RELIANCE BANCORP INC
8-A12G, 1996-09-27
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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<PAGE> 1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                       

                             Washington, D.C.  20549
                             

                                    FORM 8-A
                                    

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


                             Reliance Bancorp, Inc.
                             ----------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


DELAWARE                                            11-3187176
- --------                                            ----------------------------
(State of incorporation or organization)            (IRS Employer Identification
                                                    No.)

585 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York           11530
- -----------------------------------------           -----
(Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)


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

                                     None
                          --------------------------

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

                        PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
                        -------------------------------
                                (Title of class)

                                  Copies to:

                            Thomas J. Haggerty, Esq.
                           Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette
                           5101 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
                             Washington, D.C.  20016






<PAGE> 2



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

         On  September  18, 1996,  the Board of  Directors of Reliance  Bancorp,
Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Company"),  declared a dividend of one right
(a "Right") for each share of common  stock,  par value $.01 per share  ("Common
Stock"),  of the  Company  held of record at the close of business on October 3,
1996 (the "Record Date"),  or issued thereafter and prior to the Separation Time
(as  hereinafter  defined).  The rights will be issued pursuant to a Stockholder
Protection  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of  September  18,  1996  (the  "Rights
Agreement"),  between the  Company and  Registrar  and  Transfer  Co., as Rights
Agent. The terms of the Rights are summarized herein.

         Each Right entitles its registered holder to purchase from the Company,
after  the  Separation  Time,  one  one-hundredth  of a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"),
for $60.00 (the "Exercise  Price"),  subject to  adjustment.  The Rights will be
evidenced  by the Common Stock  certificates  until the close of business on the
earlier  of the date  (either,  the  "Separation  Time")  which is (i) the tenth
business  day (or such later date as the Board of  Directors  of the Company may
from time to time fix by resolution  adopted prior to the  Separation  Time that
would otherwise have occurred) after the date on which any Person (as defined in
the  Rights   Agreement)   commences  a  tender  or  exchange  offer  which,  if
consummated,  would result in such  Person's  becoming an Acquiring  Person,  as
defined below,  or (ii) the tenth business day (or such earlier or later date as
the Board of  Directors  of the Company may from time to time fix by  resolution
adopted prior to the Flip-in Date (as defined  below) that would  otherwise have
occurred)  after the first date of public  announcement by the Company that such
Person has become an Acquiring Person (the "Flip-in  Date");  Provided that if a
tender or exchange offer  referred to in clause (i) is cancelled,  terminated or
otherwise  withdrawn  prior to the  Separation  Time without the purchase of any
shares of stock pursuant thereto,  such offer shall be deemed never to have been
made. An Acquiring  Person is any Person who is the Beneficial Owner (as defined
in the  Rights  Agreement)  of 10% or more of the  outstanding  shares of Common
Stock,  Provided,  however,  such term shall not  include (i) the  Company,  any
wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Company or any employee stock ownership or other
employee  benefit  plan of the  Company,  (ii) any person who is the  Beneficial
Owner  of 10% or more of the  outstanding  Common  Stock  as of the  date of the
Rights  Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the
outstanding Common Stock solely as a result of an acquisition of Common Stock by
the Company,  until such time as such Person acquires  additional  Common Stock,
other than  through a dividend or stock  split,  (iii) any Person who becomes an
Acquiring  Person  without  any plan or intent to seek or affect  control of the
Company if such Person promptly divests sufficient securities such that such 10%
or greater Beneficial  Ownership ceases or (iv) any Person who Beneficially Owns
shares of Common Stock consisting  solely of (A) shares acquired pursuant to the
grant or exercise  of an option  granted by the  Company in  connection  with an
agreement to merge with, or acquire,  the Company  prior to a Flip-in Date,  (B)
shares owned by such Person and its  Affiliates  and  Associates  at the time of
such grant,  (C) shares,  amounting  to less than 1% of the  outstanding  Common
Stock,  acquired by Affiliates  and  Associates of such Person after the time of
such  grant  and (D)  shares  which are held by such  Person in trust  accounts,
managed accounts and the like or otherwise held in a fiduciary capacity that are
beneficially owned by third persons who are not Affiliates or Associates of such
Person or acting together with such


<PAGE> 3



Person to hold such  shares,  or which are held by such  Person in  respect of a
debt  previously  contracted.  The Rights  Agreement  provides  that,  until the
Separation  Time, the Rights will be  transferred  with and only with the Common
Stock.  Common  Stock  certificates  issued prior to the  Separation  Time shall
evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock represented  thereby and shall
contain a legend  incorporating  by reference the terms of the Rights  Agreement
(as such may be amended from time to time).  Notwithstanding  the absence of the
aforementioned   legend,   certificates   evidencing   shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding  on or prior to October 3, 1996  shall also  evidence  one Right for
each share of Common Stock evidenced thereby.  Promptly following the Separation
Time, separate certificates  evidencing the Rights ("Rights  Certificates") will
be mailed to holders of record of Common Stock at the Separation Time.

         The Rights will not be  exercisable  until the Business Day (as defined
in the Rights  Agreement)  following the Separation Time. The Rights will expire
on the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time (as defined  below),  (ii) the close of
business on October 3, 2006,  (iii) the date on which the Rights are redeemed as
described below and (iv) upon the merger of the Company into another corporation
pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to a Flip-in Date (in any such case,
the "Expiration Time").

         The Exercise Price and the number of Rights outstanding,  or in certain
circumstances  the  securities  purchasable  upon  exercise of the  Rights,  are
subject to  adjustment  from time to time to prevent  dilution in the event of a
Common  Stock  dividend on, or a  subdivision  or a  combination  into a smaller
number of shares of,  Common  Stock,  or the  issuance  or  distribution  of any
securities or assets in respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock.

         In the event that prior to the  Expiration  Time a Flip-in Date occurs,
each Right (other than Rights  Beneficially Owned by the Acquiring Person or any
affiliate or associate thereof, which Rights shall become void) shall constitute
the right to purchase from the Company,  upon the exercise thereof in accordance
with the terms of the Rights Agreement, that number of shares of Common Stock of
the  Company  having  an  aggregate  Market  Price  (as  defined  in the  Rights
Agreement),  on the date of the public  announcement  of an  Acquiring  Person's
becoming such (the "Stock Acquisition Date") that gave rise to the Flip-in Date,
equal to twice  the  Exercise  Price  for an  amount  in cash  equal to the then
current Exercise Price. In addition,  the Board of Directors of the Company may,
at its  option,  at any  time  after a Flip in Date  and  prior  to the  time an
Acquiring  Person  becomes  the  Beneficial  Owner  of  more  than  50%  of  the
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,  elect to exchange  all (but not less than
all) the then outstanding  Rights (other than Rights  Beneficially  Owned by the
Acquiring  Person or any  affiliate or associate  thereof,  which Rights  become
void) for  shares of Common  Stock at an  exchange  ratio of one share of Common
Stock per Right,  appropriately  adjusted  to  reflect  any stock  split,  stock
dividend or similar transaction  occurring after the date of the Separation Time
(the "Exchange  Ratio").  Immediately upon such action by the Board of Directors
(the "Exchange Time"),  the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each
Right will thereafter  represent only the right to receive a number of shares of
Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio.

                                      2

<PAGE> 4




         Whenever  the  Company  shall  become  obligated  under  the  preceding
paragraph to issue  shares of Common  Stock upon  exercise of or in exchange for
Rights, the Company,  at its option, may substitute therefor shares of Preferred
Stock,  at a ratio of one  one-hundredth  of a share of Preferred Stock for each
share of Common Stock so issuable.

         In the event that prior to the Expiration Time the Company enters into,
consummates  or permits to occur a transaction or series of  transactions  after
the time an Acquiring  Person has become such in which,  directly or indirectly,
(i) the Company shall  consolidate  or merge or  participate  in a binding share
exchange with any other Person if, at the time of the  consolidation,  merger or
share  exchange or at the time the Company enters into an agreement with respect
to such consolidation,  merger or share exchange,  the Acquiring Person Controls
the Board of Directors of the Company (as defined in the Rights  Agreement)  and
either (A) any term of or  arrangement  concerning  the  treatment  of shares of
capital stock in such merger,  consolidation  or share exchange  relating to the
Acquiring  Person is not  identical  to the terms and  arrangements  relating to
other  holders of Common  Stock or (B) the Person with whom the  transaction  or
series  of  transactions  occurs is the  Acquiring  Person  or an  Affiliate  or
Associate of the  Acquiring  Person or (ii) the Company  shall sell or otherwise
transfer (or one or more of its subsidiaries  shall sell or otherwise  transfer)
assets (A)  aggregating  more than 50% of the assets  (measured  by either  book
value or fair market  value) or (B)  generating  more than 50% of the  operating
income or cash flow, 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)  or to two or more such Persons which are  affiliated or otherwise
acting in concert,  if, at the time of such sale or transfer of assets or at the
time the Company (or any such subsidiary)  enters into an agreement with respect
to such sale or transfer,  the Acquiring  Person Controls the Board of Directors
of the Company (a "Flip-over Transaction or Event"), the Company shall take such
action as shall be necessary to ensure, and shall not enter into,  consummate or
permit to occur such Flip-over  Transaction or Event until it shall have entered
into a  supplemental  agreement  with  the  Person  engaging  in such  Flip-over
Transaction or Event or the parent corporation thereof (the "Flip-over Entity"),
for the benefit of the holders of the Rights,  providing, that upon consummation
or  occurrence  of the  Flip-over  Transaction  or Event  (i) each  Right  shall
thereafter  constitute  the right to purchase  from the Flip-over  Entity,  upon
exercise  thereof in  accordance  with the terms of the Rights  Agreement,  that
number of shares of common  stock of the  Flip-over  Entity  having an aggregate
Market  Price  on the  date of  consummation  or  occurrence  of such  Flip-over
Transaction  or Event  equal to twice the  Exercise  Price for an amount in cash
equal to the  then-current  Exercise  Price and (ii) the Flip-over  Entity shall
thereafter  be liable  for,  and  shall  assume,  by  virtue  of such  Flip-over
Transaction or Event and such  supplemental  agreement,  all the obligations and
duties of the Company  pursuant  to the Rights  Agreement.  For  purposes of the
foregoing  description,  the term "Acquiring Person" shall include any Acquiring
Person and its Affiliates and Associates counted together as a single Person.

         The Board of Directors  of the Company may, at its option,  at any time
prior to the close of  business on the  Flip-in  Date,  redeem all (but not less
than  all)  the  then-outstanding  Rights  at a price  of $.01  per  Right  (the
"Redemption  Price"), as provided in the Rights Agreement.  Immediately upon the
action of the Board of Directors of the Company electing

                                        3

<PAGE> 5



to redeem the Rights,  without any  further  action and without any notice,  the
right to  exercise  the Rights  will  terminate  and each Right will  thereafter
represent only the right to receive the Redemption  Price in cash for each Right
so held.

         The  holders of Rights  will,  solely by reason of their  ownership  of
Rights,  have no rights  as  stockholders  of the  Company,  including,  without
limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

         The Rights  Agreement  (which includes as Exhibit A the forms of Rights
Certificate  and Election to  Exercise) is attached  hereto as an exhibit and is
incorporated  herein by reference.  The foregoing  description  of the Rights is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Restated Rights Agreement and such
exhibit thereto.

Item 2.  Exhibits.

         1.       Stockholder  Protection  Rights  Agreement,  dated January 16,
                  1996 between Reliance Bancorp, Inc. and Registrar and Transfer
                  Co., as Rights Agent

         2.       Form  of  Rights  Certificate  and  of  Election  to Exercise,
                  included in Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement

         3.       Form  of Certificate of Designation with respect to the Series
                  A Junior Participating  Preferred Stock, included in Exhibit B
                  to the Rights Agreement


                                       4

<PAGE> 6



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX 
                                  -------------


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


1.             Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated September 18, 1996
               between Reliance Bancorp, Inc. and Registrar and Transfer Co., as
               Rights Agent.

2.             Form of Rights Certificate and  of Election to Exercise, included
               in Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement

3.             Form of  Certificate of  Designation with respect to the Series A
               Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock, included in Exhibit B to
               the Rights Agreement

        

                                         5

<PAGE> 7



CONFORMED

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


                                  RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
                                  ----------------------
                                       (Registrant)


                                  Date:    September 25, 1996


                                  By:            /s/ Raymond A. Nielsen
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Raymond A. Nielsen
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer


                                        6




<PAGE> 1

EXHIBIT A.

                     STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                    

                                   dated as of
                    

                               September 18, 1996
                    

                                     between
                    


                             RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
                    


                                       and
                    


                           REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER CO.
                    

                                 as RIGHTS AGENT
                    















<PAGE> 2



                     STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                    



                                Table of Contents
                    


                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----

                                    ARTICLE I
                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1    Certain Definitions.........................................    2



                                   ARTICLE II
                                   THE RIGHTS

Section 2.1    Summary of Rights...........................................    9
Section 2.2    Legend on Common Stock Certificates.........................   10
Section 2.3    Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights....................   10
Section 2.4    Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights.............   13
Section 2.5    Date on which Exercise is Effective.........................   15
Section 2.6    Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating
                  of Rights Certificates...................................   16
Section 2.7    Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.........   16
Section 2.8    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates...   18
Section 2.9    Persons Deemed Owners.......................................   19
Section 2.10   Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates...................   19
Section 2.11   Agreement of Rights Holders.................................   20



                                   ARTICLE III
        ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

Section 3.1    Flip-in.....................................................   21
Section 3.2    Flip-over...................................................   24




                                      - i -

<PAGE> 3



                                   ARTICLE IV
                                THE RIGHTS AGENT

Section 4.1    General.....................................................   25
Section 4.2    Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name
                  of Rights Agent..........................................   26
Section 4.3    Duties of Rights Agent......................................   27
Section 4.4    Change of Rights Agent......................................   30



                                    ARTICLE V
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1    Redemption..................................................   31
Section 5.2    Expiration..................................................   32
Section 5.3    Issuance of New Rights Certificates.........................   32
Section 5.4    Supplements and Amendments..................................   33
Section 5.5    Fractional Shares...........................................   33
Section 5.6    Rights of Action............................................   34
Section 5.7    Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder...................   34
Section 5.8    Notice of Proposed Actions..................................   35
Section 5.9    Notices.....................................................   35
Section 5.10   Suspension of Exercisability................................   36
Section 5.11   Costs of Enforcement........................................   36
Section 5.12   Successors..................................................   37
Section 5.13   Benefits of this Agreement..................................   37
Section 5.14   Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc....   37
Section 5.15   Descriptive Headings........................................   38
Section 5.16   Governing Law...............................................   38
Section 5.17   Counterparts................................................   38
Section 5.18   Severability................................................   38



                                    EXHIBITS

Exhibit A      Form of Rights Certificate
                 (Together with Form of Election to Exercise)

Exhibit B      Form of Certificate of  Designation,  Preferences and Right of
               Series A Junior Participating  Preferred Stock of Reliance
               Bancorp, Inc.



                                     - ii -

<PAGE> 4



                     STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                     ---------------------------------------


         STOCKHOLDER  PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time,

this  "Agreement"),  dated as of September 18, 1996,  between Reliance  Bancorp,

Inc., A Delaware Corporation (the "Company"), and Registrar and Transfer Co., as

Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent," which term shall include any successor  Rights

Agent hereunder).

                                   WITNESSETH:
                                   -----------

         WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors of the Company has (a)  authorized and

declared a dividend  of one right  ("Right")  in respect of each share of Common

Stock (as  hereinafter  defined)  held of record as of the close of  business on

October  3, 1996  (the  "Record  Time")  and (b) as  provided  in  Section  2.4,

authorized  the  issuance of one Right in respect of each share of Common  Stock

issued after the Record Time and prior to the  Separation  Time (as  hereinafter

defined) and, to the extent  provided in Section 5.3, each share of Common Stock

issued after the Separation Time;

         WHEREAS,  subject  to  Sections  3.1,  3.2,  5.1 and 5.10,  each  Right

entitles the holder thereof,  after the Separation Time, to purchase  securities

of the Company (or, in certain cases, of certain other entities) pursuant to the

terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and

         WHEREAS,  the  Company  desires to appoint  the Rights  Agent to act on

behalf of the Company,  and the Rights Agent is willing so to act, in connection

with the issuance, transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights Certificates (as

hereinafter  defined),  the  exercise  of Rights and other  matters  referred to

herein;

         NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the premises and the  respective

agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:



                                       -1-

<PAGE> 5



                                    ARTICLE I

                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

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

         "Acquiring  Person" shall mean any Person who is a Beneficial  Owner of

10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock;  provided,  however, that
                                                        --------   -------
the  term  "Acquiring  Person"  shall  not  include  any  Person  (i) who is the

Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the

date of this Agreement or who shall become the  Beneficial  Owner of 10% or more

of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock solely as a result of an acquisition

by the  Company  of  shares of  Common  Stock,  until  such  time  hereafter  or

thereafter as any of such Persons shall become the Beneficial  Owner (other than

by means of a stock dividend or stock split) of any additional  shares of Common

Stock, (ii) who is the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the outstanding shares

of Common Stock but who acquired Beneficial  Ownership of shares of Common Stock

without any plan or intention to seek or affect control of the Company,  if such

Person promptly enters into an irrevocable  commitment  promptly to divest,  and

thereafter   promptly  divests  (without  exercising  or  retaining  any  power,

including  voting,  with respect to such  shares),  sufficient  shares of Common

Stock (or securities  convertible  into,  exchangeable  into or exercisable  for

Common  Stock) so that such Person ceases to be the  Beneficial  Owner of 10% or

more of the outstanding  shares of Common Stock or (iii) who  Beneficially  Owns

shares of Common Stock consisting  solely of one or more of (A) shares of Common

Stock  Beneficially Owned pursuant to the grant or exercise of an option granted

to such Person by the Company in connection  with an agreement to merge with, or

acquire, the Company entered into prior to a

                                      -2-

<PAGE> 6



Flip-in  Date,  (B)  shares of Common  Stock (or  securities  convertible  into,

exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock),  Beneficially  Owned by such

Person or its Affiliates or Associates at the time of grant of such option,  (C)

shares of Common Stock (or securities  convertible  into,  exchangeable  into or

exercisable  for Common  Stock)  acquired by  Affiliates  or  Associates of such

Person after the time of such grant which, in the aggregate, amount to less than

1% of the outstanding  shares of Common Stock and (D) shares of Common Stock (or

securities convertible into,  exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock)

which are held by such Person in trust accounts,  managed  accounts and the like

or otherwise held in a fiduciary capacity,  that are beneficially owned by third

persons who are not  Affiliates or Associates of such Person or acting  together

with  such  Person  to hold such  shares,  or which  are held by such  Person in

respect  of  a  debt  previously  contracted.  In  addition,  the  Company,  any

wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company and any employee stock ownership or other

employee benefit plan of the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company

shall not be an Acquiring Person.

         "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed

to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as such

Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement.

         A  Person  shall  be  deemed  the  "Beneficial   Owner,"  and  to  have

"Beneficial Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own," any securities as to which

such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is or may be deemed

to be the  beneficial  owner of  pursuant  to Rule  13d-3  and  13d-5  under the

Securities  Exchange  Act,  as such  Rules  are in  effect  on the  date of this

Agreement,  as well as any  securities  as to which  such  Person or any of such

Person's  Affiliates  or  Associates  has the right to become  Beneficial  Owner

(whether such right is

                                       -3-

<PAGE> 7



exercisable  immediately  or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of

conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the

exercise of conversion rights,  exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights),

warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be
                                   --------  -------
deemed the  "Beneficial  Owner",  or to have  "Beneficial  Ownership"  of, or to

"Beneficially  Own," any  security  (i) solely  because  such  security has been

tendered  pursuant to a tender or  exchange  offer made by such Person or any of

such Person's  Affiliates or Associates until such tendered security is accepted

for  payment or  exchange  or (ii)  solely  because  such  Person or any of such

Person's  Affiliates or Associates has or shares the power to vote or direct the

voting of such  security  pursuant to a  revocable  proxy given in response to a

public proxy or consent  solicitation made to more than ten holders of shares of

a class of stock of the Company  registered  under Section 12 of the  Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 and pursuant to, and in  accordance  with,  the  applicable

rules and regulations under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, except if such

power (or the arrangements  relating thereto) is then reportable under Item 6 of

Schedule 13D under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or any similar provision

of a comparable or successor report).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no officer

or director of the Company shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities of

any other Person by virtue of any actions such officer or director takes in such

capacity.  For purposes of this Agreement,  in determining the percentage of the

outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock  with  respect  to which a Person  is the

Beneficial  Owner,  all shares as to which such Person is deemed the  Beneficial

Owner shall be deemed outstanding.

                                       -4-

<PAGE> 8



         "Business  Day" shall mean any day other than a  Saturday,  Sunday or a

day on  which  banking  institutions  in New York are  generally  authorized  or

obligated by law or executive order to close.

         "Close of  business"  on any given date  shall mean 5:00 p.m.  New York

time on such date (or, if such date is not a Business  Day,  5:00 p.m.  New York

time on the next succeeding Business Day).

         "Common  Stock" shall mean the shares of Common  Stock,  par value $.01

per share, of the Company.

         "Exchange  Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the

Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 3.1(c) hereof.

         "Exercise  Price"  shall  mean,  as of any  date,  the price at which a

holder may purchase the  securities  issuable  upon exercise of one whole Right.

Until adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, the Exercise Price

shall equal $60.00.

         "Expiration  Time" shall mean the  earliest of (i) the  Exchange  Time,

(ii) the Redemption  Time, (iii) October 3, 2006 and (iv) upon the merger of the

Company into another corporation  pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to

a Flip-in Date.

         "Flip-in  Date"  shall  mean the  tenth  business  day  after any Stock

Acquisition  Date or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors of the

Company  may from time to time fix by  resolution  adopted  prior to the Flip-in

Date that would otherwise have occurred.

         "Flip-over  Entity," for purposes of Section 3.2, shall mean (i) in the

case  of a  Flip-over  Transaction  or  Event  described  in  clause  (i) of the

definition  thereof,  the Person  issuing any  securities  into which  shares of

Common Stock are being  converted or exchanged  and, if no such  securities  are

being issued, the other party to such Flip over Transaction or


                                      -5-

<PAGE> 9



Event and (ii) in the case of a Flip over  Transaction  or Event  referred to in

clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Person receiving the greatest portion

of the assets or earning power being  transferred in such Flip-over  Transaction

or Event, provided in all cases if such Person is a subsidiary of a corporation,

the parent corporation shall be the Flip-over Entity.

         "Flip-over  Stock"  shall mean the  capital  stock (or  similar  equity

interest) with the greatest voting power in respect of the election of directors

(or other  persons  similarly  responsible  for  direction  of the  business and

affairs) of the Flip-over Entity.

         "Flip-over  Transaction or Event" shall mean a transaction or series of

transactions  after a Flip-in  Date in which,  directly or  indirectly,  (i) the

Company shall  consolidate  or merge or participate in a share exchange with any

other Person if, at the time of the  consolidation,  merger or share exchange or

at the time the  Company  enters  into any  agreement  with  respect to any such

consolidation, merger or share exchange, the Acquiring Person Controls the Board

of Directors of the Company and either (A) any term of or arrangement concerning

the treatment of shares of capital stock in such consolidation,  merger or share

exchange  relating to the  Acquiring  Person is not  identical  to the terms and

arrangements  relating  to other  holders of the Common  Stock or (B) the Person

with whom the  transaction  or series of  transactions  occurs is the  Acquiring

Person or an Affiliate or Associate of the Acquiring  Person or (ii) the Company

shall sell or otherwise  transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell

or  otherwise  transfer)  assets  (A)  aggregating  more than 50% of the  assets

(measured by either book value or fair market value) or (B) generating more than

50% of the operating  income or cash flow,  of the Company and its  Subsidiaries

(taken as a whole) to any Person  (other  than the Company or one or more of its

wholly owned  Subsidiaries)  or to two or more such Persons which are Affiliates

or Associates or otherwise acting in concert, if, at the time

                                       -6-

<PAGE> 10



of the entry by the  Company (or any such  Subsidiary)  into an  agreement  with

respect to such sale or transfer of assets,  the Acquiring  Person  Controls the

Board of  Directors  of the  Company.  An  Acquiring  Person  shall be deemed to

Control the Company's  Board of Directors  when,  following a Flip-in Date,  the

persons who were directors of the Company before the Flip-in Date shall cease to

constitute a majority of the Company's Board of Directors.

         "Market  Price" per share of any  securities on any date shall mean the

average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities  (determined as

described  below)  on  each  of the 20  consecutive  Trading  Days  through  and

including the Trading Day immediately  preceding such date;  provided,  however,
                                                             --------   -------
that if an event of a type  analogous to any of the events  described in Section

2.4 hereof  shall have caused the closing  prices used to  determine  the Market

Price on any Trading  Days during such period of 20 Trading Days not to be fully

comparable  with the closing price on such date, each such closing price so used

shall be  appropriately  adjusted in order to make it fully  comparable with the

closing price on such date. The closing price per share of any securities on any

date shall be the last  reported  sale price,  regular  way, or, in case no such

sale takes  place or is quoted on such date,  the average of the closing bid and

asked prices, regular way, for each share of such securities,  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, Inc.

or, if the  securities  are not  listed or  admitted  to trading on the New York

Stock  Exchange,  Inc.,  as reported in the principal  consolidated  transaction

reporting  system with respect to securities  listed on the  principal  national

securities  exchange on which the  securities  are listed or admitted to trading

or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national


                                       -7-

<PAGE> 11



securities exchange, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other system

then in use, or, if on any such date the  securities  are not listed or admitted

to  trading  on  any  national   securities  exchange  or  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  securities  selected by the

Board of Directors of the Company;  provided,  however, that if on any such date
                                    --------   -------
the  securities  are not listed or admitted to trading on a national  securities

exchange or traded in the over-the  counter market,  the closing price per share

of such  securities  on such  date  shall  mean  the  fair  value  per  share of

securities on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of

the Company,  after consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking

firm, and set forth in a certificate delivered to the Rights Agent.

         "Person" shall mean any  individual,  firm,  partnership,  association,

group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the  Securities  Exchange Act of

1934, as such Rule is in effect on the date of this  Agreement),  corporation or

other entity.

         "Preferred   Stock"   shall   mean  the   series  of  Series  A  Junior

Participating  Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company created

by the Certificate of Designation in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit

B hereto appropriately completed.

         "Redemption Price" shall mean an amount equal to one cent, $0.01.

         "Redemption  Time" shall mean the  time at which the right to  exercise

the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof.

         "Separation  Time"  shall mean the close of  business on the earlier of

(i) the tenth  business day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of the

Company may from time to time fix by resolution  adopted prior to the Separation

Time that  would  otherwise  have  occurred)  after the date on which any Person

commences a tender or exchange offer which, if

                                      -8-

<PAGE> 12



consummated, would result in such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person and (ii)

the Flip-in Date; provided, that if the foregoing results in the Separation Time
                  --------
being prior to the Record Time, the Separation Time shall be the Record Time and

provided further, that if any tender or exchange offer referred to in clause (i)
- -------- -------
of this paragraph is cancelled,  terminated or otherwise  withdrawn prior to the

Separation  Time  without the  purchase of any shares of Common  Stock  pursuant

thereto,  such offer shall be deemed,  for purposes of this paragraph,  never to

have been made.

         "Stock   Acquisition   Date"  shall  mean  the  first  date  of  public

announcement  by the Company (by any means) that an Acquiring  Person has become

such.

         "Subsidiary"  of any  specified  Person shall mean any  corporation  or

other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the equity securities or

a majority of the equity interest is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly,

by such Person.

         "Trading Day," when used with respect to any  securities,  shall mean a

day on which the New York Stock  Exchange,  Inc. is open for the  transaction of

business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New

York Stock  Exchange,  Inc., a day on which the  principal  national  securities

exchange on which such  securities are listed or admitted to trading is open for

the transaction of business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to

trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE RIGHTS

         2.1      Summary of Rights.  As  soon  as  practicable after the Record
                  -----------------
Time, the Company will mail a letter summarizing the terms of the Rights to each

holder of record of

                                      -9-

<PAGE> 13



Common Stock as of the Record  Time,  at such  holder's  address as shown by the

records of the Company.

         2.2      Legend on  Common  Stock  Certificates.  Certificates  for the
                  --------------------------------------
Common Stock  issued  after the  Record  Time but prior to the  Separation  Time

shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock represented  thereby and

shall have impressed  on,  printed on,  written on or otherwise  affixed to them

the following legend:

         Until the Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement  referred
         to below),  this  certificate  also  evidences  and entitles the holder
         hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a Rights  Agreement,  dated as
         of September  18, 1996 (as such may be amended  from time to time,  the
         "Rights Agreement"), between Reliance Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") and
         Registrar  and Transfer  Co., as Rights  Agent,  the terms of which are
         hereby  incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file
         at the  principal  executive  offices  of the  Company.  Under  certain
         circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights may be
         redeemed,  may  become  exercisable  for  securities  or  assets of the
         Company or of another  entity,  may be  exchanged  for shares of Common
         Stock or other  securities  or assets of the Company,  may expire,  may
         become void (if they are "Beneficially  Owned" by an "Acquiring Person"
         or an Affiliate or Associate thereof,  as such terms are defined in the
         Rights Agreement,  or by any transferee of any of the foregoing) or may
         be evidenced by separate certificates and may no longer be evidenced by
         this certificate. The Company will mail or arrange for the mailing of a
         copy of the Rights Agreement to the holder of this certificate  without
         charge promptly after the receipt of a written request therefor.

Certificates representing shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding

at the Record  Time  shall  evidence  one Right for each  share of Common  Stock

evidenced thereby notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend.



         2.3    Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights.(a) Subject to Sections
                ----------------------------------------
3.1, 5.1 and 5.10 and subject to adjustment as herein set forth, each Right will

entitle the holder thereof, 

                                         -10-

<PAGE> 14



after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, to purchase, for the

Exercise Price, one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock.

         (b) Until the  Separation  Time, (i) no Right may be exercised and (ii)

each Right will be  evidenced by the  certificate  for the  associated  share of

Common Stock (together,  in the case of certificates  issued prior to the Record

Time,  with the letter mailed to the record holder  thereof  pursuant to Section

2.1) and will be  transferable  only together with, and will be transferred by a

transfer (whether with or without such letter) of, such associated share.

         (c)  Subject to this  Section 2.3 and to  Sections  3.l,  5.1 and 5.10,

after the Separation  Time and prior to the Expiration  Time, the Rights (i) may

be exercised and (ii) may be transferred  independent of shares of Common Stock.

Promptly  following  the  Separation  Time,  the Rights  Agent will mail to each

holder of  record of Common  Stock as of the  Separation  Time  (other  than any

Person  whose  Rights  have become void  pursuant  to Section  3.1(b)),  at such

holder's  address as shown by the records of the  Company  (the  Company  hereby

agreeing  to  furnish  copies  of such  records  to the  Rights  Agent  for this

purpose),  (x) a certificate (a "Rights  Certificate") in substantially the form

of Exhibit A hereto appropriately  completed,  representing the number of Rights

held  by  such  holder  at  the  Separation   Time  and  having  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

law or with any rule or  regulation  made  pursuant  thereto or with any rule or

regulation of any national  securities exchange or quotation system on which the

Rights  may from time to time be listed or traded,  or to conform to usage,  and

(y) a disclosure statement describing the Rights.


                                           -11-

<PAGE> 15



         (d) Subject to Sections  3.1, 5.1 and 5.10,  Rights may be exercised on

any Business Day after the Separation  Time and prior to the Expiration  Time by

submitting  to the Rights Agent the Rights  Certificate  evidencing  such Rights

with an Election to Exercise (an  "Election to Exercise")  substantially  in the

form attached to the Rights  Certificate duly completed,  accompanied by payment

in cash,  or by certified or official  bank check or money order  payable to the

order of the Company,  of a sum equal to the Exercise  Price  multiplied  by the

number of Rights being  exercised and a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax

or charge  which may be  payable  in respect  of any  transfer  involved  in the

transfer  or  delivery  of Rights  Certificates  or the  issuance or delivery of

certificates  for shares or  depositary  receipts (or both) in a name other than

that of the holder of the Rights being exercised.

         (e) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate,  with an Election to Exercise

accompanied by payment as set forth in Section  2.3(d),  and subject to Sections

3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, the Rights Agent will thereupon  promptly (i) (A) requisition

from a transfer  agent stock  certificates  evidencing  such number of shares or

other securities to be purchased (the Company hereby irrevocably authorizing its

transfer  agents to comply  with all such  requisitions)  and (B) if the Company

elects pursuant to Section 5.5 not to issue certificates representing fractional

shares,  requisition  from the  depositary  selected by the  Company  depositary

receipts  representing the fractional shares to be purchased or requisition from

the  Company  the  amount  of cash to be paid in lieu of  fractional  shares  in

accordance  with  Section  5.5 and  (ii)  after  receipt  of such  certificates,

depositary  receipts  and/or cash,  deliver the same to or upon the order of the

registered  holder  of such  Rights  Certificate,  registered  (in  the  case of

certificates or depositary  receipts) in such name or names as may be designated

by such holder.


                                       -12-

<PAGE> 16



         (f) In case the holder of any Rights shall  exercise  less than all the

Rights evidenced by such holder's Rights  Certificate,  a new Rights Certificate

evidencing the Rights  remaining  unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent

to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.

         (g) The  Company  covenants  and agrees  that it will (i) take all such

action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares  delivered upon exercise of

Rights  shall,  at the time of  delivery  of the  certificates  for such  shares

(subject to payment of the  Exercise  Price),  be duly and  validly  authorized,

executed,  issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable;  (ii) take all

such action as may be necessary to comply with any  applicable  requirements  of

the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules

and regulations thereunder, and any other applicable law, rule or regulation, in

connection  with the issuance of any shares upon  exercise of Rights;  and (iii)

pay when due and  payable  any and all  federal  and  state  transfer  taxes and

charges which may be payable in respect of the original  issuance or delivery of

the Rights  Certificates  or of any shares  issued upon the  exercise of Rights,

provided  that the  Company  shall not be required  to pay any  transfer  tax or

charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer  involved in the transfer

or delivery of Rights  Certificates  or the issuance or delivery of certificates

for  shares  in a name  other  than  that  of the  holder  of the  Rights  being

transferred or exercised.

         2.4   Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights. (a) In the event
               -----------------------------------------------
the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to the  Separation

Time (i) declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (ii)

subdivide the outstanding  Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding  Common

Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, (x) the Exercise Price in

effect after such adjustment


                                        -13-

<PAGE> 17



will be  equal  to the  Exercise  Price  in  effect  immediately  prior  to such

adjustment  divided  by the  number of shares of Common  Stock  (the  "Expansion

Factor")  that a holder of one share of Common Stock  immediately  prior to such

dividend,  subdivision or combination  would hold thereafter as a result thereof

and (y) each Right held prior to such  adjustment  will  become  that  number of

Rights equal to the Expansion Factor,  and the adjusted number of Rights will be

deemed to be distributed  among the shares of Common Stock with respect to which

the original Rights were associated (if they remain  outstanding) and the shares

issued in respect of such  dividend,  subdivision or  combination,  so that each

such share of Common Stock will have exactly one Right  associated with it. Each

adjustment  made pursuant to this  paragraph  shall be made as of the payment or

effective date for the applicable dividend, subdivision or combination.

          In the event the  Company  shall at any time after the Record Time and

prior to the Separation  Time issue any shares of Common Stock otherwise than in

a transaction referred to in the preceding paragraph,  each such share of Common

Stock so issued shall automatically have one new Right associated with it, which

Right shall be  evidenced by the  certificate  representing  such share.  To the

extent provided in Section 5.3, Rights shall be issued by the Company in respect

of shares of  Common  Stock  that are  issued or sold by the  Company  after the

Separation Time.

         (b) In the event the  Company  shall at any time after the Record  Time

and prior to the Separation Time issue or distribute any securities or assets in

respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant to a

regular  periodic  cash  dividend  or a dividend  paid  solely in Common  Stock)

whether by dividend,  in a reclassification or  recapitalization  (including any

such transaction involving a merger, consolidation or share


                                       -14-

<PAGE> 18



exchange), or otherwise, the Company shall make such adjustments, if any, in the

Exercise Price, number of Rights and/or securities or other property purchasable

upon  exercise of Rights as the Board of Directors  of the Company,  in its sole

discretion,  may deem to be  appropriate  under  the  circumstances  in order to

adequately  protect the  interests of the holders of Rights  generally,  and the

Company and the Rights Agent shall amend this  Agreement as necessary to provide

for such adjustments.

         (c) Each adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant to this Section

2.4 shall be  calculated  to the nearest  cent.  Whenever an  adjustment  to the

Exercise  Price is made  pursuant to this  Section  2.4,  the Company  shall (i)

promptly  prepare  a  certificate  setting  forth  such  adjustment  and a brief

statement of the facts  accounting  for such  adjustment  and (ii) promptly file

with the Rights Agent and with each  transfer  agent for the Common Stock a copy

of such certificate.

         (d) Rights  certificates  shall  represent the  securities  purchasable

under the terms of this  Agreement,  including  any  adjustment or change in the

securities   purchasable   upon  exercise  of  the  Rights,   even  though  such

certificates  may continue to express the securities  purchasable at the time of

issuance of the initial Rights Certificates.

         2.5   Date on Which Exercise is Effective.Each person in whose name any
               -----------------------------------
certificate  for  shares is issued  upon the  exercise  of Rights  shall for all

purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares represented

thereby on the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was

duly  surrendered  and  payment of the  Exercise  Price for such Rights (and any

applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the exercising holder

hereunder) was made; provided,  however,  that if the date of such surrender and

payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are


                                        -15-

<PAGE> 19



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 stock transfer books of the Company are open.

         2.6   Execution,   Authentication,   Delivery   and  Dating  of  Rights
               -----------------------------------------------------------------
Certificates.  (a) The Rights  Certificates  shall be  executed on behalf of the
- ------------
Company by its Chairman of the Board,  President or one of its Vice  Presidents,

under its corporate seal reproduced  thereon attested by its Secretary or one of

its Assistant Secretaries.  The signature of any of these officers on the Rights

Certificates may be manual or facsimile.

         Rights  Certificates  bearing  the manual or  facsimile  signatures  of

individuals  who were at any time the proper  officers of the Company shall bind

the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to

hold such  offices  prior to the  countersignature  and  delivery of such Rights

Certificates.

         Promptly after the Separation  Time, the Company will notify the Rights

Agent of such Separation Time and will deliver Rights  Certificates  executed by

the Company to the Rights Agent for  countersignature,  and,  subject to Section

3.1(b),  the Rights  Agent shall  manually  countersign  and deliver such Rights

Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to Section 2.3(c) hereof.  No

Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless manually counter signed

by the Rights Agent.

         (b) Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature

thereof.

         2.7.    Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.  (a) After
                 ---------------------------------------------------
the Separation Time, the Company will  cause to be kept a  register (the "Rights

Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe,

the Company will provide for the registration and transfer of Rights. The Rights

Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar"

                                      -16-

<PAGE> 20



for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  the  Rights  Register  for the  Company  and

registering  Rights and transfers of Rights after the Separation  Time as herein

provided.  In the event  that the  Rights  Agent  shall  cease to be the  Rights

Registrar,  the Rights Agent will have the right to examine the Rights  Register

at all reasonable times after the Separation Time.

         After  the  Separation  Time and  prior to the  Expiration  Time,  upon

surrender for  registration  of transfer or exchange of any Rights  Certificate,

and  subject to the  provisions  of Section  2.7(c) and (d),  the  Company  will

execute,  and the Rights Agent will countersign and deliver,  in the name of the

holder or the designated transferee or transferees,  as required pursuant to the

holder's instructions,  one or more new Rights Certificates  evidencing the same

aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.

         (b) Except as otherwise  provided in Section 3.1(b),  all Rights issued

upon any  registration of transfer or exchange of Rights  Certificates  shall be

the valid  obligations of the Company,  and such Rights shall be entitled to the

same  benefits  under  this  Agreement  as  the  Rights  surrendered  upon  such

registration of transfer or exchange.

         (c) Every Rights  Certificate  surrendered for registration of transfer

or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of

transfer in form  satisfactory  to the Company or the Rights Agent,  as the case

may be,  duly  executed by the holder  thereof or such  holder's  attorney  duly

authorized  in  writing.  As a  condition  to the  issuance  of any  new  Rights

Certificate under this Section 2.7, the Company may require the payment of a sum

sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental  charge that may be imposed in

relation thereto.

                                       -17-

<PAGE> 21



         (d) The  Company  shall not be required  to  register  the  transfer or

exchange of any Rights after such Rights have become void under Section  3.1(b),

been exchanged under Section 3.1(c) or been redeemed or terminated under Section

5.1.

         2.8    Mutilated,  Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates.  (a)
                ----------------------------------------------------------
If any mutilated  Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior to

the  Expiration Time,  then, subject  to  Sections 3.1(b),  3.1(c)  and 5.1, the

Company shall  execute  and the Rights  Agent shall  countersign  and deliver in

exchange therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing  the same number of Rights

as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.

         (b) If there shall be  delivered  to the  Company and the Rights  Agent

prior  to  the  Expiration  Time  (i)  evidence  to  their  satisfaction  of the

destruction,  loss or theft of any Rights  Certificate and (ii) such security or

indemnity  as may be  required  by them to save  each of them  and any of  their

agents harmless,  then,  subject to Sections  3.1(b),  3.1(c) and 5.1 and in the

absence  of  notice  to the  Company  or  the  Rights  Agent  that  such  Rights

Certificate  has been  acquired  by a bona fide  purchaser,  the  Company  shall

execute and upon its request the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver,  in

lieu of any such  destroyed,  lost or stolen  Rights  Certificate,  a new Rights

Certificate  evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights  Certificate

so destroyed, lost or stolen.

         (c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights  Certificate under

this  Section 2.8,  the Company may require the payment of a sum  sufficient  to

cover any tax or other  governmental  charge  that may be  imposed  in  relation

thereto and any other  expenses  (including  the fees and expenses of the Rights

Agent) connected therewith.

         (d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in

lieu of any  destroyed,  lost or stolen  Rights  Certificate  shall  evidence an

original additional contractual

                                         -18-

<PAGE> 22



obligation of the Company,  whether or not the destroyed,  lost or stolen Rights

Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone,  and, subject to Section

3.1(b),  shall be entitled to all the  benefits  of this  Agreement  equally and

proportionately with any and all other Rights duly issued hereunder.

         2.9  Persons  Deemed  Owners.  Prior  to due  presentment  of a  Rights
              -----------------------
Certificate  (or,  prior to the Separation  Time,  the  associated  Common Stock

certificate) for registration of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any

agent of the Company or the Rights  Agent may deem and treat the person in whose

name such Rights  Certificate  (or,  prior to the Separation  Time,  such Common

Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights

evidenced  thereby for all  purposes  whatsoever,  including  the payment of the

Redemption  Price and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected

by any notice to the  contrary.  As used in this  Agreement,  unless the context

otherwise  requires,  the term "holder" of any Rights shall mean the  registered

holder of such Rights (or, prior to the Separation  Time, the associated  shares

of Common Stock).

         2.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates. All Rights Certificates
              -----------------------------------------
surrendered  upon exercise or for registration of transfer or exchange shall, if

surrendered  to any person  other than the Rights  Agent,  be  delivered  to the

Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly  cancelled by the Rights Agent.

The Company may at any time  deliver to the Rights  Agent for  cancellation  any

Rights Certificates previously  countersigned and delivered here under which the

Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever,  and all Rights Certificates

so  delivered  shall be  promptly  cancelled  by the  Rights  Agent.  No  Rights

Certificates  shall be  countersigned  in lieu of or in exchange  for any Rights

Certificates

                                       -19-

<PAGE> 23



cancelled as provided in this  Section  2.10,  except as expressly  permitted by

this Agreement.  The Rights Agent shall return all cancelled Rights Certificates

to the Company.

         2.11   Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of Rights by accepting
                ---------------------------
the same consents and  agrees with  the Company  and the Rights  Agent  and with

every other holder of Rights that:

         (a) prior to the Separation Time, each Right will be transferable  only

together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated share of

Common Stock;

         (b) after  the  Separation  Time,  the  Rights  Certificates  will   be

transferable only on the Rights Register as provided herein;

         (c) prior to due presentment of a Rights  Certificate (or, prior to the

Separation  Time, the associated  Common Stock  certificate) for registration of

transfer,  the  Company,  the Rights  Agent and any agent of the  Company or the

Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights  Certificate

(or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated  Common Stock  certificate) is

registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for

all purposes  whatsoever,  and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be

affected by any notice to the contrary;

         (d) Rights  beneficially  owned  by  certain  Persons  will,  under the

circumstances set forth in Section 3.1(b), become void; and

         (e) this  Agreement  may  be  supplemented or amended from time to time

pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or 5.4 hereof



                                       -20-

<PAGE> 24



                                   ARTICLE III

           ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

         3.1  Flip-in.  (a) In  the  event that  prior to  the Expiration Time a
              -------
Flip-in  Date shall occur,  except as  provided in  this Section 3.1, each Right

shall  constitute the right to purchase  from the Company, upon exercise thereof

in accordance with the terms hereof (but subject to Section  5.10),  that number

of  shares  of  Common  Stock  having an  aggregate  Market  Price  on the Stock

Acquisition  Date equal to  twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal

to the Exercise Price (such  right to be  appropriately  adjusted  in  order  to

protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in the event that on or

after such Stock Acquisition Date  an event of  a type  analogous  to any of the

events  described  in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have  occurred with respect to

the Common Stock).

         (b)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any  Rights  that  are  or  were

Beneficially Owned on or after the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person

or an Affiliate or Associate  thereof or by any transferee,  direct or indirect,

of any of the  foregoing  shall  become  void  and any  holder  of  such  Rights

(including  transferees)  shall thereafter have no right to exercise or transfer

such Rights under any provision of this Agreement.  If any Rights Certificate is

presented for assignment or exercise and the Person presenting the same will not

complete the  certification  set forth at the end of the form of  assignment  or

notice of election  to exercise  and  provide  such  additional  evidence of the

identity of the  Beneficial  Owner and its  Affiliates and Associates (or former

Beneficial  Owners and their  Affiliates  and  Associates)  as the Company shall

reasonably request,  then the Company shall be entitled conclusively to deem the

Beneficial  Owner thereof to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate

thereof or

                                       -21-

<PAGE> 25



a  transferee  of any of the  foregoing  and  accordingly  will deem the  Rights

evidenced thereby to be void and not transferable or exercisable.

         (c) The Board of Directors  of the Company  may, at its option,  at any

time after a Flip-in Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes

the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock,

elect to  exchange  all (but not less than all) of the then  outstanding  Rights

(which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions

of Section  3.1(b)) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share

of Common  Stock per  Right,  appropriately  adjusted  in order to  protect  the

interests of holders of Rights  generally in the event that after the Separation

Time an event of a type  analogous  to any of the  events  described  in Section

2.4(a) or (b) shall  have  occurred  with  respect  to the  Common  Stock  (such

exchange ratio, as adjusted from time to time, being hereinafter  referred to as

the "Exchange Ratio").

         Immediately  upon the action of the Board of  Directors  of the Company

electing to  exchange  the  Rights,  without any further  action and without any

notice,  the right to exercise the Rights will  terminate  and each Right (other

than Rights that have become void  pursuant to Section  3.1(b)) will  thereafter

represent  only the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to

the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors electing

to exchange the Rights,  the Company shall give notice thereof  (specifying  the

steps to be taken to receive  shares of Common  Stock in exchange for Rights) to

the Rights  Agent and the  holders of the Rights  (other  than  Rights that have

become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) outstanding immediately prior thereto by

mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.


                                      -22-

<PAGE> 26



         Each Person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued upon the

exchange of Rights  pursuant to this Section  3.1(c) or Section 3.1(d) shall for

all  purposes  be  deemed to have  become  the  holder  of record of the  shares

represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which

the Rights  Certificate  evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment

of any applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the holder was

made;  provided,  however,  that if the date of such  surrender and payment is a

date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed,  such Person

shall be deemed to have  become  the record  holder of such  shares on, and such

certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding  Business Day on which the stock

transfer books of the Company are open.

         (d) Whenever the Company shall become obligated under Section 3.1(a) or

(c) to issue shares of Common Stock upon  exercise of or in exchange for Rights,

the Company,  at its option, may substitute  therefor shares of Preferred Stock,

at a ratio of one  one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock for each share of

Common Stock so issuable.

         (e) In the event that there shall not be sufficient  treasury shares or

authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company

to permit the  exercise  or exchange  in full of the Rights in  accordance  with

Section  3.1(a)  or  (c),  the  Company  shall  either  (i)  call a  meeting  of

stockholders  seeking  approval  to cause  sufficient  additional  shares  to be

authorized (provided that if such approval is not obtained the Company will take

the action  specified in clause (ii) of this  sentence) or (ii) take such action

as shall be  necessary  to  ensure  and  provide,  to the  extent  permitted  by

applicable  law and  any  agreements  or  instruments  in  effect  on the  Stock

Acquisition  Date to which it is a party,  that each  Right  shall  there  after

constitute the right to receive, (x) at the Company's option, either (A) in


                                       -23-

<PAGE> 27



return for the Exercise Price,  debt or equity  securities or other assets (or a

combination  thereof)  having a fair value equal to twice the Exercise Price, or

(B) without payment of consideration (except as otherwise required by applicable

law),  debt or equity  securities  or other  assets (or a  combination  thereof)

having  a fair  value  equal  to the  Exercise  Price,  or (y) if the  Board  of

Directors  of the  Company  elects to  exchange  the Rights in  accordance  with

Section  3.1(c),  debt or equity  securities  or other assets (or a  combination

thereof) having a fair value equal to the product of the Market Price of a share

of Common Stock on the Flip-in  Date times the  Exchange  Ratio in effect on the

Flip-in Date,  where in any case set forth in (x) or (y) above the fair value of

such debt or equity  securities  or other assets shall be as  determined in good

faith by the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  after  consultation  with a

nationally recognized investment banking firm.

         3.2  Flip-over. (a) Prior to the Expiration Time, the Company shall not
              ---------
enter into any  agreement  with  respect to,  consummate  or permit to occur any

Flip-over  Transaction  or Event  unless and until it shall have  entered into a

supplemental agreement with the Flip-over Entity, for the benefit of the holders

of the Rights,  providing that, upon consummation or occurrence of the Flip-over

Transaction  or Event (i) each Right shall  thereafter  constitute  the right to

purchase from the Flip-over Entity, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the

terms hereof,  that number of shares of Flip-over Stock of the Flip-over  Entity

having an aggregate  Market Price on the date of  consummation  or occurrence of

such  Flip-over  Transaction  or Event equal to twice the Exercise  Price for an

amount in cash  equal to the  Exercise  Price  (such  right to be  appropriately

adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in

the event that after such date of  consummation or occurrence an event of a type

analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have


                                         -24-

<PAGE> 28



occurred  with respect to the  Flip-over  Stock) and (ii) the  Flip-over  Entity

shall  thereafter be liable for, and shall assume,  by virtue of such  Flip-over

Transaction or Event and such  supplemental  agreement,  all the obligations and

duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. The provisions of this Section

3.2 shall apply to successive Flip-over Transactions or Events.

         (b) Prior to the  Expiration  Time,  unless the Rights will be redeemed

pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof in  connection  therewith,  the Company shall not

enter into any  agreement  with  respect to,  consummate  or permit to occur any

Flip-over  Transaction  or Event if at the time  thereof  there are any  rights,

warrants or  securities  outstanding  or any other  arrangements,  agreements or

instruments  that would eliminate or otherwise  diminish in any material respect

the benefits  intended to be afforded by this Rights Agreement to the holders of

Rights upon consummation of such transaction.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                THE RIGHTS AGENT

         4.1   General. (a) The Company hereby  appoints the Rights Agent to act
               -------
as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and

the Rights Agent hereby accepts such  appointment.  The Company 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

                                       -25-

<PAGE> 29



or omitted to be done 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.

         (b) The Rights  Agent shall be  protected  and shall incur no liability

for or in respect of any action  taken,  suffered or omitted by it in connection

with its  administration  of this Agreement in reliance upon any certificate for

securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights, Rights Certificate,  certificate

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.

         4.2   Merger  or Consolidation  or Change  of  Name  of  Rights  Agent.
               ----------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Any corporation  into which the Rights  Agent or any  successor Rights Agent

may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting

from any  merger  or  consolidation  to which  the Rights Agent or any successor

Rights  Agent is  a  party,  or any  corporation  succeeding to the  shareholder

services business of the Rights  Agent or any  successor  Rights  Agent, will 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 4.4 hereof.  In case at the time

such successor Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by this Agreement any

of the Rights  Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered,  any such

successor Rights Agent may adopt the  countersignature of the predecessor Rights

Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that

time any of the Rights Certificates have not been

                                      -26-

<PAGE> 30



countersigned,   any  successor   Rights  Agent  may  countersign   such  Rights

Certificates  either in the name of the predecessor  Rights Agent or in the name

of the successor  Rights Agent;  and in all such cases such Rights  Certificates

will  have  the full  force  provided  in the  Rights  Certificates  and in this

Agreement.

         (b) In case at any time the name of the Rights  Agent is changed and at

such time any of the Rights  Certificates  shall have been countersigned but not

delivered,  the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name

and deliver Rights  Certificates so countersigned;  and in case at that time any

of the Rights Certificates shall not have been  countersigned,  the Rights Agent

may  countersign  such  Rights  Certificates  either in its prior name or in its

changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full

force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.

         4.3  Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and
              ----------------------
obligations imposed by this  Agreement upon the following  terms and conditions,

by all of which the  Company and the  holders of Rights  Certificates,  by their

acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

         (a) The Rights Agent may consult  with legal  counsel (who may be legal

counsel  for the  Company),  and the  opinion of such  counsel  will 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 deems 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


                                       -27-

<PAGE> 31



conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by a person believed

by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board,  the  President or any Vice

President and by the  Treasurer or any  Assistant  Treasurer or the Secretary or

any Assistant  Secretary of the Company and  delivered to the Rights Agent;  and

such certificate  will 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 will  be  liable  hereunder only  for  its  own

negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

         (d)  The Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the

statements  of  fact  or  recitals   contained  in  this  Agreement  or  in  the

certificates  for securities  purchasable  upon exercise of Rights or the Rights

Certificates (except its countersignature  thereof) or be required to verify the

same,  but all such  statements and recitals are and will be deemed to have been

made by the Company only.

         (e) The Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect of

the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery  hereof (except the

due  authorization,  execution  and delivery  hereof by the Rights  Agent) or in

respect  of  the  validity  or  execution  of  any  certificate  for  securities

purchasable  upon  exercise  of  Rights  or  Rights   Certificate   (except  its

countersignature  thereof);  nor will it be  responsible  for any  breach by the

Company of any  covenant or  condition  contained  in this  Agreement  or in any

Rights  Certificate;   nor  will  it  be  responsible  for  any  change  in  the

exercisability  of the Rights  (including  the Rights  becoming void pursuant to

Section  3.1(b)  hereof) or any  adjustment  required  under the  provisions  of

Section 2.4, 3.1 or 3.2 hereof or responsible  for the manner,  method or amount

of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that


                                        -28-

<PAGE> 32



would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights

after receipt of the certificate contemplated by Section 2.4 describing any such

adjustment);   nor  will  it  by  any  act  hereunder  be  deemed  to  make  any

representation  or  warranty  as to  the  authorization  or  reservation  of any

securities  purchasable  upon  exercise of Rights or any Rights or as to whether

any securities  purchasable  upon exercise of Rights will, when issued,  be duly

and  validly  authorized,  executed,  issued  and  delivered  and fully paid and

nonassessable.

         (f) The Company agrees that it will perform,  execute,  acknowledge and

deliver or cause to be performed, executed,  acknowledged and delivered all such

further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required

by the Rights Agent for the carrying  out or  performing  by the Rights Agent of

the provisions of this Agreement.

         (g) The  Rights  Agent is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to accept

instructions  with respect to the  performance of its duties  hereunder from any

person  believed  by the  Rights  Agent to be the  Chairman  of the  Board,  the

President or any Vice  President or the Secretary or any Assistant  Secretary or

the  Treasurer or any Assistant  Treasurer of the Company,  and to apply to such

persons 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 person.

         (h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee

of the  Rights  Agent  may buy,  sell or deal in Common  Stock,  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.


                                        -29-

<PAGE> 33



           (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 will 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.

         4.4  Change  of Rights  Agent.  The  Rights  Agent  may  resign  and be
              ------------------------
discharged  from its duties under this  Agreement  upon 90 days' notice (or such

lesser notice as is acceptable to the Company) in writing  mailed to the Company

and to each transfer agent of Common Stock by registered or certified  mail, and

to the holders of the Rights in  accordance  with  Section  5.9. The Company may

remove the Rights  Agent upon 30 days'  notice in writing,  mailed to the Rights

Agent and to each transfer  agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified

mail,  and to the holders of the Rights in  accordance  with Section 5.9. If the

Rights  Agent  should  resign or be removed or  otherwise  become  incapable  of

acting, the Company will appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company

fails to make such appointment  within a period of 30 days after such removal or

after it has been notified in writing of such  resignation  or incapacity by the

resigning or  incapacitated  Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights  (which

holder shall,  with such notice,  submit such holder's  Rights  Certificate  for

inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Rights 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 New York or any other State of the United States, in good standing,

which is authorized under such laws to

                                      -30-

<PAGE> 34



exercise the powers of the Rights Agent  contemplated  by this  Agreement and is

subject to  supervision  or  examination  by federal or state  authority.  After

appointment,  the  successor  Rights  Agent will 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  will  file  notice  thereof  in  writing  with  the

predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock, and mail a

notice  thereof  in writing to the  holders of the  Rights.  Failure to give any

notice provided for in this Section 4.4, 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.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         5.1  Redemption.  (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
              ----------
option, at any time prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, elect to

redeem  all  (but not  less  than  all) of the  then-outstanding  Rights  at the

Redemption Price, and the Company,  at its option,  may pay the Redemption Price

either  in cash or shares of Common  Stock or other  securities  of the  Company

deemed by the Board of Directors, in the exercise of its sole discretion,  to be

at least equivalent in value to the Redemption Price.

         (b)  Immediately  upon the  action  of the  Board of  Directors  of the

Company  electing to redeem the Rights (or,  if the  resolution  of the Board of

Directors  electing to redeem the Rights states that the redemption  will not be

effective until the occurrence of a specified

                                       -31-

<PAGE> 35



future time or event, upon the occurrence of such future time or event), without

any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will

terminate and each Right will thereafter represent only the right to receive the

Redemption Price in cash or securities, as determined by the Board of Directors.

Promptly  after the Rights are  redeemed,  the Company shall give notice of such

redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then-outstanding Rights by

mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.

         5.2  Expiration.  The Rights  and this  Agreement  shall  expire at the
              ----------
Expiration  Time and no Person shall have any rights  pursuant to this Agreement

or any Right after the Expiration Time,  except,  if the Rights are exchanged or

redeemed, as provided in Section 3.1 or 5.1 hereof

         5.3  Issuance of New Rights  Certificates.  Notwithstanding  any of the
              ------------------------------------
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary,  the Company may,

at its option,  issue new Rights Certificates  evidencing Rights in such form as

may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in

the  number or kind or class of shares of stock  purchasable  upon  exercise  of

Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in

connection  with the  issuance or sale of shares of Common  Stock by the Company

following the Separation  Time and prior to the Expiration  Time pursuant to the

terms of securities  convertible or redeemable into shares of Common Stock or to

options,  in each case  issued or  granted  prior to,  and  outstanding  at, the

Separation Time, the Company shall issue to the holders of such shares of Common

Stock,  Rights  Certificates  representing  the appropriate  number of Rights in

connection  with the issuance or sale of such shares of Common Stock;  provided,
                                                                       --------
however,  in each case, (i) no such Rights  Certificate shall be issued, if, and
- -------
to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance


                                       -32-

<PAGE> 36



would create a  significant  risk of material  adverse tax  consequences  to the

Company or to the Person to whom such Rights  Certificates would be issued, (ii)

no such  Rights  Certificates  shall  be  issued  if,  and to the  extent  that,

appropriate  adjustment  shall have  otherwise been made in lieu of the issuance

thereof,  and (iii) the Company shall have no  obligation  to distribute  Rights

Certificates  to any Acquiring  Person or Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring

Person or any transferee of any of the foregoing.

         5.4  Supplements  and  Amendments. The Company and the Rights Agent may
              ----------------------------
from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any

holders of Rights (i) prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, in any

respect and (ii) after the close of business  on the Flip-in  Date,  to make any

changes that the Company may deem  necessary  or  desirable  and which shall not

materially  adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights generally or

in order  to cure any  ambiguity  or to  correct  or  supplement  any  provision

contained herein which may be inconsistent  with any other provisions  herein or

otherwise  defective.  The  Rights  Agent  will duly  execute  and  deliver  any

supplement  or amendment  hereto  requested by the Company  which  satisfies the

terms of the preceding sentence.

         5.5  Fractional Shares. If the Company elects not to issue certificates
              -----------------
representing  fractional  shares upon  exercise  or  redemption  of Rights,  the

Company  shall,  in  lieu  thereof,  in the  sole  discretion  of the  Board  of

Directors,  either (a) evidence such  fractional  shares by depositary  receipts

issued pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary

selected by it,  providing  that each holder of a depositary  receipt shall have

all of the rights,  privileges  and  preferences  to which such holder  would be

entitled as a beneficial owner of such fractional share, or (b) sell such shares

on behalf of the

                                     -33-

<PAGE> 37



holders of Right and pay to the registered holder of such Rights the appropriate

fraction of price per share received upon such sale.

         5.6 Rights of Action. Subject to the terms of this Agreement (including
             ----------------
Section  3.1(b)),  rights of action in  respect  of this  Agreement,  other than

rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective

holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights,  without the consent of the

Rights  Agent or of the holder of any other  Rights,  may, on such  holder's own

behalf and for such  holder's  own benefit  and the benefit of other  holders of

Rights,  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 such holder's  Rights in the manner  provided in such holder's

Rights Certificate and in this Agreement.  Without limiting the foregoing or any

remedies  available to the holders of Rights,  it is  specifically  acknowledged

that the  holders  of Rights  would not have an  adequate  remedy at law for any

breach of this  Agreement  and will be entitled to specific  performance  of the

obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations

of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.

         5.7  Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder.  No holder, as such, of
              -----------------------------------------
any Rights  shall be entitled to vote,  receive  dividends  or be deemed for any

purpose  the holder of shares or any other  securities  which may at any time be

issuable on the exercise of such Rights,  nor shall anything contained herein or

in any Rights  Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights,

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 5.8


                                      -34-

<PAGE> 38



hereof),  or to receive dividends or subscription  rights,  or otherwise,  until

such Rights  shall have been  exercised  or  exchanged  in  accordance  with the

provisions hereof.

         5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions. In case the Company shall propose after
             --------------------------
the  Separation  Time and prior to the  Expiration  Time (i) to effect or permit

occurrence  of any  Flip-over  Transaction  or  Event  or  (ii)  to  effect  the

liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case,

the Company shall give to each holder of a Right, in accordance with Section 5.9

hereof, a notice of such proposed action,  which shall specify the date on which

such Flip-over Transaction or Event, liquidation,  dissolution, or winding up is

to take place, and such notice shall be so given at least 20 Business Days prior

to the date of the taking of such proposed action.

         5.9  Notices.  Notices  or  demands  authorized  or  required  by  this
              -------
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights

to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by

first-class mail, postage prepaid,  addressed (until another address is filed in

writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

                           Reliance Bancorp, Inc.
                           585 Stewart Avenue
                           Garden City, New York  11530

                           Attention:  Corporate Secretary


Any notice or demand  authorized  or required by this  Agreement  to be given or

made by the  Company or by the  holder of any  Rights to or on the Rights  Agent

shall be  sufficiently  given or made if delivered or sent by first-class  mail,

postage  prepaid,  addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the

Company) as follows:


                                      -35-

<PAGE> 39



                           Registrar and Transfer Co.
                           10 Commerce Drive
                           Cranford, NJ  07016
                           Attention:  Vice President - Transfer Department


Notices or demands  authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made

by the  Company or the Rights  Agent to or on the holder of any Rights  shall be

sufficiently  given or made if delivered or sent by  first-class  mail,  postage

prepaid,  addressed  to such  holder at the address of such holder as it appears

upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation Time, on

the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock.  Any notice which

is mailed in the manner herein  provided  shall be deemed given,  whether or not

the holder receives the notice.

         5.10  Suspension  of  Exercisability.  To the extent  that the  Company
               ------------------------------
determines  in good faith that some  action  will or need be taken  pursuant  to

Section 3.1 or to comply with federal or state  securities laws, the Company may

suspend the  exercisability  of the Rights for a  reasonable  period in order to

take such action or comply with such laws. In the event of any such  suspension,

the Company shall issue as promptly as practicable a public announcement stating

that the  exercisability or  exchangeability  of the Rights has been temporarily

suspended. Notice thereof pursuant to Section 5.9 shall not be required.

         Failure to give a notice  pursuant to the  provisions of this Agreement

shall not affect the validity of any action taken hereunder.

         5.11 Costs of  Enforcement.  The Company  agrees that if the Company or
              ---------------------
any other Person the securities of which are purchasable upon exercise of Rights

fails to fulfill any of its  obligations  pursuant to this  Agreement,  then the

Company or such Person will reimburse


                                       -36-

<PAGE> 40



the holder of any  Rights  for the costs and  expenses  (including  legal  fees)

incurred by such holder in actions to enforce such holder's  rights  pursuant to

any Rights or this Agreement.

         5.12 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.

         5.13 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

holders of the Rights any legal or equitable  right,  remedy or claim under this

Agreement and this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive  benefit of the

Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.

         5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors,  etc. (a) The
              ---------------------------------------------------------
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the  exclusive  power and authority

to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers  specifically

granted to the Board or to the  Company,  or as may be necessary or advisable in

the administration of this Agreement,  including,  without limitation, the right

and power to (i)  interpret the  provisions of this  Agreement and (ii) make all

determinations  deemed  necessary or advisable  for the  administration  of this

Agreement.  All such actions,  calculations,  interpretations and determinations

(including,  for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the

foregoing)  which  are done or made by the  Board in good  faith,  shall  (x) be

final,  conclusive and binding on the Company,  the Rights Agent, the holders of

the Rights and all other parties,  and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of

the Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights.


                                      -37-

<PAGE> 41



         (b) In taking any action  referred to in Section 5.14 (a), the Board of

Directors shall be entitled to consider,  without limitation,  the financial and

managerial  resources and future prospects of an Acquiring Person,  the possible

effects of the action on the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and on

the  employees,  customers,  suppliers  and  creditors  of the  Company  and its

subsidiaries  and the effects on the  communities in which the Company's and its

subsidiaries facilities are located.

         5.15     Descriptive Headings.  Descriptive headings  appear herein for
                  --------------------
convenience only and  shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of

any of the provisions hereof.

         5.16  Governing  Law. THIS  AGREEMENT  AND EACH RIGHT 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.

         5.17  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.

          5.18 Severability.  If any term or provision hereof or the application
               ------------
thereof to any circumstance  shall, in any  jurisdiction  and to any extent,  be

invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be ineffective as to such

jurisdiction  to the  extent  of such  invalidity  or  unenforceability  without

invalidating  or rendering  unenforceable  the  remaining  terms and  provisions

hereof or the application of such term or provision to circumstances  other than

those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable.


                                        -38-

<PAGE> 42



          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to

be duly executed as of the date first above written.



                                  RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.

                                  By:      /s/ Raymond A. Nielsen
                                           -------------------------------------
                                  Name:    Raymond A. Nielsen
                                  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer


                                  By:      /s/ Robert F. Pelosi
                                           -------------------------------------
                                  Name:    Robert F. Pelosi
                                  Title:   Senior Vice President and
                                           Corporate Secretary


                                  REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER CO.

                                  By:      /s/ William P. Tatler
                                           -------------------------------------
                                  Name:    William P. Tatler
                                  Title:   Vice President



                                       -39-

<PAGE> 43



                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                          [Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. W-                                             ___________Rights

THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR MANDATORY EXCHANGE, AT THE OPTION OF THE
COMPANY,  ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS  AGREEMENT.  RIGHTS  BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY ACQUIRING  PERSONS OR AFFILIATES  OR ASSOCIATES  THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS
ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR TRANSFEREES OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING WILL
BE VOID.

                               Rights Certificate

                             RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.

         This certifies  that__________________,  or registered  assigns, is the

registered  holder  of the  number  of Rights  set  forth  above,  each of which

entitles the registered  holder  thereof,  subject to the terms,  provisions and

conditions of the Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of September

18,  1996 (as  amended  from  time to time,  the  "Rights  Agreement"),  between

Reliance Bancorp,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Company"),  and Registrar

and Transfer Co., as Rights Agent (the "Rights  Agent," which term shall include

any  successor  Rights Agent under the Rights  Agreement),  to purchase from the

Company  at any time after the  Separation  Time (as such term is defined in the

Rights  Agreement)  and prior to the close of business  on October 3, 2006,  one

one-hundredth of a fully paid share of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred

Stock,  par value  $0.01 per  share  (the  "Preferred  Stock"),  of the  Company

(subject to  adjustment  as provided in the Rights  Agreement)  at the  Exercise

Price  referred  to  below,  upon  presentation  and  surrender  of this  Rights

Certificate with the Form of Election to Exercise duly executed at the principal

office of the Rights Agent in New York.  The Exercise  Price shall  initially be

$60.00  per  Right and shall be  subject  to  adjustment  in  certain  events as

provided in the Rights Agreement.



<PAGE> 44



          In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights

evidenced  hereby  may  entitle  the  registered   holder  thereof  to  purchase

securities  of an entity other than the Company or  securities  or assets of the

Company other than Preferred Stock, all as provided in the Rights Agreement.

          This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and

conditions of the Rights Agreement,  which terms,  provisions and conditions are

hereby  incorporated  herein by  reference  and made a part  hereof and to which

Rights Agreement  reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,

limitations  of rights,  obligations,  duties and  immunities  hereunder  of the

Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates.  Copies of

the Rights  Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are

available without cost upon written request.

          This Rights  Certificate,  with or without other Rights  Certificates,

upon  surrender at the office of the Rights Agent  designated  for such purpose,

may be exchanged for another Rights  Certificate or Rights  Certificates of like

tenor  evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of

Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights  Certificates  surrendered.

If this Rights  Certificate  shall be exercised in part, the  registered  holder

shall be entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof,  another Rights Certificate

or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

          Subject  to  the  provisions  of  the  Rights  Agreement,  each  Right

evidenced by this  Certificate  may be (a) redeemed by the Company under certain

circumstances,  at its option,  at a redemption  price of $0.01 per Right or (b)

exchanged by the Company under  certain  circumstances,  at its option,  for one

share of Common Stock or one one-hundredth of a share


                                       -2-

<PAGE> 45



of Preferred Stock per Right (or, in certain cases,  other  securities or assets

of the  Company),  subject  in each  case to  adjustment  in  certain  events as

provided in the Rights Agreement.

          No holder of this Rights  Certificate,  as such,  shall be entitled to

vote or  receive  dividends  or be  deemed  for any  purpose  the  holder of any

securities which may at any time be issuable on the exercise  hereof,  nor shall

any thing  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  Rights

evidenced by this Rights  Certificate  shall have been exercised or exchanged as

provided in the Rights Agreement.

          This  Rights  Certificate  shall  not be valid or  obligatory  for any

purpose until it shall have been counter signed by the Rights Agent.

          WITNESS the facsimile  signature of the proper officers of the Company

and its corporate seal.

Date:  
       -----------------------

ATTEST:                                        RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.

                                               By:   
- ------------------------------                     -----------------------------
  Robert F. Pelosi                                     Raymond A. Nielsen
  Secretary                                            President and
                                                         Chief Executive Officer

Countersigned:

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


By: 
    --------------------------
      Authorized Signature

                                       -3-

<PAGE> 46



                  [FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE]
                  --------------------------------------------

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

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


              FOR VALUE RECEIVED                                   hereby sells,
                                ----------------------------------
 assigns and transfers unto                                                     
                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                     (Please print name

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  and address of transferee)

this  Rights Certificate, together  with all right, title  and interest therein,

and does  hereby  irrevocably  constitute and  appoint ________________________ 

Attorney, to  transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-

named Company, with full power of substitution.

Dated:            , 19 
        ----------    --

Signature Guaranteed:                            
                                                 -------------------------
                                                  Signature
                                           (Signature must correspond to name as
                                           written upon the face of this  Rights
                                           Certificate   in   every  particular,
                                           without alteration or  enlargement or
                                           any change whatsoever)


         Signatures  must be  guaranteed  by an eligible  guarantor  institution
(banks,  stockbrokers,  savings  and loan  associations  and credit  unions with
membership in an approved signature guarantee  Medallion  program),  pursuant to
SEC Rule 17Ad-15.




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)




<PAGE> 47



The undersigned hereby represents,  for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the  knowledge of the  undersigned,  have never been,  Beneficially
Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in
the Rights Agreement).


                                            -------------------------
                                            Signature


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


                                     NOTICE
                                     ------

         In the event the  certification  set forth  above is not  completed  in
connection  with a purported  assignment,  the Company will deem the  Beneficial
Owner of the  Rights  evidenced  by the  enclosed  Rights  Certificate  to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate  thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights  evidenced by such Rights  Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.


                                       -2-

<PAGE> 48



                   [To be attached to each Rights Certificate]

                          FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
                          ----------------------------

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

TO:      RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.

         The undersigned  hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the whole Rights

represented by the attached Rights  Certificate to purchase the shares of Series

A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock or Common  Stock,  as the case may be,

issuable  upon the exercise of such Rights and requests  that  certificates  for

such shares be issued in the name of:

                                    ----------------------------
                                    Address:

                                    ----------------------------
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Social Security or Other taxpayer
                                    Identification Number:
                                    ---------------------------------

If such number of Rights  shall not be all the Rights  evidenced  by this Rights

Certificate,  a new Rights  Certificate  for the balance of such Rights shall be

registered in the name of and delivered to:



                                    ----------------------------
                                    Address:

                                    ----------------------------
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Social Security or Other taxpayer
                                    Identification Number:
                                    ---------------------------------

Dated:            , 19
      ------------    --

Signature Guaranteed:                         
                                              --------------------------
                                              Signature

                                           (Signature must correspond to name as
                                           written upon the face of this  Rights
                                           Certificate   in   every  particular,
                                           without alteration or  enlargement or
                                           any change whatsoever)



<PAGE> 49



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

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

                            (To be completed if true)

          The undersigned hereby  represents,  for the benefit of all holders of
Rights and shares of Common  Stock,  that the Rights  evidenced  by the attached
Rights Certificate are not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never
been,  Beneficially  Owned by an  Acquiring  Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).


                                            -------------------------
                                               Signature

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

                                     NOTICE
                                     ------

   In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection
with a purported  exercise,  the Company will deem the  Beneficial  Owner of the
Rights evidenced by the attached Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or
an  Affiliate  or Associate  thereof (as defined in the Rights  Agreement)  or a
transferee  of any  of the  foregoing  and  accordingly  will  deem  the  Rights
evidenced  by such  Rights  Certificate  to be  void  and  not  transferable  or
exercisable.

                                      -2-

<PAGE> 1

EXHIBIT B

              CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS OF
            

                  SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
            

                                      of
            

                              RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.
            

             Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
            
                            of the State of Delaware
            

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


         We,  Raymond A. Nielsen and Robert F. Pelosi,  being the  President and
Chief Executive Officer and the Corporate Secretary,  respectively,  of Reliance
Bancorp,   Inc.,  a  corporation   organized  and  existing  under  the  General
Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware  ("Company"),  in accordance  with the
provisions of Sections 103 and 151 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

         That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by
the Certificate of Incorporation  of the Company,  the Board of Directors of the
Company at the meeting  duly called and held on September  18, 1996,  at which a
quorum was present and acting throughout,  duly adopted the following resolution
creating  a series of  150,000  shares of  Preferred  Stock,  par value $.01 per
share, designated "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock":

                  RESOLVED,  that pursuant to the authority  vested in the Board
         of Directors of the Company in  accordance  with the  provisions of its
         Certificate  of  Incorporation,  a  series  of  preferred  stock of the
         Company  to be  designated  "Series  A Junior  Participating  Preferred
         Stock", par value $.01 per share ("Preferred Stock"), be, and it hereby
         is,  created,  and the  designations  and amount thereof and the voting
         powers,  preferences  and relative,  participating,  optional and other
         special  rights of the shares of such series,  and the  qualifications,
         limitations and restrictions thereof, are as follows:

         Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
         ---------------------------------------------

Section 1.  Designation and Amount.
- ---------   ----------------------

     The  shares  of such  series  shall  be  designated  as  "Series  A  Junior
Participating  Preferred  Stock,"  par value $.01 per  share,  and the number of
shares  constituting such series shall be 150,000.  Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased  by  resolution  of the Board of Directors of the Company
("Board of  Directors");  provided  that, no decrease shall reduce the number of
                          --------------
shares of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock to a number less than
the number of shares then  outstanding  plus the number of shares  reserved  for
issuance upon the exercise of  outstanding  options,  rights or warrants or upon
the conversion of any outstanding  securities issued by the Company  convertible
into Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

<PAGE> 2



Section 2.  Dividends and Distributions.
- ---------   ---------------------------

     (a)  Subject  to the  rights of the  holders of any shares of any series of
preferred  stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of
shares of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock, in preference to the
holders of Common  Stock,  par value  $.01 per share  ("Common  Stock"),  of the
Company,  and of any other stock, shall be entitled to receive,  when, as and if
declared  by the  Board of  Directors  out of funds  legally  available  for the
purpose,  quarterly  dividends payable in cash on the first day of March,  June,
September and December in each year (each such date being  referred to herein as
a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment  Date  after the first  issuance  of a share or  fraction  of a share of
Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded
to the  nearest  Cent)  equal to the  greater  of (a) $1 or (b)  subject  to the
provision  for  adjustment  hereinafter  set forth,  100 times the aggregate per
share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount
(payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a
dividend  payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the  outstanding
shares of Common  Stock (by  reclassification  or  otherwise),  declared  on the
Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or,
with  respect to the first  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment  Date,  since the first
issuance of any share or  fraction  of a share of Series A Junior  Participating
Preferred  Stock.  In the event the Company shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend  on the Common  Stock  payable in shares of Common  Stock,  or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding  shares of Common
Stock (by  reclassification or otherwise 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 A Junior
Participating  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.

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

     (c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares
of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock from the Quarterly  Dividend
Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of
issue of such  shares  is  prior to the  record  date  for the  first  Quarterly
Dividend  Payment  Date,  in which case  dividends on such shares shall begin to
accrue from the date of issue of such  shares,  or unless the date of issue is a
Quarterly  Dividend  Payment  Date or is a date  after the  record  date for the
determination  of holders of shares of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred
Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before

<PAGE> 3



such Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends
shall begin to accrue and be cumulative  from such  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment
Date.  Accrued but unpaid  dividends shall not bear interest.  Dividends paid on
the shares of Series A Junior Participating  Preferred Stock in amount less than
the total  amount of such  dividends  at the time  accrued  and  payable on such
shares  shall be  allocated  pro rata on a  share-by-share  basis among all such
shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for
the  determination  of  holders  of  shares  of  Series A  Junior  Participating
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 A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock
shall have the following voting rights:

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

     (b) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other resolution creating a
series  of  preferred  stock  or any  similar  stock,  in any  amendment  to the
Certificate of  Incorporation of the Company or by law, the holders of shares of
Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  and the  holders  of shares of
Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Company  having  general  voting
rights  shall vote  together as one class on all matters  submitted to a vote of
stockholders of the Company.

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

Section 4.  Certain restrictions.
- ---------   --------------------

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


<PAGE> 4




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

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

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

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

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

Section 5.  Reacquired Shares.
- ---------   -----------------

     Any shares of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock purchased or
otherwise  acquired by the Company in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and
cancelled  promptly after the  acquisition  thereof.  All such shares shall upon
their cancellation  become authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and
may be  reissued  as part of a new  series of  preferred  stock  subject  to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in a resolution of the
Board of Directors,  in the Certificate of Incorporation  of the Company,  or in
any other  Certificate of Amendment  creating a series of preferred stock or any
similar stock or as otherwise required by law.




<PAGE> 5



Section 6.  Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
- ---------   --------------------------------------

     Upon  any  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up of  the  Company,  no
distribution  shall be made (a) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock shall have received
the  greater of (i) $60 per share,  plus an amount  equal to accrued  and unpaid
dividends and  distributions  thereon,  whether or not declared,  to the date of
such payment,  or (ii) an aggregate  amount per share,  subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to
be  distributed  per share to holders of shares of Common  Stock,  or (b) to the
holders of shares of stock  ranking on a parity  (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation,  dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Junior  Participating
Preferred  Stock,  except  distributions  made  ratably  on the  Series A Junior
Participating  Preferred  Stock and all such parity stock in  proportion  to the
total  amounts to which the  holders of all such shares are  entitled  upon such
liquidation,  dissolution  or winding up. In the event the Company  shall at any
time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock,  or  effect  a  subdivision  or  combination  or   consolidation  of  the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification  or otherwise  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 A Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled
immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause (a) 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.

Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc.
- ---------  --------------------------

     In case the Company 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 A Junior Participating  Preferred Stock shall
at the same time be  similarly  exchanged  or changed  into an amount per share,
subject to the  provision for  adjustment  hereinafter  set forth,  equal to 100
times the aggregate amount of stock, securities,  cash and/or any other property
(payable  in kind),  as the case may be,  into  which or for which each share of
Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Company shall at any time
declare  or pay any  dividend  on the Common  Stock  payable in shares of Common
Stock,  or  effect  a  subdivision  or  combination  or   consolidation  of  the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification  or otherwise  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 A
Junior  Participating  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.



<PAGE> 6


Section 8.  No Redemption.
- ---------   -------------

     The shares of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock shall not be
redeemable, except as otherwise provided herein.

Section 9.  Rank.
- ---------   ----

     The Series A Junior Participating  Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect
to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series
of any other class of the Company's preferred stock.

Section 10.  Amendment.
- ----------   ---------

     The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company shall not be amended in any
manner, nor shall the Board of Directors take any action, which would materially
alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Junior
Participating  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 A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock,  voting together as a single
class.

Section 11.  Fractional Shares.
- ----------   -----------------

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

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  Reliance Bancorp,  Inc. has caused this certificate to
be executed by its  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer and attested by its
Corporate Secretary this 18 day of September, 1996.


                                           RELIANCE BANCORP, INC.

Attest:


By: /s/ Robert F. Pelosi               By:  /s/ Raymond A. Nielsen
    --------------------                   -------------------------------------
    Robert F. Pelosi                       Raymond A. Nielsen
    Secretary                              President and Chief Executive Officer











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