FALCON DRILLING CO INC
8-K, 1997-06-25
DRILLING OIL & GAS WELLS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    ---------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)          June 25, 1997
                                                    ------------------------



                          Falcon Drilling Company, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>                          <C>
        Delaware                     0-26388                         76-0351754
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission                  (IRS Employer
    of Incorporation)                File Number)                Identification No.)

</TABLE>



             1900 West Loop South, Suite 1800, Houston, Texas 77027
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                    (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number including area code       (713)  623-8984
                                                   --------------------------



               Not Applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)





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 ITEM    5.     OTHER EVENTS.

               On June 25, 1997, the Board of Directors of Falcon Drilling
Company, Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend of one share of common stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Common Shares") for each outstanding Common Share
of the Company. The dividend is payable to the stockholders of record on July 9,
1997.

               Also on June 25, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company
declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each
outstanding Common Share of the Company. The dividend is payable on July 16,
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-thousandth
of a share of Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value (the
"Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of $125.00 per one one-thousandth
of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as
of June 25, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights
Agreement"), between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as
Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

               Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares (except that S-C Rig Investments, L. P., currently a
principal shareholder of the Company, shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring
Person unless it and its affiliates acquire 40% or more) 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 10% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being called the
"Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the
Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common
Share certificate.

               The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date
(or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be
transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date
(or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share
certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of
Common Shares 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 Common Shares
outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this
Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Shares 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 Shares
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 the date sixty days after the next annual meeting of
stockholders of the Company, unless the




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expiration is delayed by the Board of Directors, which it may be in each
successive year, but in no event beyond July 16, 2007 (the "Final Expiration
Date"), unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are
earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.

               The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or
securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than
the then-current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or
retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription
rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

               The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are
also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or
a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.

               Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not
be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a preferential quarterly
dividend payment equal to the greater of (i) $1 per share, and (ii) 1,000 times
the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of liquidation, the holders
of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a preferential liquidation payment
equal to the greater of (i) $100 per share, and (ii) 1,000 times the payment
made per Common Share. Each Preferred Share will have one vote, voting together
with the Common Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or
other transaction in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share
will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per Common Share.
These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.

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

               In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the Rights Agreement provides 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 Common Shares having a market value of two 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 50% or
more of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group, which will
have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common
Share, or one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or





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of a share of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock having
equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to
adjustment).

               The Rights Agreement provides that none of the Company's
directors, officers or financial advisers shall be deemed to beneficially own
any Common Shares owned by any other director, officer or financial adviser by
virtue of such persons acting in their capacities as such, including in
connection with the formulation and publication of the Board of Directors
recommendation of its position, and actions taken in furtherance thereof, with
respect to an acquisition proposal relating to the Company or a tender or
exchange offer for the Common Shares.

               In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other
business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or
earning power are sold after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person,
proper provision will be made so that each 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 times the exercise price of the Right.

               With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will
be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share, which 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
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.

               At any time prior to such time as any person or group of
affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of
Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a
price of $.001 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights
may be made effective at such time on such basis with such conditions as the
Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any
redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

               The Rights Agreement provides that, if as of June 25, 1997, any
person or group of affiliated or associated persons beneficially own 10% or more
of the outstanding Common Shares, such person or group will not be deemed to be
or to have become an "Acquiring Person" until August 1, 1997, and on such date
will be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" if, but only if, as of such date,
such person or group beneficially own 10% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares; provided, however, that if such person or group shall, subsequent to
June 25, 1997, acquire any additional Common Shares, then such person or group
shall thereupon be deemed an Acquiring Person.

               The terms of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of
Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights,
including, prior to the time any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, an
amendment to (a) specifically exempt any





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person or group of affiliated or associated persons from being or being deemed
to be an "Acquiring Person," subject to such terms and conditions as the Company
deem appropriate, (b) fix a Final Expiration Date later than July 16, 2007, or
(c) increase the Purchase Price. From and after such time as any person or group
of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, no such
amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other
than the Acquiring Person and its affiliates and associates). In addition, if as
of the close of business on June 25, 1997, any person or group of affiliated or
associated persons beneficially owned 10% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding, the Rights Agreement may be amended at any time prior to August 1,
1997, to exempt such person from being deemed to be or to have become an
"Acquiring Person" (but only if such person does not acquire any additional
Common Shares subsequent to June 25, 1997), subject to such terms and conditions
as the Board of Directors of the Company deem necessary or appropriate.

               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 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.

ITEM 7.         EXHIBIT LIST

Exhibit No.           Description
- -----------           -----------

4       Rights Agreement dated as of June 25, 1997, including Exhibit A, "Form
        of Certificate of Designation"; Exhibit B, "Form of Right Certificate";
        Exhibit C, "Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares."

99.1    Press release, dated June 25, 1997, relating to the declaration of a
        common stock dividend and the adoption of the Shareholder Rights Plan.







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                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                            FALCON DRILLING COMPANY, INC.

Date: June 25, 1997                         By      /s/ Steven A. Webster
                                                ________________________________
                                                 Name:  Steven A. Webster
                                                 Title: Chairman and C.E.O.


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                          FALCON DRILLING COMPANY, INC.

                                       and

                    AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY,
                                 as Rights Agent

                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                            Dated as of June 25, 1997






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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>         <C>                                                                             <C>
Section 1.   Certain Definitions.............................................................1
Section 2.   Appointment of Rights Agent.....................................................4
Section 3.   Issue of Right Certificates.....................................................4
Section 4.   Form of Right Certificates......................................................6
Section 5.   Countersignature and Registration...............................................6
Section 6.   Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated,
             Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates....................................6
Section 7.   Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights...................7
Section 8.   Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates..............................8
Section 9.   Availability of Preferred Shares................................................8
Section 10.  Preferred Shares Record Date....................................................9
Section 11.  Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights.....9
Section 12.  Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.....................15
Section 13.  Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power...........15
Section 14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares........................................16
Section 15.  Rights of Action...............................................................17
Section 16.  Agreement of Right Holders.....................................................17
Section 17.  Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder..............................18
Section 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent....................................................18
Section 19.  Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent......................18
Section 20.  Duties of Rights Agent.........................................................19
Section 21.  Change of Rights Agent.........................................................20
Section 22.  Issuance of New Right Certificates.............................................21
Section 23.  Redemption.....................................................................21
Section 24.  Exchange.......................................................................22
Section 25.  Notice of Certain Events.......................................................23
Section 26.  Notices........................................................................24
Section 27.  Supplements and Amendments.....................................................24
Section 28.  Successors.....................................................................25
Section 29.  Benefits of this Agreement.....................................................25
Section 30.  Severability...................................................................25
Section 31.  Governing Law..................................................................25
Section 32.  Counterparts...................................................................25
Section 33.  Descriptive Headings...........................................................25
Section 34.  Administration.................................................................25

</TABLE>



Exhibit A -    Form of Certificate of Designations

Exhibit B -    Form of Right Certificate

Exhibit C -    Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares





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               Agreement,  dated  as of June  25,  1997  ("Agreement"),  between
Falcon Drilling  Company,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent").

               The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared
a dividend of one  preferred  share  purchase  right (a "Right") for each Common
Share  (as  hereinafter  defined)  of the  Company  outstanding  at the Close of
Business on July 16, 1997 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing the right
to purchase one one-thousandth  (subject to adjustment) of a Preferred Share (as
hereinafter  defined),  upon the terms and subject to the conditions  herein set
forth,  and has  further  authorized  and  directed  the  issuance  of one Right
(subject to  adjustment)  with  respect to each Common  Share that shall  become
outstanding  between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution  Date,
the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter
defined).

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

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

               (a)  "Acquiring  Person"  shall  mean any Person (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 10% or more of the Common Shares
of the  Company  then  outstanding,  but  shall not  include  the  Company,  any
Subsidiary  (as such term is hereinafter  defined) of the Company,  any employee
benefit  plan of the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the  Company,  or any entity
holding  Common  Shares  for  or  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  any  such  plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing:  (i) no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person"
as the  result of an  acquisition  of Common  Shares by the  Company  which,  by
reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of
shares  beneficially owned by such Person to 10% or more of the Common Shares of
the Company then outstanding;  provided,  however, that if a Person shall become
the  Beneficial  Owner of 10% or more of the Common  Shares of the Company  then
outstanding  by reason of share  purchases by the Company and shall,  after such
share  purchases by the Company,  become the Beneficial  owner of any additional
Common  Shares  of the  Company,  then  such  Person  shall be  deemed  to be an
"Acquiring  Person,"  unless  upon  the  consummation  of  such  acquisition  of
beneficial  ownership by such Person such Person is not the Beneficial  owner of
10% or more of the  Common  Shares of the  Company  then  outstanding;  (ii) any
Person  who, as of the Close of Business  on June 25,  1997,  is the  Beneficial
owner of 10% or more of the Common  Shares of the  Company  outstanding  at such
time shall not be deemed to be or to have  become an  "Acquiring  Person"  until
August 1, 1997,  and on August 1, 1997 shall be deemed to an "Acquiring  Person"
if, but only if, as of the Close of Business  on August 1, 1997,  such Person is
the  Beneficial  Owner of 10% or more of the Common  Shares of the Company  then
outstanding,  provided  that if such Person  shall,  subsequent  to the Close of
Business on June 25, 1997,  become the Beneficial owner of any additional Common
Shares of the  Company,  then such  Person  shall  thereupon  be deemed to be an
"Acquiring  Person,"  unless  upon  the  consummation  of  such  acquisition  of
beneficial  ownership by such Person such Person is not the Beneficial  owner of
10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding;  (iii) S-C Rig
Investments,





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L.P. and its Affiliates  and  Associates  shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring
Person  so long as they  are the  Beneficial  Owner  of no more  than 40% of the
Common  Shares  of the  Company  then  outstanding;  and  (iv) if the  Board  of
Directors  of the  Company  determines  in good  faith  that a Person  who would
otherwise  be an  "Acquiring  Person,"  as  defined  pursuant  to the  foregoing
provisions of this paragraph (a), became such inadvertently (including,  without
limitation,  because (x) such Person was unaware  that it  beneficially  owned a
percentage of the Common Shares of the Company that would  otherwise  cause such
Person to be an "Acquiring Person" or (y) such Person was aware of the extent of
its  beneficial  ownership  of Common  Shares of the  Company  but had no actual
knowledge of the consequences of such beneficial ownership under this Agreement)
and without any intention of changing or influencing control of the Company, and
if such  Person  as  promptly  as  practicable  divested  or  divests  itself of
beneficial  ownership of a sufficient  number of Common Shares of the Company so
that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person" as defined pursuant to
the foregoing  provisions of this  paragraph  (a), then such Person shall not be
deemed to be or to have become an  "Acquiring  Person" for any  purposes of this
Agreement.

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

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

                      (i)  which such Person or any of such Person's  Affiliates
               or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;

                      (ii) which such Person or any of such Person's  Affiliates
               or Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is
               exercisable  immediately  or only  after  the  passage  of  time)
               pursuant to any agreement,  arrangement or  understanding  (other
               than  customary  agreements  with and  between  underwriters  and
               selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering
               of  securities),  or upon  the  exercise  of  conversion  rights,
               exchange  rights,  rights (other than 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 or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
               or  Associates  until such tendered  securities  are accepted for
               purchase or  exchange;  or (B) the right to vote  pursuant to any
               agreement,   arrangement  or  understanding;   provided  further,
               however,  that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial  Owner
               of,  or to  beneficially  own,  any  security  if the  agreement,
               arrangement  or  understanding  to vote such  security (1) arises
               solely from a revocable  proxy or consent given to such Person in
               response to a public proxy or consent  solicitation made pursuant
               to, and in accordance  with, the applicable rules and regulations
               promulgated  under  the  Exchange  Act and (2) is not  also  then
               reportable  on  Schedule  13D  under  the  Exchange  Act  (or any
               comparable or successor report); or


                                        2





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                      (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)  for the
               purpose  of  acquiring,  holding,  voting  (except  to the extent
               contemplated by the proviso to Section  1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing
               of any securities of the Company.

                      Notwithstanding  anything in this definition of Beneficial
Owner 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 own beneficially hereunder.

                      Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  none  of  the  Company's
directors,  officers or financial  advisers shall be deemed to be the Beneficial
Owner of, or to beneficially  own, any Common Shares of the Company owned by any
other  director,  officer or financial  adviser of the Company by virtue of such
persons acting in their capacities as such,  including,  without limitation,  in
connection  with any  formulation  and  publication  of the Board of  Director's
recommendation of a position, and any actions taken in furtherance thereof, with
respect to any  acquisition  proposal  relating  to the  Company,  any tender or
exchange  offer for the Common  Shares of the Company,  or any  solicitation  of
proxies with respect to the Common Shares of the Company.

               (d)  "Business  Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,  a
Sunday,  or a day on which banking  institutions  in New York are  authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.

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

               (f) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall
mean the  shares of common  stock,  par value $.01 per  share,  of the  Company.
"Common  Shares"  when used with  reference to any Person other than the Company
shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power
of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person,
the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.

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

               (h) "Final  Expiration Date" shall mean the date sixty days after
the Company's  next annual  meeting of  stockholders  unless,  after such annual
meeting of stockholders but prior to the end of such sixty-day period, the Board
of Directors of the Company  shall have  determined  by  resolution to delay the
Final Expiration Date until the date sixty days after the Company's first annual
meeting of stockholders following such resolution, and the Board of Directors of
the Company may continue to successively delay the Final Expiration Date in like
manner by resolution during the  sixty-



                                        3




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day period following each annual meeting of stockholders,  provided,  that in no
event shall the Final Expiration Date be delayed beyond July 16, 2007.

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

               (j)  "Preferred  Shares"  shall  mean  shares  of Series C Junior
Participating  Preferred  Stock,  no par value, of the Company having the rights
and preferences set forth in the Form of Certificate of Designations attached to
this Agreement as Exhibit A.

               (k) "Purchase  Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(b) hereof.

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

               (m) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement  (which for purposes of this  definition,  shall  include,  without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the
Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.

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

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

               Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.  (a) Until the earlier of
(i) the tenth day after the Shares  Acquisition  Date or (ii) the tenth Business
Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors
prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring  Person) after the date of
the  commencement  by any Person (other than the Company,  any Subsidiary of the
Company,  any employee  benefit plan of the Company or of any  Subsidiary of the
Company or any entity  holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any
such  plan) of, or of the first  public  announcement  of the  intention  of any
Person  (other than the Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the Company,  any employee
benefit  plan of the Company or of any  Subsidiary  of the Company or any entity
holding  Common  Shares  for or  pursuant  to the  terms  of any  such  plan) to
commence,  a tender or exchange offer the  consummation of which would result in
any Person  becoming the Beneficial  owner of Common Shares  aggregating  10% or
more of the then  outstanding  Common Shares  (including  any such date which is
after the date of this  Agreement  and prior to the issuance of the Rights;  the
earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution  Date"), (x)
the Rights will be evidenced  (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof)
by the  certificates  for Common  Shares  registered in the names of the holders
thereof and not by  separate  Right  Certificates,  and (y) the right to receive
Right Certificates will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of


                                        4




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<PAGE>



Common Shares. 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,  insured,  postage-prepaid  mail,  to each record  holder of Common
Shares as of the Close of Business on the  Distribution  Date, at the address of
such  holder  shown on the  records  of the  Company,  a Right  Certificate,  in
substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right  Certificate"),  evidencing
one Right  (subject  to  adjustment)  for each Common  Share so held.  As of the
Distribution   Date,  the  Rights  will  be  evidenced   solely  by  such  Right
Certificates.

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

               (c)  Certificates  for Common  Shares  which  become  outstanding
(including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last
sentence of this  paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest
of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date shall
have  impressed  on,  printed on,  written on or  otherwise  affixed to them the
following legend:

               This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
               certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement  between Falcon
               Drilling  Company,  Inc.  and  American  Stock  Transfer  & Trust
               Company,  dated as of June 25,  1997,  as the same may be amended
               from time to time, (the "Rights  Agreement"),  the terms of which
               are hereby  incorporated  herein by reference and a copy of which
               is on file at the principal  executive offices of Falcon Drilling
               Company, Inc.. Under certain  circumstances,  as set forth in the
               Rights  Agreement,  such  Rights  will be  evidenced  by separate
               certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate.
               Falcon  Drilling  Company,  Inc.  will mail to the holder of this
               certificate a copy of the Rights  Agreement  without charge after
               receipt   of  a   written   request   therefor.   Under   certain
               circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights owned
               by any Person who is or becomes an  Acquiring  Person (as defined
               in the Rights  Agreement)  and  certain  transferees  thereof may
               become null and void.

With respect to such  certificates  containing the foregoing  legend,  until the
Distribution  Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares  represented by
such  certificates  shall  be  evidenced  by such  certificates  alone,  and the
surrender  for  transfer  of any such  certificate  shall  also  constitute  the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. In
the event that the Company  purchases  or acquires  any Common  Shares after the
Record Date but prior to the

                                        5




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<PAGE>



Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed
canceled  and retired so that the Company  shall not be entitled to exercise any
Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding.

               Section  4. Form of Right  Certificates.  The Right  Certificates
(and the forms of election to purchase  Preferred Shares and of assignment to be
printed on the reverse  thereof)  shall be  substantially  the same as Exhibit B
hereto  and may  have  such  marks of  identification  or  designation  and such
legends,  summaries  or  endorsements  printed  thereon as the  Company may deem
appropriate and as are not  inconsistent  with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be  required  to comply  with any  applicable  law or with any rule or
regulation  made  pursuant  thereto or with any rule or  regulation of any stock
exchange  on which the Rights may from time to time be listed,  or to conform to
usage.  Subject to the provisions of Section 22 hereof,  the Right  Certificates
shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths
of a Preferred  Share as shall be set forth therein at the Purchase  Price,  but
the number of such one  one-thousandths  of a Preferred  Share and the  Purchase
Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.

               Section  5.   Countersignature   and   Registration.   The  Right
Certificates  shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its  Chairman of the
Board, its Chief Executive Officer,  its President,  any of its Vice Presidents,
or its Treasurer,  either manually or by facsimile signature, shall have affixed
thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof,  and shall be attested by the
Secretary  or an  Assistant  Secretary  of the  Company,  either  manually or by
facsimile signature.  The Right Certificates shall be manually  countersigned by
the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In
case  any  officer  of the  Company  who  shall  have  signed  any of the  Right
Certificates   shall   cease  to  be  such   officer  of  the   Company   before
countersignature  by the Rights  Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company,
such Right Certificates,  nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent
and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though
the person who signed such Right  Certificates had not ceased to be such officer
of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company
by  any  person  who,  at the  actual  date  of  the  execution  of  such  Right
Certificate,  shall  be a proper  officer  of the  Company  to sign  such  Right
Certificate,  although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any
such person was not such an officer.

               Following the  Distribution  Date,  the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal  office,  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.  Subject
to the provisions of Section 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  Redemption  Date  or  the  Final  Expiration  Date,  any  Right
Certificate or Right Certificates  (other than Right  Certificates  representing
Rights that have become void pursuant to Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof or that have
been  exchanged  pursuant  to Section 24 hereof) may be  transferred,  split up,
combined or  exchanged  for another  Right  Certificate  or Right  Certificates,
entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share



                                        6




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



as the Right  Certificate or Right  Certificates  surrendered then entitled such
holder to  purchase.  Any  registered  holder  desiring to  transfer,  split up,
combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right  Certificates shall make such
request in writing  delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right
Certificate  or Right  Certificates  to be  transferred,  split up,  combined or
exchanged at the  principal  office of the Rights  Agent.  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 tax or governmental
charge  that  may  be  imposed  in  connection  with  any  transfer,  split  up,
combination or exchange of Right Certificates.

               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,  at the  Company's  request,
reimbursement  to the Company and the Rights  Agent of all  reasonable  expenses
incidental  thereto,  and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right  Certificate  if  mutilated,  the Company  will make and deliver a new
Right  Certificate  of like  tenor  to the  Rights  Agent  for  delivery  to the
registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated.

               Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.  (a) The registered  holder of any Right Certificate may, subject to the
second paragraph of Section  11(a)(ii),  exercise the Rights  evidenced  thereby
(except as otherwise  provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution  Date upon  surrender  of the Right  Certificate,  with the form of
election to purchase on the reverse side thereof  duly  executed,  to the Rights
Agent at the principal office of the Rights Agent,  together with payment of the
Purchase Price for each one  one-thousandth of a Preferred Share as to which the
Rights are  exercised,  at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of Business
on the Final  Expiration Date, (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as
provided  in Section 23 hereof  (the  "Redemption  Date"),  or (iii) the time at
which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.

               (b) The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share  purchasable  pursuant  to the  exercise  of a Right  shall  initially  be
$125.00,  and shall be subject to  adjustment  from time to time as  provided in
Section  11 or 13 hereof  and shall be  payable  in lawful  money of the  United
States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below (the "Purchase Price").

               (c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate  representing exercisable
Rights,  with the form of election to purchase  duly  executed,  accompanied  by
payment of the Purchase Price for the shares to be purchased and an amount equal
to any  applicable  transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance  with Section 9 hereof by certified  check,  cashier's
check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall
thereupon  promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred
Shares  certificates  for the number of Preferred Shares to be purchased and the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests,  or (B)  requisition  from the depositary  agent  depositary  receipts
representing  interests in such number one  one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
as are to be purchased  (in which case  certificates  for the  Preferred  Shares
represented by such receipts shall be


                                        7




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>





deposited  by the  transfer  agent with the  depositary  agent) and the  Company
hereby  directs  the  depositary  agent to comply with such  request,  (ii) when
appropriate,  requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu
of issuance of  fractional  shares in accordance  with Section 14 hereof,  (iii)
after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts,  cause the same to be
delivered  to or  upon  the  order  of  the  registered  holder  of  such  Right
Certificate,  registered  in such  name or  names as may be  designated  by such
holder and (iv) when  appropriate,  after receipt,  deliver such cash to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.

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

               Section 8.  Cancellation  and Destruction of Right  Certificates.
All Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise,  transfer, split
up,  combination or exchange  shall,  if surrendered to the Company or to any of
its agents,  be delivered to the Rights  Agent for  cancellation  or in canceled
form, or, if  surrendered  to the Rights Agent,  shall be canceled by it, and no
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 so
cancel and retire,  any other  Right  Certificate  purchased  or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver
all canceled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request
of the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.

               Section  9.  Availability  of  Preferred   Shares.   The  Company
covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of
its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares or any Preferred Shares held in its
treasury,  the number of Preferred  Shares that will be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all  outstanding  Rights in  accordance  with Section 7. The
Company  covenants  and  agrees  that it will  take  all such  action  as may be
necessary to ensure that all Preferred  Shares delivered upon exercise of Rights
shall,  at the time of delivery of the  certificates  for such Preferred  Shares
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price),  be duly and validly  authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.

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


                                        8




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<PAGE>


               Section 10.  Preferred  Shares Record Date.  Each Person in whose
name any certificate for Preferred  Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights
shall for all  purposes  be deemed to have  become  the  holder of record of the
Preferred Shares  represented  thereby on, and such certificate  shall be dated,
the date upon  which the  Right  Certificate  evidencing  such  Rights  was duly
surrendered  and  payment of the  Purchase  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  Shares transfer books of the Company
are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such
shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day
on which the Preferred  Shares transfer books of the Company are open.  Prior to
the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby,  the holder of a Right Certificate
shall not be  entitled to any rights of a holder of  Preferred  Shares for which
the Rights shall be exercisable,  including,  without  limitation,  the right to
vote, to receive dividends or other  distributions or to exercise any preemptive
rights,  and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any  proceedings  of
the Company, except as provided herein.

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

               (a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date
of this  Agreement  (A) declare a dividend on the  Preferred  Shares  payable in
Preferred Shares,  (B) subdivide the outstanding  Preferred Shares,  (C) combine
the outstanding  Preferred  Shares into a smaller number of Preferred  Shares or
(D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred
Shares (including any such  reclassification  in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the  Company is the  continuing  or  surviving  corporation),
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect
at the time of the record  date for such  dividend or of the  effective  date of
such subdivision,  combination or  reclassification,  and the number and kind of
shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted
so that the holder of any Right  exercised  after such time shall be entitled to
receive the aggregate  number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such
Right had been exercised  immediately  prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have
owned  upon  such  exercise  and been  entitled  to  receive  by  virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification;  provided, however, that
in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be
less than the  aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company
issuable upon exercise of one Right.

                      (ii)   Subject  to Section  24 of this  Agreement,  in the
event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (the first occurrence of such event
being referred to hereinafter  as the "Flip-In  Event"),  then: (A) the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price in effect  immediately prior to
the Flip-In Event multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such Flip-In Event,
whether or not such Right was then exercisable,  and (E) each holder of a Right,
except as otherwise  provided in this Section  11(a)(ii) and Section  11(a)(iii)
hereof,  shall thereafter have the right to receive,  upon exercise thereof at a
price equal to the Purchase Price (as so adjusted), in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares,  such number of Common Shares
as shall  equal the  result  obtained  by  dividing  the  Purchase  Price (as so
adjusted) by 50% of the current per share market price


                                        9


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<PAGE>


of the Common Shares  (determined  pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date
of such  Flip-In  Event,  provided,  however,  that the  Purchase  Price  (as so
adjusted) and the number of Common Shares so receivable upon exercise of a Right
shall,  following  the  Flip-In  Event,  be  subject to  further  adjustment  as
appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof.  From and after the Flip-In
Event, the Company shall not take any action (except as permitted under Sections
24 and 27 hereof) which would eliminate or diminish the benefits  intended to be
afforded by the Rights.

               Notwithstanding  anything  in  this  Agreement  to the  contrary,
however,  from and after the Flip-In  Event,  any Rights  that are  beneficially
owned  by (x)  any  Acquiring  Person  (or any  Affiliate  or  Associate  of any
Acquiring  Person),  (y) a  transferee  of any  Acquiring  Person  (or any  such
Affiliate or Associate) who becomes a transferee  after the Flip-In Event or (z)
a transferee of any Acquiring  Person (or any such  Affiliate or Associate)  who
became a transferee prior to or concurrently  with the Flip-In Event pursuant to
either  (I) a  transfer  from the  Acquiring  Person to  holders  of its  equity
securities  or to  any  Person  with  whom  it  has  any  continuing  agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (II) a transfer
which the Board of  Directors of the Company has  determined  is part of a plan,
arrangement  or  understanding  which has the purpose or effect of avoiding  the
provisions of this paragraph,  and subsequent transferees of such Persons, shall
be void  without  any  further  action  and any  holder  of  such  Rights  shall
thereafter  have no rights  whatsoever  with  respect to such  Rights  under any
provision of this Agreement.  Without limitation to the foregoing,  (x) 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,  (y) 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 preceding  sentence
or any  Associate  or  Affiliate  thereof or to any  nominee  of such  Acquiring
Person,  Associate or Affiliate,  and (z) any Right Certificate delivered to the
Rights  Agent for  transfer to an  Acquiring  Person  whose Rights would be void
pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be canceled.

               (iii) In the event  that  there  shall not be  sufficient  Common
Shares  issued but not  outstanding  or  authorized  but  unissued to permit 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
additional  Common Shares for issuance upon exercise of the Rights. In the event
the Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as
may be necessary to authorize such additional  Common Shares,  the Company shall
substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exercise
of a Right,  a number of  Preferred  Shares or  fraction  thereof  such that the
current per share market price of one Preferred Share  multiplied by such number
or fraction is equal to the current per share  market  price of one Common Share
as of the date of issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.

               (b) In case the Company  shall fix a record date for the issuance
of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them
(for a period  expiring  within 45  calendar  days  after such  record  date) to
subscribe  for or purchase  Preferred  Shares (or shares having the same rights,
privileges  and  preferences  as the  Preferred  Shares  ("equivalent  preferred
shares"))  or  securities   convertible  into  Preferred  Shares  or  equivalent
preferred  shares  at a  Preferred  Share  or  equivalent  preferred  share  (or
conversion  price per share, if a security  convertible into Preferred Shares or
equivalent  preferred  shares) less than the then current per share market price
of the Shares (as defined in Section  11(d)) on such record  date,  the Purchase
Price to be in effect after such record date shall



                                       10


<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>




be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect  immediately  prior to
such record date by a fraction,  the  numerator  of which shall be the number of
Preferred  Shares  outstanding  on such record date plus the number of Preferred
Shares  which the  aggregate  offering  price of the total  number of  Preferred
Shares and/or equivalent preferred 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 market price and the  denominator of which shall be the
number of Preferred  Shares  outstanding  on such record date plus the number of
additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred 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 the  Board of
Directors of the Company,  whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent.  Preferred  Shares owned by or held for the account
of the  Company  shall not be deemed  outstanding  for the  purpose  of any such
computation.  Such adjustment shall be made successively  whenever such a record
date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so
issued,  the  Purchase  Price shall be adjusted to be the  Purchase  Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

               (c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of
a  distribution  to all  holders of the  Preferred  Shares  (including  any such
distribution  made in  connection  with a  consolidation  or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Preferred Shares) or subscription  rights or warrants  (excluding those referred
to in Section  11(b)  hereof),  the  Purchase  Price to be in effect  after such
record date shall be  determined  by  multiplying  the Purchase  Price in effect
immediately  prior to such  record date by a fraction,  the  numerator  of which
shall be the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on such
record  date,  less the fair market  value (as  determined  in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company,  whose  determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the assets or evidences
of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription  rights or warrants
applicable to one  Preferred  Share and the  denominator  of which shall be such
current per share market price of the Preferred Shares; 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 Purchase  Price shall again be adjusted to be
the  Purchase  Price  which  would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.

               (d)  (i)  For  the  purpose  of any  computation  hereunder,  the
"current per share market price" of any security (a  "Security"  for the purpose
of this  Section  11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such 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 current per share market price of
the Security is determined  during a period  following the  announcement  by the
issuer of such  Security  of (A) a dividend  or  distribution  on such  Security
payable in shares of such Security or securities  convertible

                                       11




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



into such shares,  or (B) any subdivision,  combination or  reclassification  of
such  Security  and  prior  to the  expiration  of 30  Trading  Days  after  the
ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution,  or the record date for such
subdivision,  combination or reclassification,  then, and in each such case, the
current per share  market price shall be  appropriately  adjusted to reflect the
current market price per share  equivalent of such  Security.  The closing price
for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes  place on such day,  the  average  of the  closing  bid and asked  prices,
regular  way,  in  either  case  as  reported  in  the  principal   consolidated
transaction  reporting  system with respect to securities  listed or admitted to
trading  on the New York Stock  Exchange  or, if the  Security  is not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated  transaction  reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal  national  securities  exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading or, if the  Security is not listed or admitted to trading on
any national  securities  exchange,  the last 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 the Nasdaq  Stock Market or such other system then in use, or, if
on organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by
a  professional  market maker  making a market in the  Security  selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company.  The term  "Trading  Day" shall mean a day on
which the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed
or  admitted  to  trading is open for the  transaction  of  business  or, if the
Security  is not  listed or  admitted  to  trading  on any  national  securities
exchange, a Business Day.

               (ii) For the purpose of any computation  hereunder,  the "current
per  share  market  price"  of the  Preferred  Shares  shall  be  determined  in
accordance  with the  method  set forth in Section  11(d)(i).  If the  Preferred
Shares are not publicly  traded,  the  "current  per share market  price" of the
Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market
price  of  the  Common  Shares  as  determined   pursuant  to  Section  11(d)(i)
(appropriately  adjusted to reflect any stock split,  stock  dividend or similar
transaction  occurring  after the date hereof),  multiplied by one thousand.  If
neither  the Common  Shares nor the  Preferred  Shares are  publicly  held or so
listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per
share as  determined  in good faith by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company,
whose  determination  shall be  described  in a statement  filed with the Rights
Agent.

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

               (f) If as a result of an  adjustment  made  pursuant  to  Section
11(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled
to receive  any  shares of capital  stock of the  Company  other than  Preferred
Shares,  thereafter  the  Purchase  Price and the number of such other shares so
receivable  upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment  from time
to time in a manner  and on terms as nearly  equivalent  as  practicable  to the
provisions with respect to the



                                       12




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


Preferred  Shares  contained in Section  11(a),  (b), (c), (e), (h), (i) and (m)
hereof,  as applicable,  and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with
respect  to the  Preferred  Shares  shall  apply on like terms to any such other
shares.

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

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

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

               (j)  Irrespective  of any  adjustment  or change in the  Purchase
Price or the number of one  one-thousandths  of a Preferred  Share issuable upon
the exercise of the Rights,  the Right



                                       13




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


Certificates  theretofore  and  thereafter  issued may  continue  to express the
Purchase Price and the number of one  one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which
were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.

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

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

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

               (n) In the  event  that  at any  time  after  the  date  of  this
Agreement and prior to the  Distribution  Date, the Company shall (i) declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Shares  payable in Common Shares or (ii) effect a
subdivision,   combination   or   consolidation   of  the   Common   Shares  (by
reclassification  or otherwise  than by payment of  dividends in Common  Shares)
into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares,  then in any such case (A) the
number of one  one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable after such event
upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number
of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share so purchasable  immediately prior to
such event by a fraction,  the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding  immediately  before such event and the  denominator of which is the
number of Common Shares  outstanding  immediately after such event, and (B) each
Common  Share  outstanding  immediately  after such event shall have issued with
respect  to it that  number  of  Rights  which  each  Common  Share  outstanding
immediately  prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The  adjustments
provided for in this Section  11(n) shall be made  successively  whenever such a
dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation
is effected.  This paragraph (n) shall not apply to the one-for-one common stock
dividend declared by the Board of Directors of the Company on the date hereof.


                                       14




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>

               Section 12.  Certificate of Adjusted  Purchase Price or Number of
Shares.  Whenever an  adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 13 hereof,
the  Company  shall  promptly  (a)  prepare a  certificate  setting  forth  such
adjustment,  and a brief statement of the facts  accounting for such adjustment,
(b) file  with the  Rights  Agent and with each  transfer  agent for the  Common
Shares or the Preferred  Shares a copy of such  certificate and (c) mail a brief
summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section
25 hereof.

               Section 13.  Consolidation,  Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets
or Earning Power.  In the event,  directly or indirectly,  at any time after the
Flip-In  Event (a) the Company shall  consolidate  with, or merge with and into,
any Person, (b) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and
into  the  Company  and  the  Company  shall  be  the  continuing  or  surviving
corporation of such merger and, in connection  with such merger,  all or part of
the  Common  Shares  shall  be  changed  into or  exchanged  for  stock or other
securities  of any other Person (or the Company) or cash or any other  property,
or (c) the  Company  shall  sell or  otherwise  transfer  (or one or more of its
Subsidiaries  shall sell or otherwise  transfer),  in one or more  transactions,
assets or earning power  aggregating  50% or more of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person other
than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned  Subsidiaries,  then, and in
each such  case,  proper  provision  shall be made so that (i) each  holder of a
Right  (other than Rights which have become void  pursuant to Section  11(a)(ii)
hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at
the Purchase Price (as theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred
Shares or Common Shares of the Company,  such number of validly  authorized  and
issued,  fully paid,  non-assessable  and freely tradeable Common Shares of such
other Person  (including  the Company as successor  thereto or as the  surviving
corporation), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or
other  adverse  claims,  as shall equal the result  obtained by (A) dividing the
Purchase Price (as  theretofore  adjusted in accordance  with Section  11(a)(ii)
hereof)  by (B) 50% of the then  current  per share  market  price of the Common
Shares of such other Person (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the
date of consummation of such consolidation,  merger, sale or transfer; provided,
however,  that the Purchase Price (as  theretofore  adjusted in accordance  with
Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof) and the number of Common Shares of such other Person
so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as
appropriate  in  accordance  with  Section  11(f)  hereof to reflect  any events
occurring  in  respect  of the  Common  Shares of such  other  Person  after the
occurrence of such consolidation,  merger, sale or transfer;  (ii) the issuer of
such Common Shares shall  thereafter be liable for, and shall assume,  by virtue
of such consolidation,  merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties
of the  Company  pursuant  to this  Agreement;  (iii) the term  "Company"  shall
thereafter  be deemed to refer to such  issuer;  and (iv) such issuer shall take
such steps  (including,  but not limited  to, the  reservation  of a  sufficient
number of its Common Shares in  accordance  with 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
the Common Shares  thereafter  deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.  The
Company shall not consummate any such  consolidation,  merger,  sale or transfer
unless  prior  thereto  the  Company and such  issuer  shall have  executed  and
delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement so providing. The Company
shall not enter into any  transaction of the kind 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  which, as a result
of the consummation of


                                       15




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



such  transaction,  would  eliminate  or  substantially  diminish  the  benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights.

               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 current market value of a whole
Right.  For the purposes of this Section  14(a),  the current  market value of a
whole  Right  shall be the  closing  price of the  Rights  for the  Trading  Day
immediately  prior to the date on which such  fractional  Rights would have been
otherwise issuable.  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
principal  consolidated  transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock  Exchange  or, if the Rights
are not  listed or  admitted  to  trading  on the New York  Stock  Exchange,  as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed on the principal national  securities exchange on which the
Rights are  listed or  admitted  to trading  or, if the Rights are 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 the Nasdaq  Stock Market or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization,  the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of
Directors of the  Company.  If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.

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

               (c)  The  holder  of a  Right  by the  acceptance  of  the  Right
expressly  waives such holder's  right to receive any  fractional  Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right (except as provided above).



                                       16




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


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

               Section 16. Agreement of 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 the Common Shares;

               (b) after the  Distribution  Date,  the  Right  Certificates  are
transferable  only on the registry  books of the Rights Agent if  surrendered at
the principal  office of the Rights Agent,  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 Shares  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 Shares
certificate  made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights  Agent) for all
purposes  whatsoever,  and neither  the  Company  nor the Rights  Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary.

               Section 17. 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 the Preferred Shares or any
other  securities  of the  Company  which  may at any  time be  issuable  on the
exercise of the Rights represented  thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any 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.



                                       17




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


               Section 18.  Concerning  the Rights Agent.  The Company agrees to
pay to the Rights Agent reasonable  compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent,  its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration
and execution of this  Agreement and the exercise and  performance of its duties
hereunder.  The Company  also agrees to  indemnify  the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless  against,  any loss,  liability,  or expense,  incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection  with the  acceptance
and  administration  of this  Agreement,  including  the costs and  expenses  of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises.

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

               Section 19. Merger or  Consolidation  or Change of Name of Rights
Agent. Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any  merger or  consolidation  to which the Rights  Agent or any  successor
Rights  Agent  shall be a party,  or any  corporation  succeeding  to the  stock
transfer or corporate  trust powers of the Rights Agent or any successor  Rights
Agent,  shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement  without
the  execution  or filing of any paper or any  further act on the part of any of
the parties  hereto;  provided,  that such  corporation  would be  eligible  for
appointment  as a  successor  Rights  Agent under the  provisions  of Section 21
hereof.  In case at the time such  successor  Rights Agent shall  succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement,  any of the Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned  but not delivered,  any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature  of  the  predecessor  Rights  Agent  and  deliver  such  Right
Certificates  so  countersigned;  and in  case  at that  time  any of the  Right
Certificates shall not have been  countersigned,  any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor 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 Agreement.

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


                                       18




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


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

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

               (b)  Whenever  in  the  performance  of  its  duties  under  this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter be proved or  established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any
action hereunder,  such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof
be herein  specifically  prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the
Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate
shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered
in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate.

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

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

               (e) The Rights  Agent  shall not be under any  responsibility  in
respect of the validity of this  Agreement or the execution and delivery  hereof
(except  the due  execution  hereof by the  Rights  Agent) or in  respect of the
validity or  execution  of any Right  Certificate  (except its  countersignature
thereof);  nor shall it be  responsible  for any  breach by the  Company  of any
covenant or condition  contained in this Agreement or in any Right  Certificate;
nor shall it be responsible for any change in the  exercisability  of the Rights
(including the Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any
adjustment in the terms of the Rights  (including  the manner,  method or amount
thereof) provided for in this Agreement, or the ascertaining of the existence of
facts that would require any such change or  adjustment  (except with respect to
the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right  Certificates after actual notice that
such change or  adjustment  is  required);  nor shall it by any act hereunder be
deemed  to make  any  representation  or  warranty  as to the  authorization  or
reservation of any Preferred  Shares or any Common Shares to be issued  pursuant
to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares
or Common Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.

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



                                       19




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



               (g) The Rights Agent is hereby  authorized and directed to accept
instructions  with respect to the  performance of its duties  hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board,  the Chief Executive  Officer,  the President,
any Vice President,  the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply
to such officers for advice or instructions  in connection with its duties,  and
it shall not be liable for any action  taken or  suffered by it in good faith in
accordance  with  instructions  of any such  officer  or for any delay in acting
while waiting for those instructions.

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

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

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




                                       20




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>




Rights Agent and each transfer  agent of the Common Shares or Preferred  Shares,
and mail a notice  thereof  in writing  to the  registered  holders of the Right
Certificates.  Failure  to give any  notice  provided  for in this  Section  21,
however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation  or removal of the Rights Agent or the  appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.

               Section 22. Issuance of New Right  Certificates.  Notwithstanding
any of the  provisions of this  Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary,  the
Company may, at its option,  issue new Right  Certificates  evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change  in the  Purchase  Price 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 Agreement.

               Section 23. Redemption. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company
may, at its option,  at any time prior to the Flip-In Event,  redeem all but not
less than all the then  outstanding  Rights at a  redemption  price of $.001 per
Right,  appropriately  adjusted to reflect any stock  split,  stock  dividend or
similar  transaction  occurring  after  the  date  hereof,   provided,  that  no
adjustment  shall be made with respect to the one-for-one  common stock dividend
declared  by the Board of  Directors  of the Company on the dated  hereof  (such
redemption price being hereinafter  referred to as the "Redemption  Price"). The
redemption of the Rights by the Board of Directors 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.

               (b) Immediately  upon the  effectiveness of the redemption of the
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.  The Company  shall  promptly  give public notice of any such
redemption;  provided,  however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any
such notice  shall not affect the  validity of such  redemption.  Within 10 days
after the effectiveness of the redemption of the Rights,  the Company shall mail
a notice of  redemption  to all the  holders of the then  outstanding  Rights at
their last  addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent
or, prior to the Distribution  Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent
for the Common Shares.  Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be deemed given,  whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice  of  redemption  will  state  the  method  by which  the  payment  of the
Redemption Price will be made.

               Section 24.  Exchange.  (a) The Board of Directors of the Company
may, at its option, at any time after the Flip-In Event, exchange all or part of
the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that
have become void  pursuant to the  provisions of Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof) for
Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right,  appropriately
adjusted  to reflect any stock  split,  stock  dividend  or similar  transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter  referred
to as the  "Exchange  Ratio").  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Board  of
Directors  shall not be empowered to effect such  exchange at any time after any
Person  (other than the Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the Company,  any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common
Shares  for or  pursuant  to the  terms of any  such  plan),  together  with all
Affiliates and Associates of such



                                       21




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


Person,  becomes the  Beneficial  Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding. The exchange of the Rights by the Board of Directors of the Company
may be made  effective at such time,  on such basis and with such  conditions as
the Board of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion may establish.

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

               (c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
issued but not  outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of
Rights as  contemplated  in  accordance  with this Section 24, the Company shall
take all such action as may be necessary to authorize  additional  Common Shares
for issuance upon exchange of the Rights. In the event the Company shall,  after
good faith  effort,  be unable to take all such  action as may be  necessary  to
authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall substitute,  for each
Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number
of Preferred  Shares or fraction  thereof such that the current per share market
price of one Preferred  Share  multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to
the  current  per  share  market  price  of one  Common  Share as of the date of
issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.

               (d) The  Company  shall not be  required  to issue  fractions  of
Common Shares or to distribute  certificates  which evidence  fractional  Common
Shares. In lieu of such fractional  Common Shares,  the Company shall pay to the
registered  holders  of  the  Right  Certificates  with  regard  to  which  such
fractional  Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current  market value of a whole Common Share.  For the
purposes of this paragraph (d), the current market value of a whole Common Share
shall be the  closing  price of a Common  Share (as  determined  pursuant to the
second  sentence of Section  11(d)(i)  hereof)  for the Trading Day  immediately
prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.

               Section  25.  Notice of Certain  Events.  (a) In case the Company
shall  propose  (i) to pay any  dividend  payable  in stock of any  class to the
holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders
of its Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend),  (ii) to
offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for
or to purchase any additional  Preferred  Shares or shares of stock of any class
or any other securities, rights or



                                       22




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>




options,  (iii) to effect any  reclassification  of its Preferred  Shares (other
than a reclassification  involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred
Shares),  (iv) to effect any  consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect
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 50% or more
of the assets or earning power of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  (taken as a
whole)  to, any other  Person,  (v) to effect the  liquidation,  dissolution  or
winding up of the Company,  or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common
Shares  payable  in Common  Shares or to effect a  subdivision,  combination  or
consolidation  of the Common Shares (by  reclassification  or otherwise  than by
payment of dividends in Common  Shares),  then,  in each such case,  the Company
shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate,  in accordance with Section 26
hereof,  a notice of such proposed  action,  which shall specify the record date
for the purposes of such stock dividend,  or distribution of rights or warrants,
or the  date  on  which  such  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  sale,
transfer, liquidation,  dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date
of  participation  therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or  Preferred
Shares,  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 10 days
prior to the record date for  determining  holders of the  Preferred  Shares for
purposes of such action,  and in the case of any such other action,  at least 10
days  prior to the date of the  taking  of such  proposed  action or the date of
participation  therein  by the  holders of the Common  Shares  and/or  Preferred
Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.

               (b) From and after the Flip-In  Event,  the Company shall as soon
as practicable  give to each holder of a Right  Certificate,  in accordance with
Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event,  which notice shall
describe  such  event and the  consequences  of such  event to holders of Rights
under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

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

               Falcon Drilling Company, Inc.
               1900 West Loop South, Suite 1800
               Houston, Texas  77027
               Attention:

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

               American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
               40 Wall Street
               New York, New York  10005
               Attention:




                                       23




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



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

               Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time
to time and the Rights Agent  shall,  if the Company so directs,  supplement  or
amend this Agreement  without the approval of any holders of Right  Certificates
in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions  herein,
or to make any other provisions with respect to the Rights which the Company may
deem necessary or desirable, any such supplement or amendment to be evidenced by
a writing signed by the Company and the Rights Agent;  provided,  however,  that
from and after the Flip-In  Event,  this  Agreement  shall not be amended in any
manner  which  would  adversely  affect the  interests  of the holders of Rights
(other than any Acquiring  Person and its Affiliates and  Associates).  If as of
the Close of Business on June 25, 1997,  any Person is the  Beneficial  owner of
10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding, this Agreement
may be amended at any time prior to August 1, 1997,  to exempt  such Person from
being deemed to be an Acquiring  Person (but only if such Person does not become
the Beneficial Owner of any additional  Common Shares of the Company  subsequent
to the Close of Business on June 25, 1997), subject to such terms and conditions
as the Board of Directors of the Company deem necessary or appropriate. Without
limiting  the  foregoing,  the Company may at any time prior to such time as any
Person  becomes an  Acquiring  Person amend this  Agreement to (a)  specifically
exempt any Person from being or being deemed to be an Acquiring Person,  subject
to such terms and conditions as the Company deems  appropriate,  (b) fix a Final
Expiration  Date  later  than the date set  forth  in  Section  7 hereof  or (c)
increase the Purchase Price.

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

               Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be  construed  to give to any Person  other than the  Company,  the Rights
Agent and the registered  holders of the Right  Certificates  (and, prior to the
Distribution  Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable  right,  remedy or
claim  under  this  Agreement;  but  this  Agreement  shall  be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).

               Section 30.  Severability.  If any term,  provision,  covenant or
restriction  of this Agreement is held by a court of competent  jurisdiction  or
other  authority  to be invalid,  void or  unenforceable,  the  remainder of the
terms, provisions,  covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

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



                                       24




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



               Section 32.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such  counterparts  shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original,  and all such counterparts  shall together  constitute
but one and the same instrument.

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

               Section 34. Administration. The Board of Directors of the Company
shall have the exclusive  power and  authority to  administer  and interpret the
provisions of this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers  specifically
granted to the Board of  Directors  of the  Company or the  Company or as may be
necessary  or  advisable  in the  administration  of this  Agreement.  All  such
actions, calculations, determinations and interpretations which are done or made
by the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  in good  faith  shall  be  final,
conclusive  and binding on the  Company,  the Rights  Agent,  the holders of the
Rights and all other parties and shall not subject the Board of Directors of the
Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights.

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


                                           FALCON DRILLING COMPANY, INC.

Attest:



By _____________________                       By ______________________________
Title: Assistant Secretary                     Title: Chairman & Chief Executive
                                                      Officer


Attest:                                        AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &
                                               TRUST COMPANY



By _______________________________             By ______________________________
Title:                                         Title: 


                                       25

<PAGE>
<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit A

                                      FORM

                                       of

                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

                                       of

                  SERIES C JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                          FALCON DRILLING COMPANY, INC.

                         (Pursuant to Section 151 of the
                        Delaware General Corporation Law)

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


               Falcon  Drilling  Company,  Inc.,  a  corporation  organized  and
existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter
called the  "Corporation"),  hereby certifies that the following  resolution was
adopted by the Board of Directors of the  Corporation as required by Section 151
of the General  Corporation  Law by a unanimous  written consent of the Board of
Directors dated June 25, 1997:

               RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in
the Board of Directors  of this  Corporation  (hereinafter  called the "Board of
Directors" or the "Board") in accordance  with the provisions of the Certificate
of  Incorporation  of the Corporation  (hereinafter  called the  "Certificate of
Incorporation"),  the Board of  Directors  hereby  creates a series of Preferred
Stock,  no par value (the  "Preferred  Stock"),  of the  Corporation  and hereby
states the  designation  and number of shares,  and fixes the  relative  rights,
preferences, and limitations thereof as follows:

               Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock:

               Section 1.  Designation  and  Amount.  The shares of this  series
shall be  designated  as "Series C Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock" (the
"Series C Preferred  Stock") and the number of shares  constituting the Series C
Preferred Stock shall be one hundred thousand  (100,000).  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 C 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
Corporation convertible into Series C Preferred Stock.







<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



               Section 2.  Dividends and Distributions.

               (A)  Subject  to the  rights of the  holders of any shares of any
        series  of  Preferred  Stock  (or any  other  stock)  ranking  prior and
        superior to the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to dividends,  the
        holders of shares of Series C  Preferred  Stock,  in  preference  to the
        holders of Common Stock,  par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"),
        of the Corporation,  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 last 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 C
        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,  1,000 times the aggregate per share
        amount of all cash  dividends,  and 1,000 times the  aggregate per share
        amount   (payable  in  kind)  of  all   non-cash   dividends   or  other
        distributions,  other than a dividend  payable in shares of Common Stock
        or  a  subdivision  of  the  outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock  (by
        reclassification  or otherwise),  declared on the Common Stock since the
        immediately  preceding  Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect
        to the first Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date, since the first issuance
        of any share or fraction of a share of Series C Preferred  Stock. In the
        event the  Corporation  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  than by payment of a
        dividend in shares of Common  Stock) into a greater or lesser  number of
        shares of  Common  Stock,  then in each  such  case the  amount to which
        holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock were entitled  immediately
        prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding  sentence shall be
        adjusted by  multiplying  such amount by a fraction,  the  numerator  of
        which is the number of shares of Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately
        after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of
        Common  Stock that were  outstanding  immediately  prior to such  event,
        provided,  that no such  adjustment  shall be made with  respect  to the
        one-for-one  common stock dividend declared by the Board of Directors of
        the Corporation on June 25, 1997.

               (B) The  Corporation  shall declare a dividend or distribution on
        the  Series C  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 C 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 C  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



                                        2




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>





        Dividend  Payment  Date  or is a date  after  the  record  date  for the
        determination  of holders of shares of Series C 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 C 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 C  Preferred
        Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared
        thereon,  which  record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the
        date fixed for the payment thereof.

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

               (A) Each share of Series C  Preferred  Stock  shall  entitle  the
        holder  thereof to one vote on all  matters  submitted  to a vote of the
        stockholders of the Corporation.

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

               (C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise  provided by law,
        holders of Series C 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 C  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 C Preferred Stock  outstanding  shall have been paid in full, the
        Corporation 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 C 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 C Preferred Stock,  except dividends paid ratably
               on the  Series C  Preferred  Stock and all such  parity  stock on
               which dividends



                                        3




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



               are payable or in arrears in  proportion  to the total amounts to
               which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

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

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

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

               Section 5.  Reacquired  Shares.  Any shares of Series C Preferred
Stock  purchased  or  otherwise  acquired  by  the  Corporation  in  any  manner
whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof.
All such shares shall upon their  cancellation  become  authorized  but unissued
shares  of  Preferred  Stock  and may be  reissued  as part of a new  series  of
Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein,  in the  Certificate 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 Corporation, no distribution shall
be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (upon  liquidation,
dissolution  or  winding  up) to the  Series C  Preferred  Stock  unless,  prior
thereto,  the holders of shares of Series C Preferred  Stock shall have received
$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,
provided  that the  holders  of  shares  of Series C  Preferred  Stock  shall be
entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share,  subject to the provision for
adjustment  hereinafter set forth,  equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount to
be  distributed  per share to holders of shares of Common  Stock,  or (2) to the
holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) with the Series C Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably
on the Series C 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  Corporation  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



                                        4




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



outstanding  shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification  or otherwise  than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock,  then in each such case the aggregate amount to which
holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to
such event under the proviso in clause (1) of the  preceding  sentence  shall be
adjusted by multiplying  such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock  outstanding  immediately  after such event and
the  denominator  of which is the  number of shares  of Common  Stock  that were
outstanding  immediately prior to such event, provided,  that no such adjustment
shall be made with respect to the one-for-one  common stock dividend declared by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation on June 25, 1997.

               Section 7.  Consolidation,  Merger,  Etc. In case the Corporation
shall enter into any consolidation,  merger, combination or other transaction in
which the shares of Common Stock are  exchanged  for or changed into other stock
or securities,  cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share
of Series C 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 1,000  times the  aggregate  amount of stock,
securities,  cash and/or any other property  (payable in kind),  as the case may
be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or  exchanged.
In the event the  Corporation  shall at any time  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 than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common  Stock,  then in each
such case the amount set forth in the  preceding  sentence  with  respect to the
exchange  or change of shares of Series C  Preferred  Stock shall be adjusted by
multiplying  such amount by a fraction,  the numerator of which is the number of
shares  of  Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately  after  such  event  and the
denominator  of  which is the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  that  were
outstanding  immediately prior to such event, provided,  that no such adjustment
shall be made with respect to the one-for-one  common stock dividend declared by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation on June 25, 1997.

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

               Section 9. Rank.  The Series C Preferred  Stock shall rank,  with
respect to the payment of dividends and the  distribution  of assets,  junior to
all other series of Preferred Stock.

               Section 10.  Amendment.  The Certificate of  Incorporation of the
Corporation  shall not be amended in any manner which would  materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series C Preferred Stock
so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding  shares of Series C Preferred Stock,  voting
together as a single class.


                                        5





<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


               IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  this Certificate of Designations is executed
on behalf of the Corporation by its Chairman of the Board this 25th day of June,
1997.

                                        FALCON DRILLING COMPANY, INC.



                                        ________________________________________
                                        Steven A. Webster, Chairman of the Board
                                          and Chief Executive Officer






                                        6


<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit B

                            Form of Right Certificate

Certificate No. R-                                   ____________________ Rights


               NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JULY 16, 2007, OR EARLIER IF NOT RENEWED
               ANNUALLY BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
               OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.001 PER RIGHT
               AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
               UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
               AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN
               ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN
               TRANSFEREES THEREOF MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.

                                Right Certificate

                          FALCON DRILLING COMPANY, INC.



               This certifies that _________________________, or registered
assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each
of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of June 25, 1997, as the same may
be amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between Falcon Drilling
Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at
any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., New York time, on July 16, 2007, at the
principal office of the Rights Agent, or at the office of its successor as
Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series
C Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value (the "Preferred Shares"),
of the Company, at a purchase price of $125.00 per one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this
Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise
hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number
and Purchase Price as of July 16, 1997, based on the Preferred Shares as
constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase
Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

               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





<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>

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. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on
file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the above-mentioned
offices of the Rights Agent.

               This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, 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
Preferred Shares 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 not exercised.

               Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption
price of $.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for
Preferred Shares or shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share.

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

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


                                        2





<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



               WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal. Dated as of ___________________, _____.

ATTEST:                                            FALCON DRILLING COMPANY, INC.



                                                   By


        ___


Countersigned:

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER
    & TRUST COMPANY




By

          Authorized Signature


                                        3





<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



                    Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

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

        FOR VALUE RECEIVED
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

                         (Please print name and address of transferee)

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

Dated:  ________________, ______




                Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

               Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., a com mercial bank savings association, credit union or trust
company having an office or correspondent in the United States or other eligible
guarantor institution which is a participant in a signature guarantee medallion
program.



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


        The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).

                Signature

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




                                        4





<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



                                 FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

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

To:     FALCON DRILLING COMPANY, INC.

               The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares
issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for
such Preferred Shares 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 insert social security
or other identifying number



                                (Please print name and address)



Dated:  ______________, _____




                 Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

               Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a com mercial bank, savings association, credit union or trust
company having an office or correspondent in the United States or other eligible
guarantor institution which is a participant in a signature guarantee medallion
program.


                                        5





<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


               The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).



                 Signature

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



                                     NOTICE

               The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to
Purchase, as the case maybe, must conform to the name as written upon the face
of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement
or any change whatsoever.

               In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of
Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not
completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of
the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such
Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.





                                        6







<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



                                                                       Exhibit C

               UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
               AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY ANY PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN
               ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN
               TRANSFEREES THEREOF MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.

                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                                PREFERRED SHARES

               On June 25, 1997, the Board of Directors of Falcon Drilling
Company, Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share
purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable on
July 16, 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-thousandth of a share of Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no
par value (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of $125.00 per one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement dated as of June 25, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to
time (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

               Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares (except that S-C Rig Investments, L. P., currently a
principal shareholder of the Company, shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring
Person unless it and its affiliates acquire 40% or more) 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 10% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being called the
"Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the
Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common
Share certificate together with a copy of this Summary of Rights.

               The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date
(or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be
transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date
(or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share
certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of
Common Shares 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 Common Shares
outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this
Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights






<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


associated with the Common Shares 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 Shares 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 the date sixty days after the next annual meeting of
stockholders of the Company, unless the expiration is delayed by the Board of
Directors, which it may be in each successive year, but in no event beyond July
16, 2007 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final Expiration Date is
extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company,
in each case, as described below.

               The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or
securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than
the then-current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or
retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription
rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

               The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are
also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or
a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.

               Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not
be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a preferential quarterly
dividend payment equal to the greater of (i) $1 per share, and (ii) 1,000 times
the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of liquidation, the holders
of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a preferential liquidation payment
equal to the greater of (i) $100 per share, and (ii) 1,000 times the payment
made per Common Share. Each Preferred Share will have one vote , voting together
with the Common Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or
other transaction in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share
will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per Common Share.
These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.

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

               In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the Rights Agreement provides that each
holder of a Right, other than



                                        2





<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>


Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be
void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of
Common Shares having a market value of two 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 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group, which will have
become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or
one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or of a share of a class or series of
the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and
privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

               The Rights Agreement provides that none of the Company's
directors, officers or financial advisers shall be deemed to beneficially own
any Common Shares owned by any other director, officer or financial adviser by
virtue of such persons acting in their capacities as such, including in
connection with the formulation and publication of the Board of Directors
recommendation of its position, and actions taken in furtherance thereof, with
respect to an acquisition proposal relating to the Company or a tender or
exchange offer for the Common Shares.

               In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other
business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or
earning power are sold after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person,
proper provision will be made so that each 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 times the exercise price of the Right.

               With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will
be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share, which 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
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.

               At any time prior to such time as any person or group of
affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of
Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a
price of $.001 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights
may be made effective at such time on such basis with such conditions as the
Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any
redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

               The Rights Agreement provides that, if as of June 25, 1997, any
person or group of affiliated or associated persons beneficially own 10% or more
of the outstanding Common Shares, such person or group will not be deemed to be
or to have become an "Acquiring Person" until August 1, 1997, and on such date
will be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" if, but only if, as of such date,
such person or group beneficially own 10% or more of the outstanding Common


                                        3




<PAGE>
 
<PAGE>



Shares; provided, however, that if such person or group shall, subsequent to
June 25, 1997, acquire any additional Common Shares, then such person or group
shall thereupon be deemed an Acquiring Person.

               The terms of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of
Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights,
including, prior to the time any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, an
amendment to (a) specifically exempt any person or group of affiliated or
associated persons from being or being deemed to be an "Acquiring Person,"
subject to such terms and conditions as the Company deem appropriate, (b) fix a
Final Expiration Date later than July 16, 2007, or (c) increase the Purchase
Price. From and after such time as any person or group of affiliated or
associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, no such amendment may adversely
affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other than the Acquiring
Person and its affiliates and associates). In addition, if as of the close of
business on June 25, 1997, any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons beneficially owned 10% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding,
the Rights Agreement may be amended at any time prior to August 1, 1997, to
exempt such person from being deemed to be or to have become an "Acquiring
Person" (but only if such person does not acquire any additional Common Shares
subsequent to June 25, 1997), subject to such terms and conditions as the Board
of Directors of the Company deem necessary or appropriate.

               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. 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.


                                        4




<PAGE>
 




<PAGE>

NEWS RELEASE FROM...

                          FALCON DRILLING COMPANY, INC.

1900 WEST LOOP SOUTH, SUITE 1800, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77027 - TELEPHONE 713/623-8984
            INTERNET HOME PAGE ADDRESS HTTP://WWW.FALCONDRILLING.COM
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 25, 1997

                          FALCON DRILLING COMPANY, INC.
                         DECLARES COMMON STOCK DIVIDEND
                       AND ADOPTS SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

               Houston,  Texas.  Falcon   Drilling    Company, Inc. (NYSE:  FLC)
announced     today    that   its   Board   of   Directors    has   declared   a
dividend of one share of Falcon's  common stock for each share of Falcon  common
stock issued and outstanding at the close of business on July 9, 1997. The stock
dividend will double the number of shares of common stock currently outstanding,
to approximately 79 million shares.

               Steven A.  Webster,  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of
Falcon, stated "We anticipate  that  the  increase in the  number of outstanding
shares  of the common stock of the Company resulting  from  the  stock  dividend
will place the market  price  of  the  stock  in  a  range  more  attractive  to
investors, particularly individuals, and may result in a  broader market for the
shares."

               Falcon also  announced  that its Board of Directors has adopted a
shareholder  rights plan and  declared a  distribution  of one  Preferred  Share
Purchase Right for each outstanding  share of Falcon common stock,  after giving
effect to the common stock dividend described above.

               Mr. Webster stated:  "The shareholder rights plan we have adopted
will simply assure that the Board of Directors  has the ability and  opportunity
to act on behalf of the  Company and its  shareholders  in  connection  with any
proposed  transaction  and to  protect  shareholders  from any effort to acquire
control of the Company  without  providing all  shareholders  with full and fair
consideration for their shares."

               Each right will entitle shareholders to buy one one-thousandth of
a share of a new series of preferred stock at an exercise price of $125.00.  The
rights will be  exercisable  only if a person or group  acquires  10% or more of
Falcon's  common stock or announces a tender offer,  the  consummation  of which
would  result in  ownership  by a person  or group of 10% or more of the  common
stock  (except that S-C Rig Investments, L.P., currently a principal shareholder
of Falcon,  will not trigger the rights unless it and its affiliates acquire 40%
or more).

               If a person or group acquires 10% or more of Falcon's outstanding
common  stock,  each right will  entitle its holder  (other  than the  acquiring
person or group) to purchase,  at the right's  then-current  exercise  price,  a
number  of  shares of Falcon  common  stock  having a market  value of twice the
right's  exercise  price.  If Falcon is acquired  in a merger or other  business
combination transaction,  each right will entitle its holder to purchase, at the
right's exercise price, a number of the acquiring company's common shares having
a market value at that time of twice the right's exercise price.

               At any time  after a  person  or  group  acquires  10% or more of
Falcon's  outstanding common stock and prior to an acquisition of 50% or more of
the outstanding common stock, the




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Board of  Directors  may exchange  part or all of the rights  (other than rights
held by the acquiring  person or group) for shares of the Company's common stock
on a one-for-one basis.

               Prior  to the  acquisition  by a person  or  group of  beneficial
ownership  of  10% or  more  of the  Company's  common  stock,  the  rights  are
redeemable for $.001 per right at the option of the Board of Directors.

               The  rights  provide  that,  if  any  person  or  group  was  the
beneficial  owner of 10% or more of the outstanding  common stock as of June 25,
1997, such ownership will not trigger the  exercisability of the rights or cause
the rights to become  non-redeemable until August 1, 1997, and then only if such
person or group beneficially owns 10% or more of the outstanding common stock at
that time. The ownership of such a person or group would,  however,  trigger the
rights and cause the rights to become non-redeemable prior to August 1, 1997, if
such a person or group were to acquire  beneficial  ownership of any  additional
shares  subsequent  to June 25, 1997.  The rights may be amended by the Board of
Directors prior to August 1, 1997, to exempt the beneficial  ownership of such a
person or group  from  triggering  the  rights or  causing  the rights to become
non-redeemable, but only if such person or group does not acquire any additional
common stock subsequent to June 25, 1997. Falcon stated that it is not currently
aware of any person or group which  beneficially owned 10% or more of the common
stock as of June 25, 1997, other than S-C Rig.

               The rights will be  distributed to  stockholders  of record as of
the close of business on July 16,  1997,  and will expire on the date sixty days
after the next annual meeting of stockholders  of Falcon,  unless the expiration
is delayed by the Board of Directors,  which it may be in each successive  year,
but in no event beyond July 16, 2007.

               Falcon  operates   the  world's  largest  fleet  of  marine-based
drilling rigs  for  the  international oil and gas industry. Including the three
drillships  being   readied for  service,  its  rig  fleet  consists   of  eight
drillships, a semisubmersible rig, 16 jackup rigs, three submersible rigs and 54
barge  drilling  and workover rigs. Falcon actively markets 68 of these units in
the offshore  and  inland waters of the U.S. Gulf Coast, Venezuela, Brazil, West
Africa and Southeast Asia.
 
               For more information contact: Robert F. Fulton (713) 623-8984.



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