STANLEY WORKS
8-K, 1996-02-01
CUTLERY, HANDTOOLS & GENERAL HARDWARE
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934





Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): Jan. 31, 1996


                                The Stanley Works
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


  Connecticut                  1-5224                              06-058860
(State or other             (Commission                         (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of            File Number)                      Identification No.)
incorporation)


1000 Stanley Drive, New Britain, Connecticut            06053
(Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:(860) 225-5111




                         Not Applicable
   (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)











                               Page 1 of 94 pages
                       Exhibit Index is located on Page 4


<PAGE>



         Item 5.           Other Events.


                           1.       On January 31, 1996, the Registrant issued a
press release.

                  Attached as Exhibit (20)(i) is a copy of the
Registrant's press release. This Exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.

                           2.       On January 31, 1996, the Board of Directors
of the Registrant  extended the benefits offered by the Rights Agreement,  dated
as of February  26,  1986,  between the  Registrant  and the Rights  Agent named
therein (the "1986 Rights  Agreement")  and  implemented  such  extension by the
execution of the Rights Agreement, dated as of January 31, 1996, between Stanley
and the Rights  Agent named  therein  (the "1996  Rights  Agreement")  that will
become  effective upon the expiration of the 1986 Rights  Agreement at the close
of  business on March 10, 1996 or upon such  earlier  date as the rights  issued
under 1986 Rights Agreement are redeemed.

                 Attached as Exhibit 4(i) is a copy of the 1996
Rights Agreement.  This Exhibit is incorporated herein by
reference.


                           3.       On January 31, 1996, the Board of Directors
of the Registrant amended the terms of the Deferred Compensation
Plan for Non-Employee Directors.

                           Attached hereto as Exhibit 10(i) is a copy of the
Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors as so
amended.  This Exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.

         Item 7.           Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial
                           Information and Exhibits.

                  (c)      4(i)         Rights Agreement dated as of January 31,
                                        1996, between The Stanley Works and
                                        State Street Bank and Trust Company, as
                                        Rights Agent.

                           10(i)        Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-
                                        Employee Directors.

                           (20)(i)          Press release dated January 31, 1996
                                            announcing Stanley's 1995 year end
                                            results.



                                  Page 2 of 94


<PAGE>



                                    SIGNATURE




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



                                                              THE STANLEY WORKS



Date: January 31, 1996                              By:      Stephen S. Weddle
                                                              -----------------
                                                          Name:Stephen S. Weddle
                                                          Title:Vice President,
                                                             General Counsel and
                                                             Secretary

































                                                   Page 3 of 94


<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

                           Current Report on Form 8-K
                             Dated January 31, 1996



Exhibit No.                                                              Page

4 (i)                                                                     5

10 (i)                                                                    79

20(i)                                                                     84
 






































                                  Page 4 of 94




                                                            APPENDIX D





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





                                The Stanley Works


                                       and


                      State Street Bank and Trust Company,
                                 as Rights Agent








                                Rights Agreement

                          Dated as of January 31, 1996



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




<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section                                                             Page

1. Certain Definitions............................................... 2

2.  Appointment of Rights Agent.....................................  5

3.  Issuance of Rights Certificates.................................  5

4.  Form of Rights Certificates.....................................  8

5.  Countersignature and Registration...............................  9

6.  Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange
        of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, De-
        stroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certifi-
        cates....................................................... 10

7.  Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expira-
        tion Date of Rights......................................... 11

8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Cer-
        tificates................................................... 14

9.  Reservation and Availability of Capital
        Stock....................................................... 15

10.  Preferred Stock Record Date.................................... 17

11.  Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and
        Kind of Shares or Number of Rights.......................... 17

12.  Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or
        Number of Shares............................................ 30

13.  Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer
        of Assets or Earning Power.................................. 30

14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares........................ 34

15.  Rights of Action............................................... 36

16.  Agreement of Rights Holders.................................... 36

17.  Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
        Shareholder................................................. 37


                                         i

<PAGE>




18.  Concerning the Rights Agent..................................... 38

19.  Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name
        of Rights Agent.............................................. 39

20.  Duties of Rights Agent.......................................... 39

21.  Change of Rights Agent.......................................... 42

22.  Issuance of New Rights Certificates............................. 43

23.  Redemption and Termination...................................... 44

24.  Exchange........................................................ 45

25.  Notice of Certain Events........................................ 47

26.  Notices......................................................... 48

27.  Supplements and Amendments...................................... 49

28.  Successors...................................................... 50

29.  Determinations and Actions by the Board,
        etc.......................................................... 50

30.  Benefits of this Agreement...................................... 50

31.  Severability.................................................... 51

32.  Governing Law................................................... 51

33.  Counterparts.................................................... 51

34.  Descriptive Headings............................................ 51


                                          EXHIBITS

Exhibit A --                Form of Certificate of Amendment

Exhibit B --                Form of Rights Certificate

Exhibit C --                Form of Summary of Rights


                                             ii

<PAGE>



                                RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT,   dated  as  of  January 31,  1996  (this
"Agreement"),  between The  Stanley  Works,  a Connecticut  corporation  (the
"Company"),  and State  Street  Bank and Trust  Company,  as Rights  Agent  (the
"Rights Agent").


                                        W I T N E S S E T H

                  WHEREAS,  on  February  26,  1986 (the "1986  Rights  Dividend
Declaration  Date"),  the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  (the  "Board")
authorized  the Rights  Agreement,  dated as of February 26,  1986,  between the
Company  and the Rights  Agent (the "1986  Agreement")  and  declared a dividend
distribution  of one right (a "1986 Right") for each share of common stock,  par
value $2.50 per share,  of the Company (the "Common  Stock")  outstanding at the
close of business on March 10, 1986 (the "1986  Record  Date").  Each 1986 Right
represents  the right to purchase one Depositary  Receipt which is  exchangeable
for one  two-hundredth  of a share of  Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred
Stock of the Company (the "Preferred Stock");

                  WHEREAS,  on  January  31,  1996,  the  Board  determined  it
desirable and in the best interests of the Company and its  shareholders for the
Company to extend the benefits  afforded by the 1986  Agreement and to implement
such extension by executing this Agreement;

                  WHEREAS,   on  January   31,  1996  (the   "Rights   Dividend
Declaration Date"), the Board authorized and declared a dividend distribution of
one Right (as  hereinafter  defined) for each share of Common Stock  outstanding
upon the earlier of (i) the close of business on March 10, 1996 or (ii) the date
on which the 1986 Rights are redeemed (the "Record  Date"),  and has  authorized
the issuance of one Right (as such number may  hereinafter be adjusted  pursuant
to the provisions of Section 11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock issued
between  the  Record  Date  (whether  originally  issued or  delivered  from the
Company's  treasury) and the Distribution  Date (as hereinafter  defined),  each
Right initially representing the right to purchase one two-hundredths of a share
of Preferred Stock, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set
forth (the "Rights");



<PAGE>




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

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

                           (a)  "Acquiring Person" shall mean any
Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,
shall be the  Beneficial  Owner of ten  percent  (10%) or more of the  shares of
Common Stock then outstanding,  but shall not include (i) the Company,  (ii) any
Subsidiary of the Company,  (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of
any Subsidiary of the Company, (iv) any Person or entity organized, appointed or
established  by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or (v)
any Person who becomes the Beneficial  Owner of ten percent (10%) or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding as a result of a reduction in the number
of shares of Common Stock  outstanding due to the repurchase of shares of Common
Stock by the Company  unless and until such Person,  after  becoming  aware that
such Person has become the Beneficial  Owner of ten percent (10%) or more of the
then  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,  acquires  beneficial  ownership  of
additional  shares of Common Stock  representing one percent (1%) or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

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

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

     (i) which such Person or any of such  Person's  Affiliates  or  Associates,
directly  or  indirectly,  has the  right  to  acquire  (whether  such  right is
exercisable  immediately  or only  after the  passage of time)  pursuant  to any
agreement,  arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the
exercise of conversion rights, ex-


                                             2

<PAGE>



         change rights,  rights,  warrants or options,  or otherwise;  provided,
         however,  that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial  Owner" of,
         or to "beneficially  own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender
         or  exchange  offer  made  by  such  Person  or  any of  such  Person's
         Affiliates or Associates  until such tendered  securities  are accepted
         for purchase or exchange,  (B)  securities  issuable  upon  exercise of
         Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event or (C)
         securities  issu-  able  upon  exercise  of  Rights  from and after the
         occurrence  of a Triggering  Event which  Rights were  acquired by such
         Person or any of such Person's  Affiliates  or Associates  prior to the
         Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the
         "Original  Rights") or pursuant to Section  11(i) hereof in  connection
         with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;

                           (ii)  which  such  Person  or  any of  such  Person's
         Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote
         or dispose of or has "beneficial  ownership" of (as determined pursuant
         to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and  Regulations  under the Exchange
         Act),   including   pursuant   to   any   agreement,   arrangement   or
         understanding,  whether or not in writing;  provided,  however,  that a
         Person  shall  not  be  deemed  the   "Beneficial   Owner"  of,  or  to
         "beneficially  own," any  security  under this  subparagraph  (ii) as a
         result  of an  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding  to vote such
         security if such agreement,  arrangement or  understanding:  (A) arises
         solely  from a revocable  proxy given in response to a public  proxy or
         consent  solicitation  made  pursuant to, and in accordance  with,  the
         applicable  provisions of the General Rules and  Regulations  under the
         Exchange Act, and (B) is not  reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D
         under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or

                           (iii)  which are beneficially owned,
         directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or


                                             3

<PAGE>



         any  Affiliate or Associate  thereof) with which such Person (or any of
         such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement,  arrangement
         or  understanding  (whether  or not in  writing),  for the  purpose  of
         acquiring,  holding,  voting (except  pursuant to a revocable  proxy as
         described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (c)) or
         disposing of any voting securities of the Company;

provided,  however,  that  nothing in this  paragraph  (c) shall  cause a Person
engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner"
of, or to  "beneficially  own," any  securities  acquired  through such Person's
participation  in  good  faith  in a  firm  commitment  underwriting  until  the
expiration of forty (40) days after the date of such acquisition.

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

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

                           (f)  "Common Stock" shall mean the common
stock,  par value $2.50 per share,  of the Company,  except that "Common  Stock"
when used with  reference  to any Person  other than the Company  shall mean the
capital  stock of such  Person with the  greatest  voting  power,  or the equity
securities  or other  equity  interest  having  power to  control  or direct the
management, of such Person.

                           (g)  "Person" shall mean any individual,
firm, corporation, partnership or other entity.

                           (h)  "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares
of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock,  without par value,  of the
Company and, to the extent that there are not a  sufficient  number of shares of
Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  authorized  to permit the full
exercise of the Rights, any other series of pre-


                                                  4

<PAGE>



ferred  stock of the  Company  designated  for  such  purpose  containing  terms
substantially  similar  to  the  terms  of the  Series  A  Junior  Participating
Preferred Stock.

                           (i)  "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean
any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

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

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

                           (l)  "Subsidiary" shall mean, with refer-
ence to any  Person,  any  corporation  of which an amount of voting  securities
sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors of such  corporation is
beneficially  owned,  directly  or  indirectly,  by such  Person,  or  otherwise
controlled by such Person.

                           (m)  "Triggering Event" shall mean any
Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any Section 13 Event.

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

                  Section 3.  Issuance of Rights Certificates.

                           (a)  Until the earlier of (i) the close of
business on the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day
after the Stock  Acquisition  Date occurs  before the Record Date,  the close of
business on the Record Date) or (ii) the close of business on the tenth business
day (or such later date as the Board shall


                                                  5

<PAGE>



determine)  after the date that a tender or exchange  offer by any Person (other
than the Company,  any Subsidiary of the Company,  any employee  benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, any Person or entity organized,
appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such
plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of
the General Rules and Regulations  under the Exchange Act, if upon  consummation
thereof,  such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of ten percent (10%) or more
of the shares of Common  Stock  then  outstanding  (the  earlier of (i) and (ii)
being herein  referred to as the  "Distribution  Date"),  (x) the Rights will be
evidenced  (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the
certificates  for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the
Common  Stock  (which  certificates  for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be
certificates  for Rights) and not by  separate  certificates  and (y) the Rights
will be  transferable  only in  connection  with the transfer of the  underlying
shares of  Common  Stock  (including  a  transfer  to the  Company).  As soon as
practicable  after  the  Distribution  Date,  the  Rights  Agent  will  send  by
first-class,  insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common
Stock as of the close of business on the  Distribution  Date,  at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more right certificates,
in  substantially  the form of  Exhibit B hereto  (the  "Rights  Certificates"),
evidencing  one  Right  for each  share of  Common  Stock  so held,  subject  to
adjustment as provided herein.  In the event that an adjustment in the number of
Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof,
at the time of  distribution of the Right  Certificates,  the Company shall make
the necessary and appropriate  rounding  adjustments (in accordance with Section
14(a)  hereof) so that Rights  Certificates  representing  only whole numbers of
Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional  Rights. As of
and after the  Distribution  Date,  the Rights will be evidenced  solely by such
Rights Certificates.

                           (b)  The Company will make available a
copy of a Summary  of  Rights,  in  substantially  the form  attached  hereto as
Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights"),  to any holder of Rights who may so request
from time to time. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock


                                                  6

<PAGE>



outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution  Date, the Rights will
be  evidenced  by such  certificates  for the  Common  Stock and the  registered
holders  of the  Common  Stock  shall  also  be the  registered  holders  of the
associated Rights.  Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration
Date (as hereinafter  defined),  the transfer of any  certificates  representing
shares of Common  Stock in respect of which  Rights have been issued  shall also
constitute  the  transfer  of the Rights  associated  with such shares of Common
Stock.

                           (c)  Rights shall be issued in respect of
all shares of Common Stock which are issued (whether  originally  issued or from
the  Company's  treasury)  after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates  representing such shares
of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be  certificates  for Rights,  and shall
bear the following legend (or the legend required under the 1986 Agreement):

                  This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
         to certain  Rights as set forth in the  Rights  Agreement  between  The
         Stan- ley Works (the  "Company") and the Rights Agent  thereunder  (the
         "Rights Agreement"),  the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein
         by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of
         the Company.  Under certain  circumstances,  as set forth in the Rights
         Agreement,  such Rights will be evidenced by separate  certificates and
         will no longer be evidenced by this certificate.  The Company will mail
         to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in
         effect on the date of mailing,  without charge,  promptly after receipt
         of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in
         the Rights Agreement,  Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is,
         was or  becomes  an  Acquiring  Person or any  Affiliate  or  Associate
         thereof  (as such terms are defined in the Rights  Agreement),  whether
         currently  held by or on  behalf of such  Person  or by any  subsequent
         holder, may become null and void.



                                             7

<PAGE>



With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend (or the legend
required under the 1986  Agreement),  until the earlier of (i) the  Distribution
Date or (ii) the Expiration  Date, the Rights  associated  with the Common Stock
represented by such certificates  shall be evidenced by such certificates  alone
and registered  holders of Common Stock shall also be the registered  holders of
the associated  Rights,  and the transfer of any of such certificates shall also
constitute  the  transfer  of  the  Rights  associated  with  the  Common  Stock
represented by such certificates.

                  Section 4.  Form of Rights Certificates.

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

                           (b)  Any Rights Certificate issued pur-
suant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof that represents  Rights  beneficially
owned by: (i) an Acquiring  Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person,  (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring  Person (or of any such  Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee  after the Acquiring  Person becomes such or
(iii)  a  transferee  of an  Acquiring  Person  (or of  any  such  Associate  or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to


                                                  8

<PAGE>



or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights
pursuant to either (A) a transfer  (whether or not for  consideration)  from the
Acquiring  Person to holders of equity  interests in such Acquiring Person or to
any  Person  with whom  such  Acquiring  Person  has any  continuing  agreement,
arrangement or understanding  regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer
which the Board has determined is part of a plan,  arrangement or  understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect  avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof,  and
any Rights  Certificate  issued  pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon
transfer,  exchange,  replacement or adjustment of any other Rights  Certificate
referred  to in this  sentence,  shall  contain  (to the  extent  feasible)  the
following legend:

         The  Rights   represented  by  this  Rights  Certificate  are  or  were
         beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or
         an Affiliate  or  Associate  of an Acquiring  Person (as such terms are
         defined in the Rights Agreement).  Accordingly, this Rights Certificate
         and the  Rights  represented  hereby  may  become  null and void in the
         circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.

                  Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration.

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


                                                  9

<PAGE>



ficer of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of the
Company by any person who, at the actual  date of the  execution  of such Rights
Certificate,  shall be a proper  officer  of the  Company  to sign  such  Rights
Certificate,  although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any
such person was not such an officer.

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

                  Section 6.  Transfer,  Split Up,  Combination  and Exchange of
Rights Certificates;  Mutilated,  Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a)  Subject to the  provisions  of Section  4(b),  Section  7(e) and Section 14
hereof, at any time after the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at
or prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate
or Certificates  (other than Rights  Certificates  representing Rights that have
been  exchanged  pursuant  to Section 24 hereof) may be  transferred,  split up,
combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates,  entitling
the registered holder to purchase a like number of one two-hundredths of a share
of  Preferred  Stock (or,  following a Triggering  Event,  Common  Stock,  other
securities,  cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate
or Certificates  surrendered  then entitled such holder (or former holder in the
case of a transfer) to purchase.  Any  registered  holder  desiring to transfer,
split up, combine or exchange any Rights  Certificate or Certificates shall make
such request in writing  delivered to the Rights Agent,  and shall surrender the
Rights  Certificate or  Certificates  to be  transferred,  split up, combined or
exchanged at the principal  office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such  purpose.  Neither the Rights  Agent nor the Company  shall be obligated to
take any action  whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered
Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have


                                                 10

<PAGE>



completed and signed the certificate  contained in the form of assignment on the
reverse side of such Rights  Certificate and shall have provided such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or
Affiliates  or  Associates  thereof as the  Company  shall  reasonably  request.
Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section
14 and Section 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto
a  Rights  Certificate  or  Rights  Certificates,  as the  case  may  be,  as so
requested.  The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or  governmental  charge that may be imposed in  connection  with any  transfer,
split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.

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

                  Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date
of Rights.  (a) Subject to Section 7(e)  hereof,  the  registered  holder of any
Rights  Certificate  may  exercise  the  Rights  evidenced  thereby  (except  as
otherwise  provided herein including,  without  limitation,  the restrictions on
exercisability  set forth in Section 9(c),  Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof)  in  whole or in part at any  time  after  the  Distribution  Date  upon
surrender of the Rights  Certificate,  with the form of election to purchase and
the  certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed,  to the Rights Agent
at the  principal  office or  offices of the Rights  Agent  designated  for such
purpose,  together with payment of the aggregate  Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of one two-hundredths of a share (or other securities,  cash or
other assets,  as the case may be) as to which such surrendered  Rights are then
exercisable, at or prior


                                                 11

<PAGE>



to the  earliest  of (i) the close of  business  on March 10,  2006 (the  "Final
Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in
Section 23 hereof, or (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged pursuant
to Section 24 hereof (the earliest of (i), (ii) and (iii) being herein  referred
to as the "Expiration Date").

     (b) The Purchase Price for each one  two-hundredth  of a share of Preferred
Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall  initially be $220, and shall be
subject to  adjustment  from time to time as  provided  in Sections 11 and 13(a)
hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.

                           (c)  Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate
representing  exercisable  Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the
certificate duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so
exercised,  of the Purchase Price per one two-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to
be purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any  applicable  transfer
tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly
(i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or
make  available,  if the Rights  Agent is the  transfer  agent for such  shares)
certificates for the total number of one  two-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer
agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected
to deposit the total number of shares of Preferred  Stock issuable upon exercise
of the Rights  hereunder with a depositary  agent,  requisition from the deposi-
tary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one two-hundredths of
a share of Preferred  Stock as are to be purchased  (in which case  certificates
for the  shares  of  Preferred  Stock  represented  by such  receipts  shall  be
deposited  by the  transfer  agent with the deposi-  tary agent) and the Company
will direct the depositary  agent to comply with such request,  (ii) requisition
from the  Company the amount of cash,  if any, to be paid in lieu of  fractional
shares in  accordance  with  Section  14  hereof,  (iii)  after  receipt of such
certificates or depositary receipts,  cause the same to be delivered to or, upon
the order of the registered holder of such


                                                 12

<PAGE>



Rights  Certificate,  registered  in such name or names as may be  designated by
such holder,  and (iv) after receipt  thereof,  deliver such cash, if any, to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.  The payment
of the  Purchase  Price (as such  amount  may be  reduced  pursuant  to  Section
11(a)(iii)  hereof)  shall be made in cash or by  certified  bank  check or bank
draft  payable to the order of the  Company.  In the event  that the  Company is
obligated to issue other securities (including Common Stock) of the Company, pay
cash and/or  distribute  other  property  pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof,  the
Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash
and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and
when  appropriate.  The  Company  reserves  the  right to  require  prior to the
occurrence of a Triggering  Event that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of
Rights be  exercised  so that only  whole  shares of  Preferred  Stock  would be
issued.

                           (d)  In case the registered holder of any
Rights  Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a
new Rights  Certificate  evidencing  Rights  equivalent to the Rights  remaining
unexercised  shall be issued by the Rights Agent and  delivered  to, or upon the
order of, the registered holder of such Rights  Certificate,  registered in such
name or names as may be designated by such holder,  subject to the provisions of
Section 14 hereof.

                           (e)  Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement  to the  contrary,  from and after the first  occurrence  of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights  beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an
Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring
Person (or of any such  Associate or Affiliate)  who becomes a transferee  after
the Acquiring  Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person
(or of any such  Associate or  Affiliate)  who becomes a transferee  prior to or
concurrently  with the Acquiring  Person  becoming such and receives such Rights
pursuant to either (A) a transfer  (whether or not for  consideration)  from the
Acquiring  Person to holders of equity  interests in such Acquiring Person or to
any  Person  with  whom  the  Acquiring  Person  has any  continuing  agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer


                                                 13

<PAGE>



which the Board has determined is part of a plan,  arrangement or  understanding
which has as a primary  purpose or effect the  avoidance of this  Section  7(e),
shall  become null and void  without  any  further  action and no holder of such
Rights shall have any rights  whatsoever  with  respect to such Rights,  whether
under any provision of this  Agreement or  otherwise.  The Company shall use all
reasonable  efforts  to insure  that the  provisions  of this  Section  7(e) and
Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder
of Rights  Certificates  or other  Person as a result of its failure to make any
determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates
or transferees hereunder.

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

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


                                                 14

<PAGE>



shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the
Company.

                  Section 9.  Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. (a)
The Company  covenants  and agrees  that it will cause to be  reserved  and kept
available out of its  authorized  and unissued  shares of Preferred  Stock (and,
following  the  occurrence  of a Triggering  Event,  out of its  authorized  and
unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities or out of its authorized
and issued shares held in its treasury), the number of shares of Preferred Stock
(and,  following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities)  that, as provided in this Agreement  including  Section  11(a)(iii)
hereof,  will be  sufficient  to permit the exercise in full of all  outstanding
Rights.

                           (b)  So long as the shares of Preferred
Stock (and,  following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or
other  securities)  issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may
be listed on any national  securities  exchange,  the Company shall use its best
efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all
shares  reserved for such  issuance to be listed on such  exchange upon official
notice of issuance upon such exercise.

                           (c)  The Company shall use its best ef-
forts to (i) file, as soon as practicable  following the earliest date after the
first occurrence of a Section  11(a)(ii) Event on which the  consideration to be
delivered  by the Company  upon  exercise of the Rights has been  determined  in
accordance with Section  11(a)(iii)  hereof, a registration  statement under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"),  with respect to the securities  purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration
statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii)
cause such registration  statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all
times meeting the  requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as
of which the Rights are no longer  exercisable  for such  securities and (B) the
date of the expiration of the Rights.  The Company will also take such action as
may be appropriate  under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue
sky" laws of the various  states in connection  with the  exercisability  of the
Rights. The


                                                 15

<PAGE>



Company may temporarily  suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90)
days  after  the date set  forth in clause  (i) of the  first  sentence  of this
Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such
registration  statement  and  permit  it to  become  effective.  Upon  any  such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exer-
cisability  of the Rights has been  temporarily  suspended,  as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. In addition,
if the  Company  shall  determine  that a  registration  statement  is  required
following  the  Distribution  Date,  the  Company  may  temporarily  suspend the
exercisability  of the Rights until such time as a  registration  statement  has
been declared effective.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary,  the  Rights  shall  not be  exercisable  in any  jurisdiction  if the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction has not been obtained, the exercise
thereof is not permitted  under  applicable law or a registration  statement has
not have been declared effective.

                           (d)  The Company covenants and agrees that
it will  take  all  such  action  as may be  necessary  to  ensure  that all one
two-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities)  delivered upon exercise
of Rights  shall,  at the time of delivery of the  certificates  for such shares
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price),  be duly and validly  authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

                           (e)  The Company further covenants and
agrees  that it will pay when due and  payable  any and all  federal  and  state
transfer  taxes and charges  which may be payable in respect of the  issuance or
delivery of the Rights  Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one
two-hundredths  of a share of  Preferred  Stock (or Common  Stock  and/or  other
securities,  as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights.  The Company shall
not,  however,  be  required  to pay any  transfer  tax which may be  payable in
respect of any  transfer or delivery of Rights  Certificates  to a Person  other
than, or the issuance or delivery of a number of one  two-hundredths  of a share
of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be)
in respect of a name  other  than that of, the  registered  holder of the Rights
Certificates


                                                 16

<PAGE>



evidencing  Rights   surrendered  for  exercise  or  to  issue  or  deliver  any
certificates  for a number of one  two-hundredths  of a share of Preferred Stock
(or Common Stock and/or  other  securities,  as the case may be) in a name other
than that of the  registered  holder upon the  exercise of any Rights until such
tax shall  have been paid  (any  such tax being  payable  by the  holder of such
Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to
the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.

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

     Section  11.  Adjustment  of Purchase  Price,  Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights.  The Purchase Price,  the number and kind of shares covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are


                                                 17

<PAGE>



subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.

                           (a)(i)  In the event  the  Company  shall at any time
         after  the  date  of this  Agreement  (A)  declare  a  dividend  on the
         Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the
         outstanding  Preferred  Stock,  (C) combine the  outstanding  Preferred
         Stock  into a smaller  number of shares or (D) issue any  shares of its
         capital stock in a  reclassification  of the Preferred Stock (including
         any such  reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger
         in which the  Company  is the  continuing  or  surviving  corporation),
         except as  otherwise  provided in this  Section  11(a) and Section 7(e)
         hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for
         such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination
         or  reclassification,  and the number  and kind of shares of  Preferred
         Stock or  capital  stock,  as the case may be,  issuable  on such date,
         shall be  proportionately  adjusted  so that the  holder  of any  Right
         exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of
         the Purchase  Price then in effect,  the  aggregate  number and kind of
         shares of Preferred  Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which,
         if such Right had been exercised  immediately prior to such date and at
         a time when the  Preferred  Stock  transfer  books of the Company  were
         open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled
         to  receive by virtue of such  dividend,  subdivision,  combination  or
         reclassi-  fication.   If  an  event  occurs  which  would  require  an
         adjustment  under both this  Section  11(a)(i)  and  Section  11(a)(ii)
         hereof,  the adjustment  provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be
         in  addition  to, and shall be made prior to, any  adjustment  required
         pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

                           (ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement,  in the
         event any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates,
         shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend


                                             18

<PAGE>



         Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person,  unless the event causing
         such Person to become an Acquiring Person is a transaction set forth in
         Section 13(a) hereof,  or is an  acquisition  of shares of Common Stock
         pursuant  to a tender  offer or an exchange  offer for all  outstanding
         shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms determined by at least a
         majority  of the  members  of the  Board  who are not  officers  of the
         Company  and who  are  not  representatives,  nominees,  Affiliates  or
         Associates of an Acquiring  Person,  after receiving advice from one or
         more  investment  banking firms,  to be (a) at a price which is fair to
         shareholders (taking into account all factors which such members of the
         Board deem relevant including,  without limitation,  prices which could
         reasonably  be  achieved  if the  Company or its assets were sold on an
         orderly basis  designed to realize  maximum value) and (b) otherwise in
         the best interests of the Company and its shareholders,  then, promptly
         following the occurrence of such event,  proper provision shall be made
         so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section
         7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive,  upon exercise
         thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
         of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one two-hundredths of a share
         of  Preferred  Stock,  such  number of  shares  of Common  Stock of the
         Company as shall equal the result  obtained by (x) multiplying the then
         current  Purchase Price by the then number of one  two-hundredths  of a
         share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable  immediately
         prior to the first  occurrence of a Section  11(a)(ii)  Event,  and (y)
         dividing that product (which,  following such first  occurrence,  shall
         thereafter  be referred to as the  "Purchase  Price" for each Right and
         for all  purposes  of this  Agreement)  by fifty  percent  (50%) of the
         Current Market Price (determined  pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per
         share of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number
         of shares, the "Adjustment Shares").



                                             19

<PAGE>



                           (iii) In the  event  that the  number  of  shares  of
         Common  Stock which are  authorized  by the  Company's  certificate  of
         incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes
         other than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit the
         exercise  in  full of the  Rights  in  accordance  with  the  foregoing
         subparagraph  (ii)  of  this  Section  11(a),  the  Company  shall  (A)
         determine the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise
         of a Right (the  "Current  Value"),  and (B) with respect to each Right
         (subject to Section 7(e) hereof), make adequate provision to substitute
         for the Adjustment Shares,  upon the exercise of a Right and payment of
         the  applicable  Purchase  Price,  (1)  cash,  (2) a  reduction  in the
         Purchase  Price,  (3) Common  Stock or other equity  securities  of the
         Company (including,  without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of
         preferred  stock,  such as the  Preferred  Stock,  which  the Board has
         deemed to have  essentially the same value or economic rights as shares
         of Common Stock (such shares of  preferred  stock being  referred to as
         "Common Stock  Equivalents")),  (4) debt securities of the Company, (5)
         other  assets  or (6)  any  combination  of the  foregoing,  having  an
         aggregate  value  equal to the  Current  Value  (less the amount of any
         reduction in the Purchase  Price),  where such aggregate value has been
         determined  by  the  Board  based  upon  the  advice  of  a  nationally
         recognized  investment  banking firm  selected by the Board;  provided,
         however,  that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to
         deliver  value  pursuant  to clause (B) above  within  thirty (30) days
         following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section  11(a)(ii)
         Event  and (y) the  date on which  the  Company's  right of  redemption
         pursuant  to  Section  23(a)  expires  (the  later of (x) and (y) being
         referred to herein as the "Section  11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"),  then the
         Company shall be obligated to deliver,  upon the surrender for exercise
         of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price,  shares
         of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash,
         which shares and/or


                                             20

<PAGE>



         cash have an aggregate  value equal to the Spread.  For purposes of the
         preceding sentence,  the term "Spread" shall mean the excess of (i) the
         Current Value over (ii) the Purchase Price. If the Board  determines in
         good  faith  that it is likely  that  sufficient  additional  shares of
         Common Stock could be authorized  for issuance upon exercise in full of
         the Rights,  the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended
         to the extent  necessary,  but not more than ninety (90) days after the
         Section  11(a)(ii)  Trigger  Date,  in order that the  Company may seek
         shareholder  approval for the  authorization of such additional  shares
         (such thirty (30) day period,  as it may be extended,  is herein called
         the  "Substitution  Period").  To the extent that action is to be taken
         pursuant  to  the  first  and/or   third   sentences  of  this  Section
         11(a)(iii),  the Company  (1) shall  provide,  subject to Section  7(e)
         hereof,  that such action  shall  apply  uniformly  to all  outstanding
         Rights and (2) may suspend the  exercisability  of the Rights until the
         expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek such shareholder
         approval for such  authorization of additional  shares and/or to decide
         the appropriate  form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first
         sentence and to determine the value  thereof.  In the event of any such
         suspension,  the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that
         the  exercisability  of the Rights has been temporarily  suspended,  as
         well as a public  announcement  at such  time as the  suspension  is no
         longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of
         each  Adjustment  Share shall be the current  market price per share of
         the Common  Stock on the  Section  11(a)(ii)  Trigger  Date and the per
         share or per unit value of any Common Stock  Equivalent shall be deemed
         to equal the current market price per share of the Common Stock on such
         date.

     (b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights,
options  or  warrants  to all  holders  of  Preferred  Stock  entitling  them to
subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within


                                                 21

<PAGE>



forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) Preferred Stock (or shares
having the same rights,  privileges  and  preferences as the shares of Preferred
Stock ("Equivalent  Preferred Stock")) or securities  convertible into Preferred
Stock or Equivalent  Preferred  Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or
per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price per share,
if a security  convertible  into Preferred Stock or Equivalent  Preferred Stock)
less than the Current  Market  Price (as  determined  pursuant to Section  11(d)
hereof) per share of Preferred  Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to
be in effect  after such  record date shall be  determined  by  multiplying  the
Purchase  Price in effect  immediately  prior to such record date by a fraction,
the  numerator  of which  shall be the  number  of  shares  of  Preferred  Stock
outstanding  on such record date,  plus the number of shares of Preferred  Stock
which the  aggregate  offering  price of the total number of shares of Preferred
Stock and/or  Equivalent  Preferred Stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial  conversion price of the convertible  securities so to be offered) would
purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of which shall be the
number of shares of Preferred  Stock  outstanding on such record date,  plus the
number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock
to be offered  for  subscription  or  purchase  (or into  which the  convertible
securities  so  to  be  offered  are  initially   convertible).   In  case  such
subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or all of which
may be in a form other than cash,  the value of such  consideration  shall be as
determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent
and the holders of the Rights.  Shares of  Preferred  Stock owned by or held for
the account of the Company  shall not be deemed  outstanding  for the purpose of
any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed,  and in the event that such rights or warrants  are not so
issued,  the  Purchase  Price shall be adjusted to be the  Purchase  Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

     (c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a  distribution  to all
holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in


                                                 22

<PAGE>



connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
corporation) of evidences of indebtedness,  cash (other than a regular quarterly
cash dividend out of the earnings or retained  earnings of the Company),  assets
(other than a dividend  payable in Preferred  Stock,  but including any dividend
payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or subscription  rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof),  the Purchase Price to be
in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price  in  effect  immediately  prior to such  record  date by a  fraction,  the
numerator of which shall be the Current Market Price (as determined  pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the
fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of
the cash,  assets or evidences of  indebtedness  so to be distributed or of such
subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Preferred Stock and the
denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price (as determined  pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustments shall be
made  successively  whenever such a record date is fixed,  and in the event that
such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase  Price which would have been in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.

                           (d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
         other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the
         "Current  Market  Price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be
         deemed to be the average of the daily closing  prices per share of such
         Common  Stock  for  the  thirty  (30)  consecutive   Trading  Days  (as
         hereinafter  defined)  immediately prior to such date, and for purposes
         of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current
         Market  Price per share of Common  Stock on any date shall be deemed to
         be the  average of the daily  closing  prices per share of such  Common
         Stock for the ten (10) consecutive  Trading Days immediately  following
         such date; provided, however, that in the event that the Current Market
         Price  per  share of the  Common  Stock is  determined  during a period
         following the  announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a
         dividend or


                                                 23

<PAGE>



         distribution  on such  Common  Stock  payable in shares of such  Common
         Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other
         than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision,  combination or reclassifica-
         tion of such Common Stock,  and the ex-dividend  date for such dividend
         or distribution,  or the record date for such subdivision,  combination
         or reclas- sification shall not have occurred prior to the commencement
         of the  requisite  thirty  (30)  Trading  Day or ten (10)  Trading  Day
         period,  as set forth above,  then,  and in each such case, the Current
         Market   Price  shall  be  properly   adjusted  to  take  into  account
         ex-dividend  trading.  The closing price for each day shall be the last
         sale price,  regular  way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such
         day, the average of the closing bid and asked  prices,  regular way, in
         either  case as  reported  in the  principal  consolidated  transaction
         reporting  system  with  respect to  securities  listed or  admitted to
         trading  on the New York  Stock  Exchange  or, if the  shares of Common
         Stock are not  listed or  admitted  to  trading  on the New York  Stock
         Exchange,  as  reported  in  the  principal  consolidated   transaction
         reporting  system with respect to  securities  listed on the  principal
         national  securities  exchange on which the shares of Common  Stock are
         listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock are not
         listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange,  the
         last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and
         low asked  prices in the  over-the-counter  market,  as reported by the
         National  Association of Securities  Dealers,  Inc. Automated Quotation
         System or such other  system  then in use,  or, if on any such date the
         shares of Common  Stock are not  quoted by any such  organization,  the
         average  of  the  closing  bid  and  asked  prices  as  furnished  by a
         professional  market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected
         by the Board. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in
         the  Common  Stock,  the fair  value  of such  shares  on such  date as
         determined in good faith by the Board shall be used.  The term "Trading
         Day"  shall  mean a day on  which  the  principal  national  securities
         exchange on which the shares of Common  Stock are listed or admitted to
         trading is open for the  transaction  of business  or, if the shares of
         Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading


                                                 24

<PAGE>



         on any  national  securities  exchange,  a Business  Day. If the Common
         Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded,  Current  Market
         Price per share  shall mean the fair value per share as  determined  in
         good faith by the Board,  whose  determination  shall be described in a
         statement  filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive  for all
         purposes.

                           (ii) For the  purpose of any  computation  hereunder,
         the  Current  Market  Price  per  share  of  Preferred  Stock  shall be
         determined  in the same manner as set forth above for the Common  Stock
         in clause  (i) of this  Section  11(d)  (other  than the last  sentence
         thereof).  If the Current  Market  Price per share of  Preferred  Stock
         cannot be determined in the manner  provided  above or if the Preferred
         Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in
         clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the Current Market Price per share of
         Preferred Stock shall be  conclusively  deemed to be an amount equal to
         200 (as such number may be  appropriately  adjusted  for such events as
         stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the
         Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement)  multiplied by
         the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock.  If neither the
         Common Stock nor the  Preferred  Stock is publicly held or so listed or
         traded,  Current  Market Price per share of the  Preferred  Stock shall
         mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board,
         whose  determination  shall be described in a statement  filed with the
         Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.

                           (e)  Anything herein to the contrary not-
withstanding,  no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in
the Purchase Price;  provided,  however, that any adjustments which by reason of
this  Section  11(e) are not  required  to be made shall be carried  forward and
taken into account in any subsequent  adjustment.  All  calculations  under this
Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of
a share of Common Stock or other share or  one-millionth of a share of Preferred
Stock,  as the case may be.  Notwithstanding  the first sentence of this Section
11(e), any adjustment required


                                                 25

<PAGE>



by this  Section  11 shall be made no later  than the  earlier  of (i) three (3)
years from the date of the  transaction  which mandates such  adjustment or (ii)
the Expiration Date.

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

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

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

                         (i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any 
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any
adjustment in the


                                                 26

<PAGE>



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

                           (j)  Irrespective of any adjustment or
change in the Purchase Price or the number of one  two-hundredths  of a share of
Preferred   Stock  issuable  upon  the  exercise  of  the  Rights,   the  Rights
Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express


                                                 27

<PAGE>



the  Purchase  Price per one  two-hundredths  of a share  and the  number of one
two-hundredths   of  a  share  which  were   expressed  in  the  initial  Rights
Certificates issued hereunder.

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

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

                           (m)  Anything in this Section 11 to the
contrary notwithstanding,  the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions
in the Purchase Price, in addition to those  adjustments  expressly  required by
this  Section  11, as and to the extent  that in their good faith  judgment  the
Board shall  determine to be advisable  in order that any (i)  consolidation  or
subdivision of the Preferred Stock,  (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares
of Preferred Stock at less than the Current Market Price,  (iii) issuance wholly
for cash of shares of  Preferred  Stock or  securities  which by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred


                                                 28

<PAGE>



Stock,  (iv) stock  dividends  or (v)  issuance  of rights,  options or warrants
referred to in this Section 11,  hereafter made by the Company to holders of its
Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such shareholders.

                           (n)  The Company covenants and agrees that
it shall not, at any time after the Distribution  Date, (i) consolidate with any
other Person  (other than a  Subsidiary  of the Company in a  transaction  which
complies  with Section 11(o)  hereof),  (ii) merge with or into any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary  of the Company in a  transaction  which  complies with
Section 11(o)  hereof),  or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any  Subsidiary to
sell or  transfer),  in one  transaction,  or a series of related  transactions,
assets or earning power  aggregating more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets
or earning power of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to any
other Person or Persons (other than the Company  and/or any of its  Subsidiaries
in one or more  transactions  each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof),
if (x) at the time of or immediately  after such  consolidation,  merger or sale
there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or
agreements in effect which would  substantially  diminish or otherwise eliminate
the  benefits   intended  to  be  afforded  by  the  Rights  or  (y)  prior  to,
simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the
shareholders of the Person who constitutes,  or would constitute, the "Principal
Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have  received a  distribution
of  Rights  previously  owned  by  such  Person  or any of  its  Affiliates  and
Associates.

                           (o)  The Company covenants and agrees
that, after the  Distribution  Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section
23 or Section 26 hereof,  take (or permit any  Subsidiary to take) any action if
at the time such action is taken it is reasonably  foreseeable  that such action
will diminish  substantially or otherwise  eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights.

                           (p)  Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding,  in the event that the Company shall at any time after
the Rights  Dividend  Declaration  Date and prior to the  Distribution  Date (i)
declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock pay-


                                                 29

<PAGE>



able in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding  shares of Common
Stock or (iii)  combine the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock into a smaller
number of  shares,  the  number of Rights  associated  with each share of Common
Stock  then  outstanding,  or issued or  delivered  thereafter  but prior to the
Distribution  Date,  shall be  proportionately  adjusted  so that the  number of
Rights thereafter  associated with each share of Common Stock following any such
event  shall  equal the  result  obtained  by  multiplying  the number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock  immediately prior to such event by a
fraction the numerator which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator
of which  shall be the  total  number of  shares  of  Common  Stock  outstanding
immediately following the occurrence of such event.

                  Section 12.  Certificate of Adjusted  Purchase Price or Number
of Shares.  Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section
13 hereof,  the Company shall (a) promptly  prepare a certificate  setting forth
such  adjustment  and a  brief  statement  of  the  facts  accounting  for  such
adjustment,  (b) promptly  file with the Rights  Agent,  and with each  transfer
agent for the Preferred  Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such  certificate
and (c) if a  Distribution  Date has occurred,  mail a brief summary  thereof to
each holder of a Rights  Certificate in accordance  with Section 26 hereof.  The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such  certificate and on
any adjustment therein contained.

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

                           (a)  In the event that, following the
Stock  Acquisition  Date,   directly  or  indirectly,   (x)  the  Company  shall
consolidate  with,  or merge  with and into,  any  other  Person  (other  than a
Subsidiary  of the Company in a  transaction  which  complies with Section 11(o)
hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such  consolidation  or merger,  (y) any Person  (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a  transaction  which  complies  with  Section  11(o)  hereof)  shall
consolidate  with, or merge with or into, the Company,  and the Company shall be
the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and,


                                                 30

<PAGE>



in connection with such  consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding
shares of Common  Stock shall be changed  into or  exchanged  for stock or other
securities of any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company
shall sell or otherwise  transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell
or otherwise transfer),  in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
assets or earning power  aggregating more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets
or earning power of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to any
Person or Persons  (other than the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the Company in
one or more  transactions  each of which  complies with Section  11(o)  hereof),
then,  and in each such case  (except as may be  contemplated  by Section  13(d)
hereof),  proper  provision  shall be made so that:  (i) each holder of a Right,
except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof,  shall  thereafter  have the right to
receive,  upon the  exercise  thereof  at the  then  current  Purchase  Price in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement,  such number of validly  authorized
and issued,  fully paid,  non-assessable  and freely  tradeable shares of Common
Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined),  not subject
to any liens, encumbrances,  rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as
shall  be equal to the  result  obtained  by (1)  multiplying  the then  current
Purchase Price by the number of one two-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
for which a Right is exercisable  immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 13 Event (or, if a Section  11(a)(ii)  Event has  occurred  prior to the
first  occurrence  of a Section  13 Event,  multiplying  the  number of such one
two-hundredths of a share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
the first  occurrence  of a Section  11(a)(ii)  Event by the  Purchase  Price in
effect  immediately prior to such first  occurrence),  and dividing that product
(which,  following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred
to as the  "Purchase  Price"  for  each  Right  and  for  all  purposes  of this
Agreement) by (2) fifty percent  (50%) of the Current  Market Price  (determined
pursuant  to Section  11(d)(i)  hereof)  per share of the  Common  Stock of such
Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event;  (ii) such
Principal Party shall  thereafter be liable for, and shall assume,  by virtue of
such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to
this Agreement;  (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to
such Principal Party, it being specif-


                                                 31

<PAGE>



ically  intended  that the  provisions  of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to
such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event;  (iv)
such Principal Party shall take such steps  (including,  but not limited to, the
reservation of a sufficient  number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection
with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that
the provisions  hereof shall  thereafter be applicable,  as nearly as reasonably
may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock  thereafter  deliverable  upon
the exercise of the Rights;  and (v) the provisions of Section  11(a)(ii) hereof
shall be of no effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.

                           (b)  "Principal Party" shall mean

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

                                    (ii)  in the case of any tran-
         saction described in clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a),
         the Person  that is the party  receiving  the  greatest  portion of the
         assets or earning power  transferred  pursuant to such  transaction  or
         transactions;

provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12)
month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is
a direct or indirect  Subsidiary of another  Person the Common Stock of which is
and has been so registered,  "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person;
and (2) in case such Person is a  Subsidiary,  directly or  indirectly,  of more
than one Person,  the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so
registered,  "Principal  Party"  shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.



                                                 32

<PAGE>



                           (c)  The Company shall not consummate any
such  consolidation,  merger,  sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall
have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not
been  issued or  reserved  for  issuance  to permit the  exercise in full of the
Rights in  accordance  with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company
and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental  agreement  providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and
(b) of this Section 13 and further  providing that, as soon as practicable after
the date of any  consolidation,  merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph
(a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party will

                                    (i)  prepare and file a
         registration  statement  under the Act,  with respect to the Rights and
         the  securities  pur-  chasable  upon  exercise  of  the  Rights  on an
         appropriate  form,  and  will  use  its  best  efforts  to  cause  such
         registration  statement to (A) become  effective as soon as practicable
         after such filing and (B) remain  effective  (with a prospectus  at all
         times meeting the  requirements of the Act) until the Expiration  Date;
         and

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

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

                           (d)  Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the  contrary,  Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction
described in subparagraphs  (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction
is consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired shares


                                                 33

<PAGE>



of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding
shares of Common Stock which complies with the  provisions of Section  11(a)(ii)
hereof (or a wholly owned  subsidiary  of any such Person or Persons),  (ii) the
price per share of Common Stock offered in such transaction is not less than the
price per share of Common  Stock paid to all  holders of shares of Common  Stock
whose shares were purchased  pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer and
(iii) the form of consideration being offered to the remaining holders of shares
of  Common  Stock  pursuant  to such  transaction  is the  same  as the  form of
consideration  paid  pursuant  to such  tender  offer or  exchange  offer.  Upon
consummation of any such  transaction  contemplated  by this Section 13(d),  all
Rights hereunder shall expire.

                  Section 14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional
Shares.

                           (a)  The Company shall not be required to
issue fractions of Rights,  except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in
Section  11(p) hereof,  or to  distribute  Rights  Certificates  which  evidence
fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the
registered  holders  of the  Rights  Certificates  with  regard  to  which  such
fractional  Rights would  otherwise be issuable,  an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this
Section  14(a),  the current  market value of a whole Right shall be the closing
price of the Rights for the Trading Day  immediately  prior to the date on which
such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable.  The closing price of
the Rights for any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no
such sale takes  place on such day,  the  average of the  closing  bid and asked
prices,  regular way, in either case as reported in the  principal  consolidated
transaction  reporting  system with respect to securities  listed or admitted to
trading  on the New York  Stock  Exchange  or, if the  Rights  are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated  transaction  reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the  principal  national  securities  exchange on which the Rights are listed or
admitted to  trading,  or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national  securities  exchange,  the last quoted price or, if not so quoted,
the average of the


                                                 34

<PAGE>



high bid and low asked  prices in the  over-the-counter  market,  as reported by
NASDAQ or such other  system  then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are
not quoted by any such  organization,  the  average of the closing bid and asked
prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights
selected  by the  Board.  If on any such date no such  market  maker is making a
market in the Rights the fair value of the Rights on such date as  determined in
good faith by the Board shall be used.

                           (b)  The Company shall not be required to
issue  fractions of shares of Preferred  Stock  (other than  fractions  that are
integral multiples of one two-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock, and then
only to the extent permitted under  Connecticut law) upon exercise of the Rights
or to distribute  certificates  which  evidence  fractional  shares of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions which are integral  multiples of one  two-hundredths
of a share of  Preferred  Stock,  and then only to the  extent  permitted  under
Connecticut  law). In lieu of fractional  shares of Preferred  Stock (or, to the
extent fractional shares of Preferred Stock are permitted under Connecticut law,
in lieu of fractional shares of Preferred that are not integral multiples of one
two-hundredths  of a share  of  Preferred  Stock),  the  Company  may pay to the
registered holders of Rights  Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised
as herein  provided an amount in cash equal to the same  fraction of the current
market value of one  two-hundredths  of a share of Preferred Stock. For purposes
of this Section 14(b), the current market value of one two-hundredths of a share
of Preferred Stock shall be one  two-hundredths  of the closing price of a share
of Preferred Stock (as determined  pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

                           (c)  Following the occurrence of a Trig-
gering Event,  the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock upon  exercise of the Rights or to  distribute  certificates  which
evidence  fractional  shares of Common Stock.  In lieu of  fractional  shares of
Common  Stock,  the  Company  may  pay  to  the  registered  holders  of  Rights
Certificates  at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market


                                                 35

<PAGE>



value of one (1) share of Common Stock.  For purposes of this Section 14(c), the
current  market value of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of
one share of Common Stock (as determined  pursuant to Section  11(d)(i)  hereof)
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

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

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

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

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



                                                 36

<PAGE>



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

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

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

                  Section   17.   Rights   Certificate   Holder   Not  Deemed  a
Shareholder.  No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to
vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of
one  two-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the
Company  which  may at any  time  be  issuable  on the  exercise  of the  Rights
represented  thereby,  nor shall  anything  contained  herein  or in any  Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder


                                                 37

<PAGE>



of any Rights  Certificate,  as such,  any of the rights of a shareholder of the
Company or any right to vote for the  election of  directors  or upon any matter
submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent
to any  corporate  action,  or to receive  notice of meetings  or other  actions
affecting  shareholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive
dividends  or  subscription  rights,  or  otherwise,  until  the Right or Rights
evidenced by such Rights  Certificate  shall have been  exercised in  accordance
with the provisions hereof.

                  Section 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent.

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

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



                                                 38

<PAGE>



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

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

                           (b)  In case at any time the name of the
Rights  Agent shall be changed  and at such time any of the Rights  Certificates
shall have been countersigned but not delivered,  the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersig-  nature  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.

     Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.  The Rights Agent undertakes the duties
and  obligations  im-  posed by this  Agreement  upon the  following  terms  and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders


                                                 39

<PAGE>



of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

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

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

                           (c)  The Rights Agent shall be liable
hereunder only for its own negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct.

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

                           (e)  The Rights Agent shall not be under
any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution
and delivery hereof (except the due execution  hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the  validity  or  execution  of any Rights  Certificate  (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall


                                                 40

<PAGE>



it be  responsible  for any breach by the Company of any  covenant or  condition
contained  in this  Agreement  or in any  Rights  Certificate;  nor  shall it be
responsible  for any  adjustment  required  under the  provisions of Section 11,
Section 13 or Section 24 hereof or responsible for the manner,  method or amount
of any such adjustment or the  ascertaining of the existence of facts that would
require  any such  adjustment  (except  with  respect to the  exercise of Rights
evidenced by Rights  Certificates  after actual notice of any such  adjustment);
nor  shall it by any act  hereunder  be  deemed  to make any  representation  or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or
Preferred  Stock  to  be  issued  pursuant  to  this  Agreement  or  any  Rights
Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will,
when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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

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

                           (h)  The Rights Agent and any shareholder,
director,  officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy,  sell or deal in any
of  the  Rights  or  other  securities  of the  Company  or  become  pecuniarily
interested  in any  transaction  in which  the  Company  may be  interested,  or
contract  with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely
as though it were not 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.


                                                 41

<PAGE>




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

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

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

                  Section 21.  Change of Rights  Agent.  The Rights Agent or any
successor  Rights Agent may resign and be discharged  from its duties under this
Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to
each transfer  agent of the Common Stock and Preferred  Stock,  by registered or
certified  mail,  and to the holders of the Rights  Certificates  by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon
thirty (30) days'  notice in writing,  mailed to the Rights  Agent or  successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock
and Preferred  Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the
Rights  Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be
removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint
a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such


                                                 42

<PAGE>



appointment  within a period of thirty  (30) days  after  giving  notice of such
removal  or  after  it has been  notified  in  writing  of such  resignation  or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated  Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights  Certificate (who shall, with such notice,  submit his Rights Certificate
for  inspection  by the  Company),  then any  registered  holder  of any  Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent.  Any successor  Rights  Agent,  whether  appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation  organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States or of any State  thereof,  in good standing,
which is authorized  under such laws to exercise  corporate  trust powers and is
subject to supervision  or  examination by federal or state  authority and which
has at the time of its  appointment  as  Rights  Agent a  combined  capital  and
surplus of at least $50,000,000.  After appointment,  the successor Rights Agent
shall be vested with the same powers,  rights, duties and responsibilities as if
it had been  originally  named as Rights Agent without  further act or deed; but
the predecessor  Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance,  conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such  appointment,  the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor  Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Stock and the Preferred  Stock,  and mail a notice thereof in writing
to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice
provided  for in this  Section 21,  however,  or any defect  therein,  shall not
affect the  legality  or validity  of the  resignation  or removal of the Rights
Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

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


                                                 43

<PAGE>



issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the  Distribution  Date and
prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with
respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold  pursuant to the exercise of
stock options or under any employee plan or  arrangement,  granted or awarded as
of the  Distribution  Date,  or upon the  exercise,  conversion  or  exchange of
securities hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if
deemed  necessary  or  appropriate  by  the  Board,  issue  Rights  Certificates
representing  the appropriate  number of Rights in connection with such issuance
or sale; provided,  however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued
if, and to the extent  that,  the Company  shall be advised by counsel that such
issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to
the Company or the Person to whom such Rights  Certificate would be issued,  and
(ii) no such  Rights  Certificate  shall be issued if,  and to the extent  that,
appropriate  adjustment  shall  otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof.

                  Section 23.  Redemption and Termination.

                           (a)  The Board may, at its option, at any
time  prior  to the  earlier  of (i) the  close of  business  on the  tenth  day
following the Stock  Acquisition  Date (or, if the Stock  Acquisition Date shall
have occurred  prior to the Record Date,  the close of business on the tenth day
following the Record Date), or (ii) the Final  Expiration  Date,  redeem all but
not less than all the then outstanding  Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per
Right, as such amount may be appropriately  adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock  dividend or similar  transaction  occurring  after the date hereof  (such
redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). If so
designated  by the  Board,  payment  of the  redemption  price  under  the  1986
Agreement  also shall  constitute  payment of the  redemption  price  hereunder.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event
until such time as the Company's right of redemption  hereunder has expired. The
Company may, at its option,  pay the Redemption Price in cash,  shares of Common
Stock (based on the Current Market Price, as defined in Section 11(d)(i) hereof,
of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or


                                                 44

<PAGE>



any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the
Board.

                           (b)  Immediately upon the action of the
Board ordering the  redemption of the Rights,  evidence of which shall have been
filed with the Rights  Agent and  without  any  further  action and  without any
notice,  the right to  exercise  the Rights  will  terminate  and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for
each  Right so held.  Promptly  after  the  action  of the  Board  ordering  the
redemption of the Rights,  the Company  shall give notice of such  redemption to
the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding  Rights by mailing such
notice to all such holders at each  holder's last address as it appears upon the
registry  books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the  Distribution  Date, on the
registry books of the Transfer  Agent for the Common Stock.  Any notice which is
mailed in the manner herein  provided shall be deemed given,  whether or not the
holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method
by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.

                  Section 24. Exchange. (a) The Board may, at its option, at any
time after any Person becomes an Acquiring  Person,  exchange all or part of the
then  outstanding  and  exercisable  Rights (which shall not include Rights that
have become void  pursuant to the  provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for 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  hereof  (such  exchange  ratio  being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board shall not be empowered  to effect such  exchange at any time after any
Person  (other than the Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the Company,  any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common
Stock  for or  pursuant  to the  terms  of any  such  plan),  together  with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person,  becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifty
percent (50%) or more of the Common Stock then outstanding.

                           (b)      Immediately upon the action of the
Board  ordering the exchange of any Rights  pursuant to  subsection  (a) of this
Section 24 and without any further  action and without any notice,  the right to
exercise such


                                                 45

<PAGE>



Rights shall terminate and the only right  thereafter of a holder of such Rights
shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of
such Rights held by such holder  multiplied by the Exchange  Ratio.  The Company
shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange;  provided, however, that
the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity
of such exchange.  The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange
to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein  provided shall be deemed given,  whether or not the holder  receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange
of the Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial
exchange,  the number of Rights which will be  exchanged.  Any partial  exchange
shall be  effected  pro rata based on the number of Rights  (other  than  Rights
which have become void  pursuant to the  provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held
by each holder of Rights.

     (c) In any  exchange  pursuant  to this Sec- tion 24, the  Company,  at its
option, may substitute shares of Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred stock,
as such term is defined  in  paragraph  (b) of Section 11 hereof)  for shares of
Common Stock  exchangeable for rights, at the initial rate of one two-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock (or equivalent  preferred stock) for each share of
Common Stock,  as  appropriately  adjusted to reflect  adjustments in the voting
rights of the Preferred  Stock pursuant to Section 4(c)(1) of the Certificate of
Amendment  attached  hereto as  Exhibit  A, so that the  fraction  of a share of
Preferred  Stock  delivered in lieu of each share of Common Stock shall have the
same voting rights as one share of Common Stock.

                           (d)  In the event that there shall not be
sufficient  shares of Common Stock issued but not  outstanding or authorized but
unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as  contemplated  in  accordance  with
this  Section 24, the Company  shall take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize  additional  shares of Common Stock for issuance  upon exchange of the
Rights.

                           (e)  The Company shall not be required to
issue fractions of shares of Common Stock or to distrib-


                                                 46

<PAGE>



ute certificates  which evidence  fractional  shares of Common Stock. In lieu of
such  fractional  shares of Common Stock,  there shall be paid to the registered
holders of the Right  Certificates with regard to which such fractional share of
Common Stock would  otherwise  be issuable,  an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current  market value of a whole share of Common Stock.  For the
purposes of this  subsection  (e), the current  market value of a whole share of
Common  Stock  shall  be the  closing  price  of a share  of  Common  Stock  (as
determined  pursuant to the second sentence of Section  11(d)(i) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately  prior to the date of exchange  pursuant to this Section
24.

                  Section 25.  Notice of Certain Events.

                           (a)  In case the Company shall propose, at
any time after the  Distribution  Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock
of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution
to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular  quarterly cash dividend
out of earnings or retained  earnings of the  Company),  or (ii) to offer to the
holders of Preferred  Stock  rights or warrants to subscribe  for or to purchase
any additional  shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any
other securities,  rights or options,  or (iii) to effect any reclas- sification
of its  Preferred  Stock  (other than a reclas-  sification  involving  only the
subdivision of  outstanding  shares of Preferred  Stock),  or (iv) to effect any
consolidation  or merger into or with any other Person  (other than a Subsidiary
of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to
effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its  Subsidiaries
to effect any sale or other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related
transactions, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets or earning power of
the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole)  to any other  Person or
Persons  (other than the Company and/or any of its  Subsidiaries  in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect
the  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of the Company,  then, in each such
case,  the  Company  shall give to each holder of a Rights  Certificate,  to the
extent  feasible  and in  accordance  with  Section 26 hereof,  a notice of such
proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of


                                                 47

<PAGE>



such stock dividend,  distribution  of rights or warrants,  or the date on which
such  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  sale,  transfer,  liquidation,
dissolution,  or  winding  up is to take  place  and the  date of  participation
therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred  Stock, if any such date is to
be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by
clause (i) or (ii) above at least  twenty (20) days prior to the record date for
determining  holders  of the  shares of  Preferred  Stock for  purposes  of such
action,  and in the case of any such other  action,  at least  twenty  (20) days
prior  to the  date  of the  taking  of  such  proposed  action  or the  date of
participation  therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock whichever
shall be the earlier.

                           (b)  In case any of the events set forth
in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company
shall  as soon  as  practicable  thereafter  give to  each  holder  of a  Rights
Certificate,  to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a
notice of the  occurrence  of such event,  which shall specify the event and the
consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof,
and (ii) all references in the preceding  paragraph to Preferred  Stock shall be
deemed  thereafter  to refer to  Common  Stock  and/or,  if  appropriate,  other
securities.

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

                  The Stanley Works
                  1000 Stanley Drive
                  New Britain, Connecticut  06053
                  Attention:  Corporate Secretary

Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement  to be given or made by the  Company  or by the  holder of any  Rights
Certificate  to or on the Rights  Agent shall be  sufficiently  given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, ad-


                                                 48

<PAGE>



dressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Company) as follows:

                  State Street Bank and Trust Company
                  Corporate Stock Transfer Services
                  The BFDS Building
                  2 Heritage Drive
                  North Quincy, MA  02171
                    Attention: Vincent J. Quealy, Jr.

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

     Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date, the
Company and the Rights Agent  shall,  if the Company so directs,  supplement  or
amend any provision of this  Agreement  without the ap- proval of any holders of
certificates   representing   shares  of  Common  Stock.   From  and  after  the
Distribution  Date,  the Company and the Rights Agent  shall,  if the Company so
directs,  supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders
of Rights  Certificates  in order (i) to cure any ambiguity,  (ii) to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions  herein,  (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period
hereunder or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner
which the Company may deem  necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates;  provided,  from and
after the  Distribution  Date, this Agreement may not be supplemented
or amended to lengthen,  pursuant to clause (iii) of this  sentence,  (A) a time
period  relating  to when the Rights may be  redeemed at such time as the Rights
are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such lengthening is
for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the
benefits to, the holders of Rights.  Upon the delivery of a certificate  from an
appropriate officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or


                                                 49

<PAGE>



amendment is in  compliance  with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment.  Prior to the Distribution Date, the
interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests
of the holders of Common Stock.

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

                  Section 29.  Determinations and Actions by the Board, etc. For
all  purposes  of this  Agreement,  any  calculation  of the number of shares of
Common Stock  outstanding  at any  particular  time,  including  for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial  Owner,  shall be made in accordance  with
the last sentence of Rule  13d-3(d)(1)(i)  of the General Rules and  Regulations
under the Exchange Act. The Board 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  (including a  determination  to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend  the  Agreement).  All such  actions,  calculations,  interpretations  and
determinations  (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect  to the  foregoing)  which are done or made by the Board 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 to
any liability to the holders of the Rights.

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


                                                 50

<PAGE>



Rights Agent and the registered  holders of the Rights  Certificates (and, prior
to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).

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

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

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

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



                                                 51

<PAGE>



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

Attest:                                    THE STANLEY WORKS


  By Stephen S. Weddle                     By Richard H. Ayers
     Name:Stephen S. Weddle                   Name:Richard H. Ayers
     Title:Vice President,                    Title: Chairman and 
           General Counsel and                       Chief Executive Officer
           Secretary

Attest:                                    STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
                                           COMPANY


  By Craig Alie                            By Vincent J. Quealy, Jr.
     Name:Craig Alie                          Name:Vincent J. Quealy, Jr.
     Title: Director                          Title: Vice President



                                                 52

<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit A



                        FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT


RESOLVED:         that, pursuant to authority vested in the Board
                  of Directors of the Corporation by the provi-
                  sions of its Restated Certificate of Incorpora-
                  tion, as amended (the "Certificate of Incorpo-
                  ration"), a series of Preferred Stock of the
                  Corporation be and it hereby is created, and
                  the designation and amount thereof and the
                  voting powers, preferences and relative, par-
                  ticipating, optional and other special rights
                  of the shares of such series, and the qualifi-
                  cations, limitations or restrictions thereof,
                  to the extent that the foregoing are not set
                  forth elsewhere in the Certificate of Incorpo-
                  ration are as stated in the terms of the amend-
                  ment to the Certificate of Incorporation autho-
                  rized in the immediately following resolution;
                  provided that, to the extent permitted under
                  the laws of the State of Connecticut, such
                  designation, amount, powers, preferences and
                  rights shall pertain only to the series created
                  hereby and shall not pertain to any other se-
                  ries of Preferred Stock of the Corporation; and
                  also provided that, to the extent permitted
                  under the laws of the State of Connecticut, any
                  other series of the Preferred Stock of the
                  Corporation shall have such designation,
                  amount, powers, preferences and rights as the
                  Board of Directors shall designate at the time
                  such other series is created;

RESOLVED:         that, the Certificate of  Incorporation be amended in order to
                  create  the  series  of stock  authorized  in the  immediately
                  preceding resolution by the addition of the following language
                  as new  Section 3A of the  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  to
                  immediately  follow Section 3 and immediately  precede Section
                  4:

     "Section 3A. There shall be a series of Preferred Stock, without par value,
of said corporation having the



<PAGE>



voting powers, designation,  preferences and relative,  participating,  optional
and other special rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of
such rights,  to the extent that the  foregoing  are not set forth  elsewhere in
this Certificate of Incorporation, as follows:

         (a)  Designation  and  Amount.  The  shares  of such  series  shall  be
designated as "Series A Junior Participating  Preferred Stock" and the number of
shares constituting such series shall be 250,000.

         (b)  Dividends and Distributions.

         (1)  Subject  to the prior and  superior  rights of the  holders of any
         shares of any series of Preferred  Stock  ranking prior and superior to
         the  shares  of  Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  with
         respect  to  dividends,  the  holders  of  shares  of  Series  A Junior
         Participating  Preferred  Stock shall be entitled to receive,  when, as
         and if  declared  by the  Board  of  Directors  out  of  funds  legally
         available for the purpose,  quarterly  dividends payable in cash on the
         last day of February,  May, August and November 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) $20 or (b)  subject to the
         provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 200 times the aggregate
         per share amount of all cash dividends, and 200 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, $2.50 par
         value, of said  corporation  (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 said corporation  shall at any time (i) declare any
         dividend on Common Stock payable in


                                        2

<PAGE>



         shares of Common Stock,  (ii) subdivide the  outstanding  Common Stock,
         (iii)  combine the  outstanding  Common Stock into a smaller  number of
         shares,   or  (iv)  issue  any  shares  of  its  capital   stock  in  a
         reclassification  of the  outstanding  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 (a) and clause (b) of the preceding  sentence  shall
         be adjusted by multiplying each 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.

         (2) The  corporation  shall declare a dividend or  distribution  on the
         Series A Junior Participating  Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph
         (1) above  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 $20 per share on the Series A
         Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on
         such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

         (3) 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 of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock,  unless
         the date of issue of such  shares is prior to the  record  date for the
         first Quarterly  Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such
         shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares,  or
         unless the date of issue is a Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date or is a
         date after the record date for the  determination  of holders of shares
         of Series A Junior Participating  Preferred Stock entitled to receive a
         quarterly  dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in
         either of which events such divi-


                                        3

<PAGE>



         dends  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 an  amount  less  than  the  total  amount  of such
         dividends  at the time  accrued  and  payable on such  shares  shall be
         allocated pro rata on a  share-by-share  basis among all such shares at
         the time outstanding.  The Board of Directors may fix a record date for
         the determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
         Preferred   Stock  entitled  to  receive   payment  of  a  dividend  or
         distribution declared thereon,  which record date shall be no more than
         30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

     (c) Voting Rights.  The holders of shares of Series A Junior  Participating
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

         (1) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each
         share of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock shall entitle
         the holder  thereof to 200 votes on all matters  submitted to a vote of
         the  shareholders of said  corporation.  In the event said  corporation
         shall at any time (i) declare any dividend on Common  Stock  payable in
         shares of Common Stock,  (ii) subdivide the  outstanding  Common Stock,
         (iii)  combine the  outstanding  Common Stock into a smaller  number of
         shares,   or  (iv)  issue  any  shares  of  its  capital   stock  in  a
         re-classification  of the outstanding  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.

         (2)  Except as  otherwise  provided  herein or by law,  the  holders of
         shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders
         of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all


                                        4

<PAGE>



         matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of said
         corporation.

         (3) (A) If at any time  dividends on any Series A Junior  Participating
         Preferred  Stock  shall be in  arrears  in an  amount  equal to six (6)
         quarterly  dividends thereon,  the occurrence of such contingency shall
         mark the beginning of a period (herein called a "default period") which
         shall extend until such time when all accrued and unpaid  dividends for
         all previous  quarterly  dividend periods and for the current quarterly
         dividend  period  on  all  shares  of  Series  A  Junior  Participating
         Preferred Stock then  outstanding  shall have been declared and paid or
         set apart for  payment.  During  each  default  period,  the holders of
         Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock shall have the right to
         elect two (2) Directors.

                  (B)  During  any  default  period,  such  voting  right of the
         holders  of  Series  A  Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  may be
         exercised   initially  at  a  special   meeting   called   pursuant  to
         subparagraph  (c)(3)(C) of this Section 3A or at any annual  meeting of
         shareholders,  and  thereafter  at  annual  meetings  of  shareholders,
         provided  that such  voting  right  shall not be  exercised  unless the
         holders  of ten  percent  (10%) in  number of shares of Series A Junior
         Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or
         by proxy.  The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall
         not affect the exercise by the holders of Series A Junior Participating
         Preferred  Stock of such  voting  right.  At any  meeting  at which the
         holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall exercise
         such voting right initially  during an existing  default  period,  they
         shall have the right,  to elect  Directors to fill such  vacancies,  if
         any,  in the  Board  of  Directors  as may  then  exist  up to two  (2)
         Directors or, if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect
         two (2) Directors. If the number which may be so elected at any special
         meeting  does not amount to the  required  number,  the  holders of the
         Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock shall have the right to
         make such  increase in the number of Directors as shall be necessary to
         permit the election by them of the


                                        5

<PAGE>



         required number. After the holders of the Series A Junior Participating
         Preferred  Stock shall have exercised their right to elect Directors in
         any  default  period and during the  continuance  of such  period,  the
         number of Directors shall not be increased or decreased  except by vote
         of the  holders  of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock as
         herein  provided  or  pursuant  to the rights of any equity  securities
         ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series A Junior  Participating
         Preferred Stock.

                  (C)  Unless  the  holders  of  Series A  Junior  Participating
         Preferred  Stock  shall,   during  an  existing  default  period,  have
         previously  exercised  their  right to elect  Directors,  the  Board of
         Directors  may order,  or any person  owning in the  aggregate not less
         than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Series A Junior
         Participating Preferred Stock outstanding (except as otherwise required
         under the laws of the State of Connecticut) may request, the calling of
         a special  meeting  of the  holders  of  Series A Junior  Participating
         Preferred  Stock,  which  meeting  shall  thereupon  be  called  by the
         Chairman of the Board, the President, a Vice President or the Secretary
         of said  corporation.  Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting
         at which holders of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock are
         entitled to vote pursuant to this subparagraph (c)(3)(C) shall be given
         to each  holder of record  of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred
         Stock by  mailing a copy of such  notice to him at his last  address as
         the same appears on the books of said  corporation.  Such meeting shall
         be called  for a time not  earlier  than 10 days and not later  than 60
         days after such order or request;  or in default of the calling of such
         meeting within 60 days after such order or request, such meeting may be
         called on similar notice by any shareholder or  shareholders  owning in
         the  aggregate  not less than ten percent  (10%) of the total number of
         shares of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  outstanding
         (except  as  otherwise   required  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of
         Connecticut).  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  this  subparagraph
         (c)(3)(C),  no such special  meeting  shall be called during the period
         within 60 days immediately preceding the date


                                        6

<PAGE>



     fixed for the next annual meeting of the shareholders.

                  (D) In any  default  period the holders of Common  Stock,  and
         other  classes  of  stock  of said  corporation  if  applicable,  shall
         continue to be entitled to elect the whole  number of  Directors  until
         the holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have
         exercised  their right to elect two (2) Directors after the exercise of
         which  right (x) the  Directors  so elected by the  holders of Series A
         Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock shall  continue in office until
         their  successors  shall have been elected by such holders or until the
         expiration of the default  period,  and (y) any vacancy in the Board of
         Directors  may (except as provided in  sub-paragraph  (c)(3)(C) of this
         Section 3A) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining  Directors
         there-tofore elected by the holders of the class of stock which elected
         the Director whose office shall have become vacant.  References in this
         paragraph (3) to Directors elected by the holders of a particular class
         of stock shall  include  Directors  elected by such  Directors  to fill
         vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.

                  (E) Immediately  upon the expiration of a default period,  (x)
         the right of the  holders  of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred
         Stock to elect  Directors  shall cease,  (y) the term of any  Directors
         elected by the holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
         shall  terminate,  and (z) the number of Directors shall be such number
         as may be provided for elsewhere in this  Certificate of  Incorporation
         or the By-laws of the  corporation  irrespective  of any increase  made
         pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (c)(3)(B) of this Section 3A
         (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner
         provided by law or in this  Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws
         of the corporation).  Any vacancies in the Board of Directors  effected
         by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding  sentence may
         be filled by a majority of the remaining Directors.

     (4) Except as set forth herein or as otherwise  required  under the laws of
the State of Connecticut,


                                        7

<PAGE>



         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.

         (d)  Certain Restrictions.

         (1) Whenever  quarterly  dividends or other dividends or  distributions
         payable  on the  Series  A  Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  as
         provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 3A 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, said corporation shall
         not:

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

                  (B)   declare   or  pay   dividends   on  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;

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


                                        8

<PAGE>



     dissolution,   liquidation   or   winding   up)  to  the  Series  A  Junior
Participating Preferred Stock; or

                  (D) 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.

         (2) The corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of said corporation
         to purchase or otherwise  acquire for consideration any shares of stock
         of said  corporation  unless said  corporation  could,  under paragraph
         (d)(1) of this Section 3A, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at
         such time and in such manner.

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

         (f)  Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.

         (1) Upon any voluntary  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of said
         corporation, no distribution shall be made (1) 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


                                        9

<PAGE>



         received  $200 per share,  plus an amount  equal to accrued  and unpaid
         dividends and distributions  thereon,  whether or not declared,  to the
         date of such payment (the "Series A Liquidation Preference"). Following
         the payment of the full amount of the Series A Liquidation  Preference,
         no additional  distributions  shall be made to the holders of shares of
         Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock unless,  prior thereto,
         the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per
         share (the  "Common  Adjustment")  equal to the  quotient  obtained  by
         dividing  (i) the  Series  A  Liquidation  Preference  by (ii)  200 (as
         appropriately  adjusted  as set forth in  paragraph  3 below to reflect
         such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with
         respect  to  the  Common  Stock)  (such  number  in  clause  (ii),  the
         "Adjustment  Number").  Following the payment of the full amount of the
         Series A Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of
         all outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
         and   Common   Stock,   respectively,   holders   of  Series  A  Junior
         Participating  Preferred  Stock and  holders of shares of Common  Stock
         shall receive their  ratable and  proportionate  share of the remaining
         assets to be  distributed  in the ratio of the  Adjustment  Number to 1
         with respect to such Series A Junior Participating  Preferred Stock and
         Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.

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

         (3)  In the event said corporation shall at any time
         (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in


                                                 10

<PAGE>



         shares of Common Stock,  (ii) subdivide the  outstanding  Common Stock,
         (iii)  combine the  outstanding  Common Stock into a smaller  number of
         shares,   or  (iv)  issue  any  shares  of  its  capital   stock  in  a
         reclassification  of the  outstanding  Common Stock,  then in each such
         case the Adjustment  Number in effect  immediately  prior to such event
         shall be adjusted by multiplying  such Adjustment  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.

         (g)  Consolidation,  Merger,  etc. In case said corporation shall enter
into any  consolidation,  merger,  combination or other transaction in which the
shares  of  Common  Stock are  exchanged  for or  changed  into  other  stock or
securities,  cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series  A  Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  shall  at the  same  time be
similarly  exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 200 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  said  corporation  shall at any time (i)  declare  any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,  (ii)  subdivide the
outstanding  Common  Stock,  (iii) combine the  outstanding  Common Stock into a
smaller  number of shares,  or (iv) issue any shares of its  capital  stock in a
re-classification  of the outstanding  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.

         (h)  No Redemption.  The shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.



                                                 11

<PAGE>


         (i) Ranking.  The Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock shall
rank junior to all other series of said corporation's  Preferred Stock as to the
payment of dividends  and the  distribution  of assets,  unless the terms of any
such series shall provide otherwise.

         (j) Amendment.  This Certificate of Incorporation  shall not be amended
in any manner 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 a majority
or more of the  outstanding  shares of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred
Stock.

         (k) Fractional Shares.  Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock
may be issued in fractions of a share (to the extent permitted under the laws of
the State of Connecticut),  which fractions of a share 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."

RESOLVED,         FURTHER,  that the proper  officers of the  Corporation be and
                  they  are  hereby   authorized   and  directed,   jointly  and
                  severally, to prepare,  execute and file a Certificate setting
                  forth a copy of the foregoing  resolutions  and to execute any
                  and all  other  documents  and  take any and all  other  steps
                  necessary or  appropriate  in order to comply with the laws of
                  the State of  Connecticut  and effectuate the purposes of said
                  resolutions.



                                       12
                                           

<PAGE>



                                                                 Exhibit B


                          [Form of Rights Certificate]


Certificate No. R-                                              ________ Rights

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER MARCH 10, 2006 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY.  THE
RIGHTS ARE  SUBJECT TO  REDEMPTION,  AT THE OPTION OF THE  COMPANY,  AT $.01 PER
RIGHT  ON  THE  TERMS  SET  FORTH  IN  THE  RIGHTS   AGREEMENT.   UNDER  CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS  AGREEMENT) AND ANY  SUBSEQUENT  HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS  REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY  OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECOME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING  PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS  AGREEMENT).   ACCORDINGLY,   THIS  RIGHTS  CERTIFICATE  AND  THE  RIGHTS
REPRESENTED  HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE  CIRCUMSTANCES  SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.]*


                               Rights Certificate

                                THE STANLEY WORKS

                  This certifies that , or registered assigns, is the registered
owner of the number of Rights set forth above,  each of which entitles the owner
thereof,  subject  to  the  terms,  provisions  and  conditions  of  the  Rights
Agreement,  dated as of January 31, 1996 (the "Rights Agreement"),  between The
Stanley Works, a Connecticut corporation (the "Company"),  and State Street Bank
and Trust Company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time
prior to 5:00  P.M.  (New York City  time) on March  10,  2006 at the  office or
offices of the Rights Agent  designated  for such purpose,  or its successors as
Rights  Agent,  one two-hun-  dredths of a fully paid,  non-assessable  share of
Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock (the  "Preferred  Stock") of the
Company,  at a purchase price of $220 per one  two-hundredths of a share (the
"Purchase  Price"),  upon presentation and surrender of this Rights  Certificate
with the Form of Election to Purchase and related
- --------
*        The portion of the legend in brackets shall be
         inserted only if applicable and shall replace the
         preceding sentence.



<PAGE>



Certificate  duly  executed.  The  number of  Rights  evidenced  by this  Rights
Certificate  (and the  number of shares  which may be  purchased  upon  exercise
thereof) set forth above,  and the Purchase Price per share set forth above, are
the number and Purchase  Price as of January 31, 1996,  based on the  Preferred
Stock as  constituted  at such date.  The Company  reserves the right to require
prior to the  occurrence  of a Triggering  Event (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement) that a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares
of Preferred Stock will be issued.

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

                  As provided in the Rights  Agreement,  the Purchase  Price and
the number and kind of shares of preferred Stock or other securities,  which may
be  purchased  upon  the  exercise  of  the  Rights  evidenced  by  this  Rights
Certificate  are subject to  modification  and adjustment  upon the happening of
certain events, including Triggering Events.

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



                                                  2

<PAGE>



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

                  Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement,  the Rights
evidenced by this  Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a
redemption price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the close
of business on (i) the tenth day following the Stock  Acquisition  Date (as such
time period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement) and (ii) the Final
Expiration Date.

                  No  fractional  shares of Preferred  Stock will be issued upon
the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which
are integral  multiples of one  two-hundredths  of a share of Preferred Stock to
the extent  permitted  by  Connecticut  law,  which may, at the  election of the
Company,  be  evidenced  by  depositary  receipts),  but in lieu  thereof a cash
payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

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



                                                  3

<PAGE>



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

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


Dated as of __________________



ATTEST:                                            THE STANLEY WORKS


                                       By
Secretary                                Title:



Countersigned:

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY



By
              Authorized Signature



                                                  4

<PAGE>



                  [Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate)


                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

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

FOR VALUE RECEIVED
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

                            (Please print name and address of transferee)

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


Dated: __________________




                                            Signature

Signature Guaranteed:


                                             Certificate
                  The undersigned  hereby  certifies by checking the appropriate
boxes that:

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

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

Dated:
                                                     Signature

Signature Guaranteed:



<PAGE>




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



                                                  2

<PAGE>



                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

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


To: ________________ CORPORATION:
                  The  undersigned   hereby   irrevocably   elects  to  exercise
_________ Rights  represented by this Rights  Certificate to purchase the shares
of  Preferred  Stock  issuable  upon the  exercise  of the Rights (or such other
securities  of the Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued
in the  name of and  delivered  to:  Please  insert  social  security  or  other
identifying number


                                   (Please print name and address)

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

Please insert social security
or other identifying number


                                   (Please print name and address)





Dated: _____________________




                                            Signature

Signature Guaranteed:





<PAGE>



                                   Certificate

          The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate
boxes that:

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

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


Dated:
                                                     Signature


Signature Guaranteed:




                                                  2

<PAGE>



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



                                                  3

<PAGE>



                                                                     Exhibit C

                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                                 PREFERRED STOCK


                  On January 31,  1996,  the Board of Directors of The Stanley
Works (the  "Company")  declared a dividend  distribution  of one Right for each
outstanding  share of  Common  Stock to  shareholders  of record at the close of
business on the  expiration  date of the prior  Rights  Agreement  (the  "Record
Date").  Each Right entitles the registered  holder to purchase from the Company
one two- hundredths of a share of Series A Junior Participating  Preferred Stock
without par value (the  "Preferred  Stock") at a Purchase Price of $220, subject
to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and State Street Bank and
Trust Company, as Rights Agent.

                  Initially,  the Rights will be  attached  to all Common  Stock
certificates  representing  shares  then  outstanding,  and no  separate  Rights
Certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock
and a  Distribution  Date  will  occur  upon the  earlier  of (i) ten (10)  days
following  a  public  announcement  that a  person  or  group  of  affiliate  or
associated persons (an "Acquiring  Person") has acquired,  or obtained the right
to acquire, beneficial ownership of ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) ten (10) business
days  (or  such  later  date  as  the  Board  shall  determine)   following  the
commencement  of a tender offer or exchange  offer that would result in a person
or group  beneficially  owning  ten  percent  (10%) or more of such  outstanding
shares of Common  Stock.  Until the  Distribution  Date,  (i) the Rights will be
evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only
with such Common Stock  certificates,  (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued
after the Record Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement
by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common
Stock  outstanding  will also  constitute the transfer of the Rights  associated
with the Common Stock  represented by such  certificate.  Pursuant to the Rights
Agreement,  the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of
a  Triggering  Event (as defined  below) that,  upon any  exercise of Rights,  a
number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred  Stock will
be issued.




<PAGE>



                  The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at the close of business on March 10, 2006,  unless earlier redeemed
or exchanged by the Company as described below.

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

                  In the event that a Person  becomes  the  beneficial  owner of
more than ten  percent  (10%) of the then  outstanding  shares  of Common  Stock
(except  pursuant to an offer for all  outstanding  shares of Common Stock which
the  independent  directors  determine  to be fair to and  otherwise in the best
interests  of the  Company  and its  shareholders),  each holder of a Right will
thereafter  have the right to  receive,  upon  exercise,  Common  Stock (or,  in
certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having
a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.  Notwithstanding any
of the  foregoing,  following  the  occurrence of any of the events set forth in
this paragraph,  all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances  specified
in the Rights Agreement) were,  beneficially  owned by any Acquiring Person will
be null and void. However,  Rights are not exercisable  following the occurrence
of either of the  events  set forth  above  until such time as the Rights are no
longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.

     For example,  at an exercise price of $220 per Right,  each Right not owned
by an Acquiring  Person (or by certain related  parties)  following an event set
forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase $440 worth
of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $220. Assuming that
the Common  Stock had a per share value of $55 at such time,  the holder of each
valid Right would be entitled to purchase  eight (8) shares of Common  Stock for
$220.

                  In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date,  (i) the  Company is acquired  in a merger or other  business  combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving  corporation (other than a
merger described in the second preceding  paragraph or a merger which follows an
offer described in the second preceding paragraph),  or (ii) fifty percent (50%)
or more


                                                  2

<PAGE>



of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred,  each holder of
a Right  (except  Rights which  previously  have been voided as set forth above)
shall thereafter have the right to receive,  upon exercise,  common stock of the
acquiring  company  having a value equal to two times the exercise  price of the
Right.  The  events  set forth in this  paragraph  and in the  second  preceding
paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."

                  At any time  after  the  acquisition  by a person  or group of
affiliated or associated persons of beneficial ownership of ten percent (10%) or
more of the  outstanding  Common  Shares  and prior to the  acquisition  by such
person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding Common Shares,
the Board may  exchange  the Rights  (other than Rights  owned by such person or
group which have become void),  in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one
Common Share,  or one  two-hundredths  of a Preferred  Share (or of a share of a
class or series of the  Company's  preferred  stock  having  equivalent  rights,
preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

                  At  any  time  until  ten  (10)  days   following   the  Stock
Acquisition  Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole,  but not in part,
at a  price  of  $.01  per  Right  (payable  in  cash,  Common  Stock  or  other
consideration  deemed appropriate by the Board).  Immediately upon the action of
the Board ordering  redemption of the Rights,  the Rights will terminate and the
only right of the  holders  of Rights  will be to  receive  the $.01  redemption
price.

                  Until a Right is exercised,  the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a shareholder of the Company,  including,  without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends.  While the distribution of the Rights
will  not be  taxable  to  shareholders  or to the  Company,  shareholders  may,
depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the
Rights  become  exercisable  for Common  Stock (or other  consideration)  of the
Company or for common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.

                  Any of the  provisions of the Rights  Agreement may be amended
by the Board prior to the Distribution  Date.  After the Distribution  Date, the
provisions of the Rights  Agreement may be amended by the Board in order to cure
any  ambiguity,  to make changes which do not adversely  affect the interests of
holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights


                                                  3

<PAGE>


Agreement;  provided,  however,  that no  amendment  to adjust  the time  period
governing  redemption  shall  be  made  at  such  time  as the  Rights  are  not
redeemable.

     A copy of the  Rights  Agreement  has been filed  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission as an Exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K dated January
31,  1996. A copy of the Rights  Agreement is available  free of charge from the
Company.  This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,  which is
incorporated herein by reference.

0135375.08-01S2a
                                                    4


<PAGE>                                              




                                                       Exhibit 10(i)
                                                       Revised December 20, 1989
                                                       Amended January 31, 1996


                                THE STANLEY WORKS

                         Deferred Compensation Plan For
                       Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan")


                  1.       Eligibility.  Each member of the Board of
Directors of The Stanley Works (the "Corporation") who is not an
employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries is
eligible to participate in the Plan.

                  2. Participation. (a) Time of Election. Prior to the beginning
of any calendar year, commencing with calendar year 1981, each eligible Director
may elect to  participate  in the Plan by directing  that all or any part of the
compensation  (including  fees payable for services as chairman or a member of a
committee of the Board) which  otherwise  would have been payable  currently for
services as a Director  during such calendar year and succeeding  calendar years
shall be credited to a deferred compensation account (the "Director's account").
Any person who shall become a Director during any calendar year, and who was not
a Director of the Corporation  prior to the beginning of such calendar year, may
elect, before the Director's term begins, to defer payment of all or any part of
the  Director's  compensation  for the  remainder of such  calendar year and for
succeeding calendar years.

                           (b) Form and Duration of Election.  An election to
participate in the Plan shall be made by written notice executed by the Director
and filed with the Secretary of the  Corporation.  Such election  shall continue
until the Director  terminates  such  election by written  notice filed with the
Secretary of the Corporation.  Any such termination shall become effective as of
the end of the calendar year in which such notice is given and only with respect
to fees payable for services as a Director  thereafter.  Amounts credited to the
Director's  account  prior to the  effective  date of  termination  shall not be
affected by such  termination  and shall be distributed  only in accordance with
the terms of the Plan.

                 (c) Adjustment of Amount Deferred. Prior to the
beginning of any calendar  year, a Director  participating  in the Plan may file
another written notice with the Secretary of the Corporation  electing to change
the amount of compensation to be credited to the Director's account for services
as a Director  commencing  with such  calendar  year.  Amounts  credited  to the
Director's  account  prior to the  effective  date of such  change  shall not be
affected by such change and shall be  distributed  only in  accordance  with the
terms of the Plan.



<PAGE>




                 (d) Renewal. A Director who has terminated his
election to participate may thereafter file another  election to participate for
the calendar  year  subsequent  to the filing of such  election  and  succeeding
calendar years.

                  3. The Director's  Account.  All compensation which a Director
has elected to defer under the Plan shall be credited to the Director's account,
either  in cash or in shares  of the  Corporation's  Common  Stock  (valued  for
quarterly  retainer  payments at the mean  between the highest and lowest  sales
prices  of the  Common  Stock  reported  as New  York  Stock  Exchange-Composite
Transactions  for the first business day of the calendar  quarter and valued for
other  compensation at such mean for the date such compensation  would otherwise
have been paid),  as elected by the  Director.  The Director  shall not have any
interest in the cash or Common Stock until  distributed  in accordance  with the
Plan.

                  Cash amounts  credited to the Director's  account shall accrue
interest  commencing on the date such fees would  otherwise have been paid, at a
rate for each calendar  quarter fixed by the Treasurer of the Corporation at the
commencement  of each such  calendar  quarter based upon the yield for five-year
U.S.  Treasury  Notes as reported  for the last  business  day of the  preceding
calendar quarter.  Interest so determined shall be compounded at the end of each
calendar quarter and credited to the Director's account. Amounts credited to the
Director's  account  shall  continue to accrue  interest  until  distributed  in
accordance with the Plan.

                  Shares credited to the Director's account shall accrue amounts
equivalent to cash or stock  dividends.  Such amounts  shall accrue  interest or
amounts equivalent to dividends in the same manner as other amounts which may be
credited to a Director's account.

                  4.  Distribution from Accounts.  (a) Form of Election.  At the
time a Director makes a participation election pursuant to paragraphs 2(a), 2(c)
or 2(d),  the Director  shall also file with the Secretary of the  Corporation a
written  election with respect to the  distribution  of the aggregate  amount of
cash  and  shares   credited  to  the  Director's   account   pursuant  to  such
participation  election.  A  Director  may elect to receive  such  amount in one
lump-sum payment or in a number of approximately  equal  installments  (provided
the payout period does not exceed 10 years).  The lump-sum  payment or the first
installment  shall  be paid  on the  first  business  day of the  calendar  year
immediately  following the year in which the Director ceases to be a Director of
the  Corporation or on the first business day of such later calendar year as the
Director may elect.  Subsequent installments shall be paid on the first business
day of each  succeeding  installment  period until the entire amount credited to
the Director's account shall have been paid. If shares have been


<PAGE>




credited to the Director's  account,  a cash payment will be made with the final
installment for any fraction of a share credited to the Director's account.

                           (b) Adjustment of Method of Distribution.  Whether
or not a Director  has filed a notice  pursuant to  paragraph  2(c)  electing to
change the amount of  compensation to be credited to the Director's  account,  a
Director  participating  in the Plan may, prior to the beginning of any calendar
year, file another written notice with the Secretary of the Corporation electing
to change the method of distribution of the aggregate  amount of cash and shares
credited to the Director's  account for services as a Director  commencing  with
such  calendar  year (amounts  credited to the  Director's  account prior to the
effective  date of such change shall not be affected by such change and shall be
distributed  only in  accordance  with the  election  in effect at the time such
amounts were credited to the Director's account). Once made, an election may not
be changed either in amount or method of payment if the effect of such change is
to accelerate  the  distribution  of cash and shares  credited to the Director's
account;  all other changes to a previously filed election may be made by filing
a written notice with the Secretary of the  Corporation  setting forth in detail
the change.

                  5.  Distribution on Death. If a Director should die before all
amounts  credited to the  Director's  account shall have been paid in accordance
with the election  referred to in paragraph 4, the balance in such account shall
be paid on the first business day of the calendar year following the year of the
Director's death to the beneficiary designated in writing by the Director.  Such
balance  shall be paid to the estate of the Director if (a) no such  designation
has been made or (b) the  designated  beneficiary  shall  have  predeceased  the
Director and no further designation has been made.

                  6.       Miscellaneous.  (a) The right of a Director to
receive any amount in the Director's account shall not be
transferable or assignable by the Director, except by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution, and no part of such amount
shall be subject to attachment or other legal process.

                  (b) The Corporation shall not be required to
reserve or  otherwise  set aside funds or shares of Common Stock for the payment
of its obligations  hereunder.  The Corporation shall make available as and when
required a sufficient  number of shares of Common Stock to meet the needs of the
Plan. To the extent that registration of such shares under the Securities Act of
1933 shall be required  prior to their  resale,  the  Corporation  undertakes to
either file a  registration  statement  relating to such shares or include  such
shares in another registration statement to be filed within a reasonable time.



<PAGE>




                (c) The General Counsel of the Corporation shall
interpret the Plan and make all determinations deemed necessary
or desirable for the Plan's implementation.

                (d) The Board of Directors may at any time amend
or terminate the Plan. The Plan may also be amended by the Cor poration with the
approval of its Chief Executive Officer, provided that all such amendments shall
be reported to the Board. No amendment or termination shall impair the rights of
a Director with respect to amounts then in the Director's account.

                (e) Each Director participating in the Plan will
receive an annual  statement  indicating the amount of cash and number of shares
credited to the Director's account as of the end of the preceding calendar year.

                           (f) If adjustments are made to outstanding shares
of Common Stock or to the capital  structure of the  Corporation  as a result of
stock  dividends,  stock  splits or  combinations,  recapitalizations,  mergers,
consolidations,  exchange  offers,  issuer  tender  offers,  extraordinary  cash
dividends,  or similar events or  transactions,  an appropriate  adjustment will
also be made in the number of shares credited to the Director's account.

                  7.       Definition of Change in Control.  For purposes of
this Plan, a "Change in Control of the Corporation" shall be
deemed to have occurred if

                  (a) any "person," as such term is defined in
Section  3(a)(9)  and  modified  and used in  Sections  13(d)  and  14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (other than the
Corporation, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee
benefit plan of the Corporation (or of any subsidiary of the Corporation), is or
becomes the  "beneficial  owner" (as  defined in Rule 13d-3  under the  Exchange
Act), directly or indirectly,  of securities of the corporation representing 25%
or more of the  combined  voting  power of the  Corporation's  then  outstanding
securities;

                 (b) during any period of two consecutive years
(not including any period prior to the adoption of this amendment to this Plan),
individuals  who at the beginning of such period  constitute the Board,  and any
new director (other than a director  designated by a person who has entered into
an agreement with the  Corporation  to effect a transaction  described in clause
(a),  (c),  (d) or (e) of  this  definition)  whose  election  by the  Board  or
nomination for election by the corporation's shareholders was approved by a vote
of at least  two-thirds  (2/3) of the directors  then still in office who either
were  directors at the  beginning of the period or whose  election or nomination
for election was  previously  so approved  cease for any reason to constitute at
least a majority thereof;


<PAGE>




                           (c) the shareholders of the Corporation approve a
merger or  consolidation of the Corporation  with any other  corporation,  other
than (1) a merger or consolidation  which would result in the voting  securities
of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of
the surviving  entity) more than 75% of the combined  voting power of the voting
securities of the Corporation or such surviving entity  outstanding  immediately
after such merger or consolidation or (2) a merger or consolidation  effected to
implement a  recapitalization  of the  Corporation  (or similar  transaction) in
which  no  "person"  (with  the  exceptions  specified  in  clause  (a) of  this
definition)   acquires  25%  or  more  of  the  combined  voting  power  of  the
Corporation's then outstanding securities;

                           (d) the shareholders of the Corporation approve a
plan of complete liquidation of the Corporation or an agreement
for the sale or disposition by the Corporation of all or
substantially all of the Corporation's assets; or

                    (e) the Corporation consummates a merger,
consolidation,  stock dividend,  stock split or combination,  extraordinary cash
dividend,  exchange offer, issuer tender offer or other transaction  effecting a
recapitalization of the Corporation (or similar transaction) (the "Transaction")
and, in connection with the Transaction,  a Designated  Downgrading  occurs with
respect  to  the  unsecured   general   obligations  of  the  Corporation   (the
"Securities"), as described below:

                           (i) If the rating of the  Securities  by both  Rating
                  Agencies  (defined  hereinafter)  on the date 60 days prior to
                  the public  announcement of the Transaction (a "Base Date") is
                  equal to or higher  than BBB Minus (as  hereinafter  defined),
                  then a "Designated  Downgrading"  means that the rating of the
                  Securities by either  Rating  Agency on the effective  date of
                  the Transaction  (or, if later, the earliest date on which the
                  rating  shall  reflect  the  effect  of the  Transaction)  (as
                  applicable,  the "Transaction Date") is equal to or lower than
                  BB  Plus  (as  hereinafter  defined);  if  the  rating  of the
                  Securities  by  either  Rating  Agency on a Base Date is lower
                  than BBB Minus, then a "Designated Downgrading" means that the
                  rating  of the  Securities  by  either  Rating  Agency  on the
                  Transaction  Date has decreased from the rating by such Rating
                  Agency on the Base Date. In determining  whether the rating of
                  the securities  has decreased,  a decrease of one gradation (+
                  and - for S&P and 1, 2 and 3 for  Moody's,  or the  equivalent
                  thereof by any  substitute  rating  agency  referred to below)
                  shall be taken into account;



<PAGE>




                  (ii) "Rating Agency" means either Standard &
             Poor's Corporation or its successor ("S&P") or Moody's
              Investors Service, Inc. or its successor ("Moody's");

                           (iii) "BBB Minus"  means,  with respect to ratings by
                  S&P, a rating of BBB- and, with respect to ratings by Moody's,
                  a rating of Baa3, or the equivalent  thereof by any substitute
                  agency referred to below;

                           (iv) "BB Plus" means, with respect to ratings by S&P,
                  a rating of BB+ and,  with  respect to ratings by  Moody's,  a
                  rating of BBB3, or the  equivalent  thereof by any  substitute
                  agency referred to below; and

                           (v) The Corporation  shall take all reasonable action
                  necessary  to enable each of the Rating  Agencies to provide a
                  rating  for the  Securities,  but,  if  either  or both of the
                  Rating  Agencies  shall  not make such a rating  available,  a
                  nationally-recognized  investment  banking firm shall select a
                  nationally-recognized   securities   rating   agency   or  two
                  nationally-recognized  securities  rating  agencies  to act as
                  substitute rating agency or substitute rating agencies, as the
                  case may be.

                  8.       Accelerated Payment Following a Change in Control.

                  Notwithstanding any of the preceding  provisions of this Plan,
as soon as  possible  following  any  Change in Control  of the  Corporation,  a
lump-sum payment shall be made, in cash, of the entire account  hereunder of any
Director.  For purposes of calculating the amount of such payment, any shares of
the  Corporation's  common  stock  credited  to, or accrued  in, any  Director's
account shall be valued at the higher of (i) the closing price of such shares as
reported  on the New York Stock  Exchange - Composite  Transactions  on the date
preceding  and  nearest  the date the  Change in  Control  occurred  or (ii) the
highest per share price for the common stock of the Corporation actually paid in
connection with such Change in Control; provided, however, that such value shall
not exceed the amount  necessary  to provide a fully  equitable  payment of such
account,  taking into  consideration  any adjustments made pursuant to paragraph
6(f) of the Plan with  respect  to any  events or  transactions  constituting  a
Change in Control of the Corporation, or a part thereof.




   
<PAGE>


















































FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                        January 31, 1996


STANLEY REPORTS 1995 SALES AND EARNINGS

     New Britain,  Connecticut  (NYSE:SWK)..."The  Stanley Works achieved record
sales of $2.6 billion in 1995, which  represented a 4.5% increase over the prior
year", reported Richard H. Ayers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

     Mr. Ayers stated, "We are particularly  pleased that these sales gains were
achieved despite weakening economic conditions in many of our markets."

Net  earnings  for 1995  were  reported  at $59  million,  or $1.33  per  share,
reflecting charges for restructuring and other non-recurring  activities related
to the company's  previously  announced  initiative  to realign and  restructure
operations.  These charges  totaled $1.57 per share for the year including $1.44
per share of  restructuring  and asset  write-offs and $.13 per share of related
charges.  Excluding the effects of these  charges,  net earnings on a normalized
basis were $129  million,  or $2.90 per share,  compared with $2.80 per share in
the prior year.

Mr. Ayers commented,  "While it is not easy or pleasant to report that there is,
indeed, a high cost associated with taking bold steps toward reorganization,  we
were pleased with our core business  results for 1995.  More  important,  we are
excited about the future as each of our businesses implements the plans required
to  achieve  its full  potential.  These  plans  will  result in more  efficient
operations  and a cost  structure  that is more  focused on  generating  strong,
sustainable  growth in sales and  profits for The  Stanley  Works and  increased
value for our shareholders."

Fourth quarter net sales of $670 million increased 1% over a particularly strong
quarter  in the prior  year.  A gain of 2% from  price  increases  was offset by
volume  declines of 1% that were  associated  with growing  weakness in European
markets,  continued  weakness in other  international  markets,  and  flattening
demand in the U.S.

Net earnings for the quarter were $.6 million,  or $.01 per share,  and included
restructuring  charges  of $23  million  and asset  write-offs  of $21  million,
totaling  $44  million,  or $.73 per  share,  along with  related  non-recurring
charges of $7 million,  or $.09 per share.  Excluding these charges,  normalized
earnings  were $37  million,  or $.83 per  share,  up 9% from the $.76 per share
reported in the fourth quarter last year.

                                   -- more --

<PAGE>

(page 2)

Included in the $44 million  charge  were:  severance  costs  associated  with a
workforce  reduction  of  approximately  350  employees;   a  comprehensive  SKU
reduction program; costs associated with exiting several small manufacturing and
administrative facilities;  asset write-offs for goodwill and other intangibles;
and asset write-offs for underutilized  manufacturing  equipment. The $7 million
charge  reflected  consulting  expenses and costs  related to a more  aggressive
program for reducing inventories.

Gross margins reported in the fourth quarter were 31.3% compared with 32.9% last
year  and  reflected  charges  related  to the  previously  mentioned  inventory
reduction program and integration charges at our Mechanics Tools subsidiary.

Operating  expense ratios in the fourth quarter improved to 22.1% from 22.3 % in
the  prior  year,  reflecting  savings  from  recent  workforce  reductions  and
increased costs associated with restructuring-related  consulting.  Interest-net
expense of 1.1% of sales was  comparable  to the prior year  quarter.  Other-net
expense of $1.6 million  reflected  lower charges  associated with the writedown
and  sale  of  equipment,   primarily  for  the  Mechanics  Tools  manufacturing
integration, and lower environmental remediation expense.

Tax expense of $8 million for the quarter  reflected  the  non-deductibility  of
certain costs resulting from the restructuring activity.  Excluding these items,
the effective tax rate for the quarter was approximately  38.0%,  slightly lower
than the 38.6% in the prior year.

Net sales for the Tools  segment in the  fourth  quarter  increased  1% over the
prior year as a 1% volume  decline was offset by a 2% gain due to  pricing.  The
volume decline resulted primarily from weak  international  sales. For the first
time this year,  European  businesses  experienced  lower  volume,  while  other
markets continued to reflect weak economic conditions.  In addition,  volume was
affected  by  flattening  demand  in the  U.S.  Operating  profit  margins  on a
normalized  basis,  after  excluding  the effects of  restructuring  and related
non-recurring  charges of $39  million,  were 12.2%  versus  11.1% for the prior
year.

Net sales for the Hardware  segment in the fourth quarter  increased 2% over the
prior year as a 3% price  increase  and a 1%  increase  due to foreign  currency
translation  were offset by a 2%  reduction  in volume.  Sales in the U.S.  were
virtually  flat,  while  volume  declined in the  European  home decor  markets.
Excluding charges of $8 million for restructuring and non-recurring activities,
operating  profit margins,  on a normalized  basis,  improved to 8.2% from 7.8%,
primarily the result of improved operations in our Acmetrack business in France.

Net sales for the Specialty  Hardware  segment in the fourth  quarter were up 3%
over the prior year with volume,  principally in the U.S.,  contributing 1%, and
recent acquisitions adding 2%. Normalized operating profit margins, excluding $1
million of restructuring  and related charges,  were 6.2% compared with 10.0% in
the prior year,  reflecting a profitability decline that resulted primarily from
increased promotional support in the entry door business.

                                     -more-

<PAGE>


(page 3)


Geographically, net sales for the U.S. in the fourth quarter increased 3%, price
increases  contributed 2% and volume contributed 1%. Normalized operating profit
margins were consistent with the prior year at 12.4%.  European markets suffered
a decline in the fourth  quarter in contrast to the strength  experienced in the
first nine months. Overall, net sales increased 5%, including a 2% increase from
price, a 2% increase from recent  acquisitions,  a 3% decline in volume and a 4%
increase due to currency  translation.  Improvements  in the  operations  of our
French  Acmetrack  business were primarily  responsible  for the  improvement of
operating margins to 8.9% on a normalized basis from 6.9% in the prior year. Net
sales in Other Areas continued to reflect sluggish markets in Canada,  Australia
and Mexico  where a 14%  decline in net sales  resulted  from a 10%  decrease in
volume,  a  6%  negative  foreign  currency  effect  and  a 2%  price  increase.
Normalized  operating profits were unchanged from the 4.8% reported in the prior
year.

Commenting on the fourth  quarter and full year results,  Mr. Ayers stated,  "In
July of 1995,  we  announced a  reorganization  plan that is  creating  sweeping
changes throughout the company.  Because the plan is directed toward re-focusing
virtually all of our  businesses,  its result will be a lasting  cultural change
throughout our  organization.  We are moving toward a culture that is intolerant
of  underperformance  and that  requires  our  organization  to  reach  its full
profitability potential."

     Mr. Ayers continued, "We are closing and exiting underperforming plants and
businesses,  adjusting  our  workforce  to  be  more  competitive,  aggressively
reducing the SKUs in our  businesses and writing off assets that are impaired or
underutilized  as a  result  of our new  initiatives.  The  1995  phase of these
initiatives has resulted in $86 million in restructuring charges and $10 million
in related charges.  These actions are expected to generate about $30 million in
annualized savings and reduce our assets by $65 million.

Mr. Ayers  concluded,  "Our  restructuring  initiatives are part of a multi-year
effort  and,  as we  continue  to  evaluate  the full  potential  of many of our
businesses,  we will likely record additional  restructuring charges in 1996 and
possibly beyond.  These charges may approximate those recognized in 1995 and are
expected to provide us with even greater savings than are  anticipated  from the
actions taken to date.

"Putting  the effects of our  restructuring  initiative  aside,  our  businesses
succeeded in navigating  the  difficulties  experienced  in our markets in 1995.
They  continue  to make the  adjustments  we believe  are  necessary  to help us
improve  our  profitability  even in the  face of the  weaknesses  we have  been
experiencing in our markets early in 1996."



                                  ############

CONTACT:          Patricia McLean
                  Manager, Corporate Communications
                  (203) 827-3833







<PAGE>


                                       -4-

                       THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                            (Millions of Dollars)

                                    FOURTH QUARTER       TWELVE MONTHS
                                    1995     1994        1995      1994

  Net Sales                     $  669.8 $  663.8   $ 2,624.3 $ 2,510.9

  Costs and Expenses
       Cost of sales               460.5    445.3     1,789.7   1,684.0
       Selling, general and
          administrative           147.8    147.7       591.7     560.4
       Interest - net                7.1      6.9        30.3      29.0
       Other - net                   1.6      8.8        14.3      35.7
       Restructuring and
           asset writeoffs          44.0        -        85.5         -
                                  -------  -------    --------  --------
                                   661.0    608.7     2,511.5   2,309.1
                                  -------  -------    --------  --------
  Earnings Before Income Taxes       8.8     55.1       112.8     201.8

  Income Taxes                       8.2     21.3        53.7      76.5
                                  -------  -------    --------  --------

  Net Earnings                  $    0.6 $   33.8   $    59.1 $   125.3
                                  =======  =======    ========  ========
  Net Earnings Per Share of
       Common Stock             $   0.01 $   0.76   $    1.33 $    2.80
                                  =======  =======    ========  ========

  Dividends per share           $   0.36 $   0.35   $    1.42 $    1.38


  Average shares outstanding      44,347   44,691      44,360    44,775
       (in thousands)

  See notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>
                                       -5-

                       THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                              (Millions of Dollars)


                                                 December 30  December 31
                                                        1995         1994
    ASSETS
    Cash and cash equivalents                       $    75.4  $    69.3
    Accounts receivable                                 438.7      410.3
    Inventories                                         349.1      369.2
    Other current assets                                 51.9       39.7
                                                      -------    -------
       Total current assets                             915.1      888.5

    Property, plant and equipment                       532.1      559.8
    Goodwill and other intangibles                      131.8      164.6
    Other assets                                         91.0       88.2
                                                      -------    -------
                                                    $ 1,670.0  $ 1,701.1
                                                      =======    =======
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Short-term borrowings                           $    91.3  $    93.7
    Accounts payable                                    112.7      125.3
    Accrued expenses                                    183.7      202.5
                                                      -------    -------
       Total current liabilities                        387.7      421.5

    Long-term debt                                      391.1      387.1
    Other long-term liabilities                         156.6      148.3
    Shareholders' equity                                734.6      744.2
                                                      -------    -------
                                                    $ 1,670.0  $ 1,701.1
                                                      =======    =======




    See notes to consolidated financial statements.


<PAGE>

                                       -6-

                  THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                          (Millions of Dollars)

                                              FOURTH QUARTER TWELVE MONTHS
                                               1995   1994    1995   1994
   Operating Activities
     Net earnings                            $  0.6 $ 33.8 $  59.1 $ 125.3
     Depreciation and amortization             17.5   19.3    81.2    81.8
     Restructuring and asset writeoffs         44.0      -    85.5       -
     Other non-cash items                      18.7   (5.2)   32.3    18.3
     Changes in operating assets
        and liabilities                        21.5   27.2   (80.0)  (96.9)
                                              ------ ------ ------  ------
     Net cash provided by
        operating activities                  102.3   75.1   178.1   128.5

   Investing Activities
     Capital expenditures                     (21.8) (17.8)  (66.5)  (66.4)
     Proceeds from sales of assets              3.7    3.6     4.3    11.0
     Business acquisitions                        -      -    (3.3)   (5.1)
     Other                                     (7.0)  (4.8)  (19.8)   (9.7)
                                              ------ ------ ------  ------
     Net cash used by
        investing activities                  (25.1) (19.0)  (85.3)  (70.2)

   Financing Activities
     Payments on long-term debt                   -   (1.0)  (83.5)   (2.9)
     Proceeds from long-term borrowings         1.8      -    86.0       -
     Net short-term borrowings                (23.4) (10.7)   (5.1)   40.9
     Proceeds from issuance of common stock     3.0    0.7     5.7     4.2
     Purchase of common stock for treasury     (0.7) (14.3)  (13.2)  (16.3)
     Cash dividends on common stock           (28.9)  (0.7)  (75.2)  (61.5)
                                              ------ ------ ------  ------
     Net cash used by                         (48.2) (26.0)  (85.3)  (35.6)
        financing activities

   Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash     (2.1)   0.4    (1.4)    2.9
                                              ------ ------ ------  ------
   Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents       26.9   30.5     6.1    25.6

   Cash and Cash Equivalents,
      Beginning of Period                      48.5   38.8    69.3    43.7
                                              ------ ------ ------  ------
   Cash and Cash Equivalents,
      End of Fourth Quarter                  $ 75.4 $ 69.3 $  75.4 $  69.3
                                              =====  =====  =====   =====

    See notes to consolidated financial statements.


<PAGE>

                                       -7-


                      THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES
                           IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                             (Millions of Dollars)


                                                   TWELVE MONTHS
                                                  1995       1994


    Balance at beginning of year              $   744.2  $   680.9

    Net earnings                                   59.1      125.3

    Currency translation adjustment               (14.3)       0.4

    Cash dividends declared                       (62.6)     (61.9)

    Net common stock activity                      (1.2)      (8.3)

    ESOP debt                                       9.4        7.8
                                                --------    -------
    Balance at end of fourth quarter          $   734.6  $   744.2
                                                ========    =======







    See notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>


                                       -8-
                   THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
                           (Millions of Dollars)

                                FOURTH QUARTER          TWELVE MONTHS
                                1995       1994        1995       1994
 INDUSTRY SEGMENTS
 Net Sales
   Tools
      Consumer              $   200.2  $   196.7   $   738.9  $   716.0
      Industrial                136.8      135.0       552.3      524.4
      Engineered                168.0      170.8       678.3      643.5
                              --------   --------    --------   --------
           Total Tools          505.0      502.5     1,969.5    1,883.9
   Hardware                      76.7       75.5       324.2      311.1
   Specialty Hardware            88.1       85.8       330.6      315.9
                              --------   --------    --------   --------
      Consolidated          $   669.8  $   663.8   $ 2,624.3  $ 2,510.9
                              ========   ========    ========   ========

 Operating Profit
   Tools                    $    23.3  $    55.7   $   154.9  $   217.0
   Hardware                      (1.9)       5.9        13.4       33.3
   Specialty Hardware             4.0        8.6        17.8       24.0
                              --------   --------    --------   --------
           Total                 25.4       70.2       186.1      274.3
   Net corporate expenses        (7.9)      (6.5)      (37.6)     (38.8)
   Interest expense              (8.7)      (8.6)      (35.7)     (33.7)
                              --------   --------    --------   --------
      Earnings before
        income taxes        $     8.8  $    55.1   $   112.8  $   201.8
                              ========   ========    ========   ========

 GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
 Net Sales
   United States            $   491.7  $   478.2   $ 1,884.9  $ 1,808.6
   Europe                       100.8       95.8       413.4      357.6
   Other Areas                   77.3       89.8       326.0      344.7
                              --------   --------    --------   --------
      Consolidated          $   669.8  $   663.8   $ 2,624.3  $ 2,510.9
                              ========   ========    ========   ========

 Operating Profit
   United States            $    30.6  $    59.3   $   146.9  $   215.4
   Europe                        (0.6)       6.6        26.8       31.9
   Other Areas                   (4.6)       4.3        12.4       27.0
                              --------   --------    --------   --------
      Total                 $    25.4  $    70.2   $   186.1  $   274.3
                              ========   ========    ========   ========
 See notes to consolidated financial statements.
<PAGE>

                                      -9-



                       THE STANLEY WORKS AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The accompanying  unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles.  However,  they do
not include all of the information and footnotes  required by generally accepted
accounting   principles   for  complete   financial   statements.   For  further
information,  refer  to the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  footnotes
thereto to be  included in The Stanley  Works  annual  report for the year ended
December 30, 1995.





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