as provided in the
Rights  Agreement,  at any time prior to the earlier of the close of business on
(A) the tenth day following the Stock  Acquisition Date (such time period may be
extended  pursuant to the Rights Agreement) or (B) the Final Expiration Date (as
defined in the Rights Agreement), and (ii) may, at the option of the Company, be
exchanged  in whole or in part for  Preferred  Stock or shares of the  Company's
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share.

     No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise of
any Right or Rights  evidenced  hereby (other than fractions  which are integral
multiples  of one  one-hundredth  of a share of  Preferred  Stock or, if a Right
shall then be  exercisable  for a fraction  other  than one  one-hundredth  of a
share,  integral  multiples of that  fraction,  which in either case may, at the
election of the  Company,  be  evidenced by  depositary  receipts),  but in lieu
thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

     No holder of this Right Certificate,  as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred
Stock  or of any  other  securities  of the  Company  which  may at any  time be
issuable on the  exercise  hereof,  nor shall  anything  contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof,  as such, any
of the  rights  of a  stockholder  of the  Company  or any right to vote for the
election  of  directors  or upon any matter  submitted  to  stockholders  at any
meeting thereof,  or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or, to
receive notice of meetings or other actions  affecting  stockholders  (except as
provided  in the Rights  Agreement),  or to receive  dividends  or  subscription
rights,  or  otherwise,  until  the  Right or  Rights  evidenced  by this  Right
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.

     From and  after the  first  occurrence  of an event  described  in  Section
11(a)(ii)  of  the  Rights  Agreement,   any  Rights  evidenced  by  this  Right
Certificate that are Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person, any Associate or
Affiliate of such Acquiring Person or certain  transferees of any such Acquiring
Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) (as such terms are defined in the
Rights  Agreement)  shall be null and void without further action and any holder
of such Rights shall  thereafter have no rights  whatsoever with respect to such
Rights.

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

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

Dated as of _____________ ___, ______.


ATTEST:                                HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.


By:                                    By:
Its:                                   Its:


Countersigned:

NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N.A.
as Rights Agent


By:
    Authorized Signature


<PAGE>

                   [Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]


                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT


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


FOR VALUE RECEIVED _____________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

_______________________________________________________________________________
                  (Please print name and address of transferee)

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

THE  UNDERSIGNED  HEREBY  CERTIFIES  that the  Rights  evidenced  by this  Right
Certificate  are not  beneficially  owned by,  and were not  acquired  from,  an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate  thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement).

Dated: _______________, ____



                                    Signature


THE SIGNATURES TO THIS FORM OF ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND TO THE NAME AS WRITTEN
UPON THE FACE OF THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR,  WITHOUT ALTERATION
OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER,  AND MUST BE MEDALLION GUARANTEED BY AN
ELIGIBLE  INSTITUTION  AS  DEFINED  IN SECTION  240.17  Ad-15 OF THE  SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
<PAGE>


            [Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued]

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

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

To HEALTH RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.

     The undersigned hereby  irrevocably  elects to exercise  ___________ Rights
represented by this Right  Certificate to purchase the Preferred  Stock issuable
upon exercise of such Rights and requests that  certificates  for such Preferred
Stock be 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 Right 
Certificate, a new  Right  Certificate  for the  balance  remaining  of such  
Rights  shall  be registered in the name of and delivered to:

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

THE  UNDERSIGNED  HEREBY  CERTIFIES  that the  Rights  evidenced  by this  Right
Certificate  are not  beneficially  owned by,  and were not  acquired  from,  an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate  thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement).

Dated:  _______________, ______


                                    Signature


THE SIGNATURES TO THIS FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE MUST  CORRESPOND TO THE NAME
AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR,  WITHOUT
ALTERATION  OR  ENLARGEMENT  OR ANY  CHANGE  WHATSOEVER,  AND MUST BE  MEDALLION
GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE  INSTITUTION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 240.17 Ad-15 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.


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