PMI GROUP INC
8-A12B, 1998-02-02
SURETY INSURANCE
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   -----------


                                   FORM 8-A

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


                               The PMI Group, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Each name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                  Delaware                             94-3199675
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State of incorporation or organization)            (I.R.S. Employer
                                                   Identification No.)


      601 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California           94111
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)

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


     Title of each class                     Name of each exchange on which
     to be so registered                     each class is to be registered
- -------------------------------            ----------------------------------
Preferred Share Purchase Rights                New York Stock Exchange

                                                   Pacific Exchange




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


                                      None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Title of Class)








<PAGE>


                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Introductory Statement

          The Registrant has entered into a Rights  Agreement with  ChaseMellon
Shareholder  Services  L.L.C.,  as Rights Agent,  dated as of January 26, 1998 
(the  "Rights  Agreement").  The Rights  Agreement  is filed as Exhibit  1  
hereto.  Items 1 and 2 of this  Form 8-A read in their  entirety  as
follows:

Item 1.  Description of Securities To Be Registered.

          On January 13, 1998,  the Board of  Directors  of The PMI Group,  Inc.
(the  "Company")  declared a dividend of one preferred  share  purchase right (a
"Right") for each  outstanding  share of common stock,  par value $.01 per share
(the "Common  Shares"),  of the Company.  The dividend is payable on January 26,
1998 (the "Record Date") to the  stockholders of record on that date. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of
a share of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock,  par value $.01 per
share  (the  "Preferred  Shares"),  of the  Company  at a price  of $275 per one
one-hundredth  of  a  Preferred  Share  (the  "Purchase   Price"),   subject  to
adjustment.  The  description  and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement  (the  "Rights   Agreement")   between  the  Company  and  ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

          Until  the  earlier  to  occur  of  (i) 10  days  following  a  public
announcement  that a person or group of affiliated or associated  persons (other
than (A) the Company,  (B) a majority owned  subsidiary of the Company,  (C) any
employee  benefit plan of the Company or any majority  owned  subsidiary  of the
Company,  (D) any entity  holding  Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan, or (E) The Allstate  Corporation  and its  affiliates,  and their
respective successors ("Allstate"),  pending such time that Allstate distributes
or transfers its current ownership interest in the Common Shares as contemplated
by the Prospectus  dated April 10, 1995 relating to the initial public  offering
of the Common Shares) (an "Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership
of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares or (15% in the case of a passive
investor  meeting the  definition of a Qualified  Institutional  Investor as set
forth in the Rights  Agreement)  or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as
may be determined by action of the Board of Directors  prior to such time as any
person or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the
commencement  of, or  announcement  of an  intention  to make, a tender offer or
exchange  offer  the  consummation  of  which  would  result  in the  beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 10% or more of the  outstanding  Common Shares
(the 


                                  Page 2 of 7
<PAGE>


earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution  Date"), the Rights will be
evidenced,  with respect to any of the Common Share certificates  outstanding as
of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate with a copy of this Summary
of Rights attached thereto.

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

          The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on January 25, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"),  unless the Final
Expiration  Date is  extended  or unless  the  Rights are  earlier  redeemed  or
exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.

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

          The number of outstanding  Rights and the number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred  Share  issuable  upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment  in the  event  of a stock  


                                  Page 3 of 7
<PAGE>

split of the Common Shares or a stock  dividend on the Common Shares  payable in
Common Shares or  subdivisions,  consolidations  or  combinations  of the Common
Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.

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

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

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

          At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring  Person and
prior  to the  acquisition  by  such  person  or  group  of 50% or  more  of the
outstanding  Common  Shares,  the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights  (other  than  Rights  owned by such  person or group which will have
become void),  in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or
one  one-hundredth  of a Preferred  Share (or of a share 


                                  Page 4 of 7
<PAGE>

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

          With certain  exceptions,  no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until  cumulative  adjustments  require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional  Preferred  Shares will be issued (other than
fractions  which are  integral  multiples  of one  one-hundredth  of a Preferred
Share,  which may, at the  election of the Company,  be evidenced by  depositary
receipts) and in lieu  thereof,  an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the  Preferred  Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.

          At  any  time  prior  to the  acquisition  by a  person  or  group  of
affiliated or associated  persons of beneficial  ownership of 10% or more of the
outstanding  Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole,  but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption
Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time on such
basis with such  conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish.  Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise
the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.

          The terms of the Rights may be  amended by the Board of  Directors  of
the Company  without the consent of the holders of the Rights,  except that from
and after such time as any person or group of affiliated  or associated  persons
becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests
of the holders of the Rights.

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

          The Rights have certain  anti-takeover  effects. The Rights will cause
substantial  dilution to a person or group that  attempts to acquire the Company
on terms not approved by the Company's Board of Directors, except pursuant to an
offer conditioned on a substantial  number of Rights being acquired.  The Rights
should not interfere with any merger or other business  combination  approved by
the Board of  Directors  since the Rights may be redeemed by the Company at $.0l
per  Right  prior to the time that a person  or group  has  acquired  beneficial
ownership of 10% or more of the Common Shares.


                                  Page 5 of 7
<PAGE>

          The  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of January  26,  1998,  between  the
Company  and  ChaseMellon   Shareholder  Services,   L.L.C.,  as  Rights  Agent,
specifying the terms of the Rights, and the exhibits thereto are attached hereto
as Exhibit 1 and are incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description
of the Rights is qualified by reference to such exhibit.

Item 2.  Exhibits.

         1.      Rights Agreement dated as of January 26, 1998, between  The PMI
                 Group, Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., which
                 includes the form of Certificate of  Designations  creating the
                 Series C Junior Participating  Preferred Stock, par value $.01,
                 of The PMI  Group,  Inc.  as  Exhibit  A,  the  form  of  Right
                 Certificate  as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to Purchase
                 Preferred   Shares  as  Exhibit  C.   Pursuant  to  the  Rights
                 Agreement,  printed Right Certificates will not be mailed until
                 as soon as practicable after the earlier of the tenth day after
                 public  announcement  that an Acquiring Person (as set forth in
                 the Rights Agreement) has acquired beneficial  ownership of 10%
                 or more of the  Common  Shares (or 15% in the case of a passive
                 investor  meeting the  definition of a Qualified  Institutional
                 Investor as set forth in the Rights Agreement) or the tenth day
                 after a person commences or announces its intention to commence
                 a tender or  exchange  offer the  consummation  of which  would
                 result in the beneficial  ownership by a person or group of 10%
                 or more of the Common Shares.


                                  Page 6 of 7
<PAGE>


                                    SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant  has duly caused this  registration  statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated:   February 2, 1998

                                                THE PMI GROUP, INC.


                                                By /s/ Victor J. Bacigalupi
                                                   Victor J. Bacigalupi
                                                   Senior Vice President,
                                                    General Counsel
                                                    & Secretary


















                                  Page 7 of 7
<PAGE>



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit                                                            
Number              Exhibit                                        
                                                                   
1.         Rights Agreement dated as of January 26, 1998, 
           between The PMI Group, Inc. and ChaseMellon 
           Shareholder Services, L.L.C., which includes the 
           form of Certificate of Designations creating the 
           Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par 
           value .01, of The PMI Group, Inc. as Exhibit A, the 
           form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B and the 
           Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares as
           Exhibit C.  Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, 
           printed Right Certificates will not be mailed
           until as soon as practicable after the earlier of 
           the tenth day after public announcement that an 
           Acquiring Person (as set forth in the Rights 
           Agreement) has acquired beneficial ownership of 
           10% or more of the Common Shares (or 15% in the
           case of a passive investor meeting the definition 
           of a Qualified Institutional Investor as set forth 
           in the Rights Agreement) or the tenth day after a 
           person commences or announces its intention to 
           commence a tender or exchange offer the consummation 
           of which would result in the beneficial ownership 
           by a person or group of 10% or more of the Common
           Shares













                                                                       EXHIBIT 1









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


                               THE PMI GROUP, INC.


                                       and


                    CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.


                                  Rights Agent

                                Rights Agreement

                          Dated as of January 26, 1998




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







<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                            Page

Section 1.    Certain Definitions..........................................    1

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

Section 3.    Issue of Right Certificates..................................    8

Section 4.    Form of Right Certificates...................................   11

Section 5.    Countersignature and Registration............................   12

Section 6.    Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
              Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right
              Certificates.................................................   13

Section 7.    Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; 
              Expiration Date of Rights....................................   15

Section 8.    Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates...........   17

Section 9.    Availability of Preferred Shares.............................   18

Section 10.   Preferred Shares Record Date.................................   19

Section 11.   Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of
              Rights.......................................................   20

Section 12.   Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares...   35

Section 13.   Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
              Power........................................................   36

Section 14.   Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares......................   38

Section 15.   Rights of Action.............................................   41

Section 16.   Agreement of Right Holders...................................   41

Section 17.   Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder............   42

Section 18.   Concerning the Rights Agent..................................   43

                                      -i-
<PAGE>

Section 19.   Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent....   44

Section 20.   Duties of Rights Agent.......................................   46

Section 21.   Change of Rights Agent.......................................   50

Section 22.   Issuance of New Right Certificates...........................   52

Section 23.   Redemption...................................................   52

Section 24.   Exchange.....................................................   54

Section 25.   Notice of Certain Events.....................................   57

Section 26.   Notices......................................................   59

Section 27.   Supplements and Amendments...................................   60

Section 28.   Successors...................................................   60

Section 29.   Benefits of this Agreement...................................   60

Section 30.   Severability.................................................   61

Section 31.   Governing Law................................................   61

Section 32.   Counterparts.................................................   61

Section 33.   Descriptive Headings.........................................   62

Signatures    .............................................................   62


Exhibit A - Form of Certificate of Designations

Exhibit B - Form of Right Certificate

Exhibit C - Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares


                                     - ii-
<PAGE>



          Agreement,  dated as of January 26, 1998, between The PMI Group, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),  and ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,
L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent").

          The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and
declared a dividend of one preferred  share  purchase right (a "Right") for each
Common Share (as hereinafter  defined) of the Company outstanding on January 26,
1998 (the  "Record  Date"),  each Right  representing  the right to purchase one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter defined),  upon the terms and
subject to the  conditions  herein set forth,  and has  further  authorized  and
directed  the issuance of one Right with respect to each Common Share that shall
become outstanding  between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution
Date,  the  Redemption  Date and the Final  Expiration  Date (as such  terms are
hereinafter defined).

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

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

          (a)  "Acquiring  Person"  shall  mean any  Person  (as  such  term is
hereinafter  defined) who or which,  together with all 



<PAGE>

Affiliates  and  Associates  (as such  terms are  hereinafter  defined)  of such
Person,  shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter  defined) of
10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding,  but shall not
include  (i) the  Company;  (ii) any  Subsidiary  (as such  term is  hereinafter
defined) of the Company;  (iii) any employee  benefit plan of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company,  or any entity  holding Common Shares for or pursuant
to the terms of any such plan; (iv) The Allstate Corporation and its Affiliates,
and their respective  successors  ("Allstate"),  pending such time that Allstate
distributes or transfers its current ownership  interest in the Common Shares as
contemplated  by the  Prospectus  dated April 10,  1995  relating to the initial
public  offering  of the  Common  Shares;  or (v)  any  Qualified  Institutional
Investor.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  no Person shall become an "Acquiring
Person" as the result of an  acquisition  of Common Shares by the Company which,
by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number
of shares  beneficially owned by such Person to 10% or more of the Common Shares
of the Company  then  outstanding;  provided,  however,  that if a Person  shall
become the  Beneficial  Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company
then  outstanding by reason of share  purchases by the Company and shall,  after
such  share  purchases  by the  Company,  become  the  Beneficial  Owner  of any
additional Common Shares of the Company,  then such Person 


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person".  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  if
the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who
would otherwise be an "Acquiring  Person",  as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph (a), has become such inadvertently, and such Person
divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient  number of Common Shares so that
such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed
to be an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.

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

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

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

          (ii) which  such  Person  or  any  of  such  Person's  Affiliates  or
     Associates has (A) the right to acquire  (whether 


                                      -3-
<PAGE>

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

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

          (iii) which are  beneficially  owned,  directly or indirectly,  by any
     other Person with which such Person or any of such  Person's  Affiliates or
     Associates has any  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding  (other than
     customary  agreements  with and  between  underwriters  and  selling  group
     members with respect to a bona fide public  offering of securities) for the
     purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by
     the proviso to Section  1(c)(ii)(B))  or disposing of any securities of the
     Company.

          Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to
the  contrary,  the phrase  "then  outstanding,"  when used with  reference to a
Person's  Beneficial  Ownership of  securities  of the  Company,  shall mean the
number of such securities  then issued and outstanding  together with the number
of such securities not then actually  issued and  outstanding  which such Person
would be deemed to own beneficially hereunder.

          (d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday,
or a day on which banking institutions in New Jersey 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.,  San
Francisco  time,  on such date;  provided,  however,  


                                      -5-
<PAGE>

that if such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M.,  San  Francisco
time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

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

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

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

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

          (j)  "Preferred   Shares"  shall  mean  shares  of  Series  A  Junior
Participating  Preferred  Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company having
the rights and  preferences set forth in the Form of Certificate of Designations
attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.


                                      -6-
<PAGE>

          (k) "Qualified  Institutional  Investor"  shall mean as of any time of
determination  any  Person  (i) that is  eligible  to file a  Schedule  13G with
respect to all  securities  of the  Company  beneficially  owned by such  Person
pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(1) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as such Rule is
in effect on the date hereof),  (ii) that is not required to file a Schedule 13D
under the Exchange Act (or any successor or  comparable  report) with respect to
any securities of the Company, and (iii) that beneficially owns less than 15% of
the Common Shares of the Company outstanding at the time of determination.

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

          (m)  "Shares  Acquisition  Date"  shall  mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company or an Acquiring  Person that an Acquiring Person has
become such.

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

          Section 2.  Appointment of Rights Agent.  The Company hereby  appoints
the Rights  Agent to act as agent for the Company in  accordance  with the terms
and conditions hereof, and the 


                                      -7-
<PAGE>

Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment.  The Company may from time to time
appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.

          Section 3. Issue of Right  Certificates.  (a) Until the earlier of (i)
the tenth day after the Shares  Acquisition  Date or (ii) the tenth business day
(or such later  date as may be  determined  by action of the Board of  Directors
prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring  Person) after the date of
the  commencement  by any Person (other than the Company,  any Subsidiary of the
Company,  any employee  benefit plan of the Company or of any  Subsidiary of the
Company or any entity  holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any
such  plan) of, or of the first  public  announcement  of the  intention  of any
Person  (other than the Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the Company,  any employee
benefit  plan of the Company or of any  Subsidiary  of the Company or any entity
holding  Common  Shares  for or  pursuant  to the  terms  of any  such  plan) to
commence,  a tender or exchange offer the  consummation of which would result in
any Person  becoming the Beneficial  Owner of Common Shares  aggregating  10% or
more of the then  outstanding  Common Shares  (including  any such date which is
after the date of this  Agreement  and prior to the issuance of the Rights;  the
earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution  Date"), (x)
the Rights will be evidenced  (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof)
by the  cer-


                                      -8-
<PAGE>

tificates  for Common  Shares  registered  in the names of the  holders  thereof
(which  certificates  shall also be deemed to be Right  Certificates) and not by
separate  Right  Certificates,  and (y) the right to receive Right  Certificates
will be transferable  only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares.  As
soon as practicable  after the  Distribution  Date, the Company will prepare and
execute,  the Rights Agent will countersign,  and the Company will send or cause
to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested and provided with reasonable
notice  and  a  current   shareholder  list,  send)  by  first-class,   insured,
postage-prepaid  mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of
business on the  Distribution  Date,  at the address of such holder shown on the
records  of the  Company,  a Right  Certificate,  in  substantially  the form of
Exhibit B hereto (a "Right  Certificate"),  evidencing one Right for each Common
Share so held. As of the Distribution  Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely
by such Right Certificates.

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


                                      -9-
<PAGE>

tificates  for  Common  Shares  outstanding  as of the  Record  Date,  until the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates  registered
in the names of the  holders  thereof  together  with a copy of the  Summary  of
Rights  attached  thereto.  Until the  Distribution  Date (or the earlier of the
Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any
certificate for Common Shares  outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a
copy of the  Summary  of Rights  attached  thereto,  shall also  constitute  the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.

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

     This  certificate  also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
     rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement  between The PMI Group,  Inc. and
     ChaseMellon  Shareholder Services,  L.L.C., dated as of January , 1998 (the
     "Rights  Agreement"),  the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by
     reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices
     of The PMI Group,  Inc.  Under certain  circumstances,  as set forth in the
     Rights  Agreement,  such Rights will be evidenced by separate  certificates
     and will no longer be evidenced by this  certificate.  The PMI Group,  Inc.
     will mail to the holder of this  certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement
     without charge after receipt of a written request  therefor.  Under certain
     circumstances,  as 

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

     set forth in the Rights Agreement,  Rights issued to any Person who becomes
     an Acquiring  Person (as defined in the Rights  Agreement)  may become null
     and void.


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

          Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
forms of election to purchase  Preferred  Shares and of assignment to be printed
on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially  the same as Exhibit B hereto and
may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries
or endorsements  printed thereon as the Company may deem  appropriate and as are
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any  applicable  law or with any rule or  regulation  made  pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights
may  from  time to time be  listed,  or to  conform  to  usage.  Subject  


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

to the provisions of Section 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the
holders  thereof to purchase  such number of one  one-hundredths  of a Preferred
Share as shall be set forth  therein  at the price  per one  one-hundredth  of a
Preferred Share set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the number of such
one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and the Purchase Price shall be subject
to adjustment as provided herein.

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

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

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

          Following the  Distribution  Date and receipt by the Rights Agent of a
list of record  holders,  the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its
office  designated in Section 26 hereof,  books for registration and transfer of
the Right  Certificates  issued  hereunder.  Such books shall show the names and
addresses of the  respective  holders of the Right  Certificates,  the number of
Rights  evidenced on its face by each of the Right  Certificates and the date of
each of the Right Certificates.

          Section 6.  Transfer,  Split Up,  Combination  and  Exchange  of Right
Certificates;  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.  Subject
to the provisions of Section 14 hereof,  at any time after the Close of business
on the  Distribution  Date,  and at or prior to the  Close  of  business  on the
earlier  of the  Redemption  Date  or  the  Final  Expiration  Date,  any  Right
Certificate or Right Certificates  (other than Right  Certificates  representing
Rights that have become null and void  pursuant to Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof or
that have been  exchanged  


                                      -13-
<PAGE>

pursuant  to  Section 24  hereof)  may be  transferred,  split up,  combined  or
exchanged for another Right  Certificate  or Right  Certificates,  entitling the
registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share as the Right Certificate or Right  Certificates  surrendered then entitled
such holder to purchase.  Any registered holder desiring to transfer,  split up,
combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right  Certificates shall make such
request in writing  delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right
Certificate  or Right  Certificates  to be  transferred,  split up,  combined or
exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent  designated in Section 26. Thereupon
the Rights Agent shall  countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a
Right  Certificate or Right  Certificates,  as the case may be, as so requested.
The  Company  may  require  payment  of a sum  sufficient  to  cover  any tax or
governmental  charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer,  split
up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.  The Rights Agent has no duty
or  obligation  to  process  any  transfer  or  transaction  unless and until it
receives sufficient evidence that all taxes above have been paid.

          Upon  receipt  by  the  Company  and  the  Rights  Agent  of  evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security  satisfactory

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

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

          Section 7.  Exercise of Rights;  Purchase  Price;  Expiration  Date of
Rights.  (a) The  registered  holder of any Right  Certificate  may exercise the
Rights  evidenced  thereby (except as otherwise  provided herein) in whole or in
part at any time  after  the  Distribution  Date  upon  surrender  of the  Right
Certificate,  with the form of election to purchase on the reverse  side thereof
duly executed,  to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated
in  Section  16,  together  with  payment  of the  Purchase  Price  for each one
one-hundredth  of a Preferred Share as to which the Rights are exercised,  at or
prior to the  earliest  of (i) the Close of  business  on January  25, 2008 (the
"Final  Expiration  Date"),  (ii) the time at which the Rights are  redeemed  as
provided  in Section 23 hereof  (the  "Redemption  Date"),  or (iii) the time at
which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.



                                      -15-
<PAGE>

          (b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
purchasable  pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall  initially  be $275,  and
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 or 13
hereof and shall be payable in lawful  money of the United  States of America in
accordance with paragraph (c) below.

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


                                      -16-
<PAGE>

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

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

          Section 8.  Cancellation  and Destruction of Right  Certificates.  All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise,  transfer, split up,
combination  or exchange  shall,  if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents,  be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered  to the Rights Agent,  shall be cancelled by it, and no Right
Certificates  shall be issued in lieu thereof  except as expressly  permitted by
any of the provisions of this Rights Agree-


                                      -17-
<PAGE>

ment.  The  Company  shall  deliver to the  Rights  Agent for  cancellation  and
retirement,  and the Rights  Agent shall so cancel and  retire,  any other Right
Certificate  purchased  or  acquired  by the  Company  otherwise  than  upon the
exercise   thereof.   The  Rights  Agent  shall  deliver  all  cancelled   Right
Certificates  to the Company,  or shall,  at the written request of the Company,
destroy such  cancelled  Right  Certificates,  and in such case shall  deliver a
certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.

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

          The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and
payable  any and all taxes and  charges  which may be  payable in respect of the
issuance or delivery of the Right  


                                      -18-
<PAGE>

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

          Section 10.  Preferred  Shares Record Date.  Each person in whose name
any certificate for Preferred Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall
for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the  Preferred
Shares  represented  thereby on, and such  certificate  shall be dated, the date
upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and
payment of the  Purchase  Price (and any  applicable  transfer  taxes) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are closed, such person
shall be deemed to have  become  the record  holder of such  shares 


                                      -19-
<PAGE>

on, and such  certificate  shall be dated,  the next succeeding  Business Day on
which the Preferred  Shares transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the
exercise  of the Rights  evidenced  thereby,  the holder of a Right  Certificate
shall not be  entitled to any rights of a holder of  Preferred  Shares for which
the Rights shall be exercisable,  including,  without  limitation,  the right to
vote, to receive dividends or other  distributions or to exercise any preemptive
rights,  and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any  proceedings  of
the Company, except as provided herein.

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

          (a) (i) In the event the Company  shall at any time after the date of
this  Agreement  (A)  declare a  dividend  on the  Preferred  Shares  payable in
Preferred Shares,  (B) subdivide the outstanding  Preferred Shares,  (C) combine
the outstanding  Preferred  Shares into a smaller number of Preferred  Shares or
(D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred
Shares (including any such  reclassification  in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the  Company is 


                                      -20-
<PAGE>

the continuing or surviving  corporation),  except as otherwise provided in this
Section  11(a),  the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for
such  dividend or of the  effective  date of such  subdivision,  combination  or
reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on
such date,  shall be  proportionately  adjusted  so that the holder of any Right
exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate  number and
kind of  shares  of  capital  stock  which,  if such  Right  had been  exercised
immediately  prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Shares transfer
books of the Company were open,  he would have owned upon such exercise and been
entitled  to receive by virtue of such  dividend,  subdivision,  combination  or
reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to
be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the  aggregate  par value of
the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.

          (ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement,  in the event any Person
becomes an  Acquiring  Person,  each holder of a Right shall  thereafter  have a
right to receive,  upon  exercise  thereof at a price equal to the then  current
Purchase  Price  multiplied by the number of one  one-hundredths  of a Preferred
Share for which a Right is then  exercisable,  in  accordance  with the terms of
this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares,  such number of Common Shares of
the  Company as shall  equal the result  


                                      -21-
<PAGE>

obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one
one-hundredths  of a Preferred  Share for which a Right is then  exercisable and
dividing  that  product by (y) 50% of the then current per share market price of
the Company's Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the
date of the occurrence of such event.  In the event that any Person shall become
an Acquiring Person and the Rights shall then be outstanding,  the Company shall
not take any action which would  eliminate or diminish the benefits  intended to
be afforded by the Rights.

          From and after the  occurrence  of such event,  any Rights that are or
were acquired or beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person (or any Associate or
Affiliate  of such  Acquiring  Person)  shall be null and void and any holder of
such Rights  shall  thereafter  have no right to exercise  such Rights under any
provision of this Agreement.  No Right  Certificate  shall be issued pursuant to
Section 3 that represents Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person whose
Rights  would  be null  and  void  pursuant  to the  preceding  sentence  or any
Associate or Affiliate thereof; no Right Certificate shall be issued at any time
upon the  transfer of any Rights to an  Acquiring  Person  whose Rights would be
null and void pursuant to the  preceding  sentence or any Associate or Affiliate
thereof or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person,  Associate or Affiliate; and
any Right Certificate delivered to the 


                                      -22-
<PAGE>

Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring  Person whose Rights would be null and
void pursuant to the  preceding  sentence  shall be cancelled.  The Rights Agent
will have no liability  with respect to any transfer of a Rights  Certificate to
an Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person).

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

          (b) In case the Company  shall fix a record date for the  issuance of
rights,  options or warrants to all holders of Preferred  Shares  entitling them
(for a period  expiring  within 45  

                                      -23-
<PAGE>

calendar  days after such record  date) to subscribe  for or purchase  Preferred
Shares (or shares  having the same rights,  privileges  and  preferences  as the
Preferred Shares ("equivalent preferred shares")) or securities convertible into
Preferred  Shares or equivalent  preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share
or  equivalent  preferred  share (or having a conversion  price per share,  if a
security  convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less
than the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined
in Section  11(d)) 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 Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the
number of  Preferred  Shares  which the  aggregate  offering  price of the total
number of Preferred Shares and/or  equivalent  preferred shares so to be offered
(and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible  securities so
to be offered) would  purchase at such current market price and the  denominator
of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of  additional  Preferred  Shares  and/or  equivalent  preferred
shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible
securities so to be offered are initially convertible);  provided, however, that
in no event shall 


                                      -24-
<PAGE>

the  consideration  to be paid upon the  exercise  of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company  issuable upon
exercise  of one  Right.  In  case  such  subscription  price  may be  paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value
of such  consideration  shall be as  determined  in good  faith by the  Board of
Directors of the Company,  whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent.  Preferred  Shares owned by or held for the account
of the  Company  shall not be deemed  outstanding  for the  purpose  of any such
computation.  Such adjustment shall be made successively  whenever such a record
date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so
issued,  the  Purchase  Price shall be adjusted to be the  Purchase  Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

          (c) In case the  Company  shall fix a record  date for the making of a
distribution  to all  holders  of  the  Preferred  Shares  (including  any  such
distribution  made in  connection  with a  consolidation  or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Preferred Shares) or subscription  rights or warrants  (excluding those referred
to in Section  11(b)  hereof),  the  Purchase  Price to be in effect  after such
record date shall be de-


                                      -25-
<PAGE>

termined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect  immediately  prior to such
record date by a fraction,  the numerator of which shall be the then current per
share market price of the  Preferred  Shares on such record date,  less the fair
market  value (as  determined  in good  faith by the Board of  Directors  of the
Company,  whose  determination  shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent) of the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be
distributed  or of  such  subscription  rights  or  warrants  applicable  to one
Preferred  Share and the  denominator  of which shall be such  current per share
market price of the Preferred Shares; provided,  however, that in no event shall
the  consideration  to be paid upon the  exercise  of one Right be less than the
aggregate  par value of the shares of capital  stock of the Company to be issued
upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever
such a record date is fixed;  and in the event that such  distribution is not so
made,  the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

          (d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per
share  market  price" of any  security  (a  "Security"  for the  purpose of this
Section  11(d)(i))  on any date  shall be deemed to be the  average of the daily
closing  prices per share of such Security for the 30  consecutive  Trading Days
(as


                                      -26-
<PAGE>

such term is hereinafter  defined)  immediately  prior to but not including such
date;  provided,  however,  that in the event that the current per share  market
price of the Security is determined  during a period  following the announcement
by the  issuer  of such  Security  of (A) a  dividend  or  distribution  on such
Security payable in shares of such Security or securities  convertible into such
shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security
and prior to the  expiration of 30 Trading Days after the  ex-dividend  date for
such  dividend  or  distribution,  or the  record  date  for  such  subdivision,
combination  or  reclassification,  then, and in each such case, the current per
share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market
price per share  equivalent  of such  Security.  The closing  price for each day
shall be the last sale price,  regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place
on such day,  the average of the closing bid and asked  prices,  regular way, in
either case as  reported in the  principal  consolidated  transaction  reporting
system with respect to securities  listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock  Exchange  or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the
New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal  consolidated  transaction
reporting  system with respect to securities  listed on the  principal  national
securities  exchange on which the  Security is listed or admitted to trading or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trad-


                                      -27-
<PAGE>

ing 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  Quotations System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use, or, if
on any such  date the  Security  is not  quoted  by any such  organization,  the
average of the  closing  bid and asked  prices as  furnished  by a  professional
market maker making a market in the Security  selected by the Board of Directors
of the Company.  The term  "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal
national  securities  exchange  on which the  Security  is listed or admitted to
trading is open for the  transaction  of  business  or, if the  Security  is not
listed or admitted to trading on any national  securities  exchange,  a Business
Day.

          (ii) For the purpose of any  computation  hereunder,  the "current per
share market  price" of the  Preferred  Shares shall be determined in accordance
with the method set forth in Section  11(d)(i).  If the Preferred Shares are not
publicly  traded,  the "current per share market price" of the Preferred  Shares
shall be  conclusively  deemed to be the current per share  market  price of the
Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) (appropriately adjusted
to reflect any stock  split,  stock  dividend or similar  transaction  occurring
after the date hereof),  multiplied by one hundred. If neither the Common Shares

                                      -28-
<PAGE>

nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so listed or traded,  "current per
share market  price" shall mean the fair value per share as  determined  in good
faith by the Board of  Directors of the Company,  whose  determination  shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.

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

          (f) If as a result of an  adjustment  made  pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof,  the holder of any Right  thereafter  exercised shall become entitled to
receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Preferred  Shares,
thereafter  the 


                                      -29-
<PAGE>

number of such other shares so  receivable  upon  exercise of any Right shall be
subject  to  adjustment  from  time to time in a manner  and on terms as  nearly
equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares
contained  in Section  11(a)  through  (c),  inclusive,  and the  provisions  of
Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 with  respect to the  Preferred  Shares  shall apply on
like terms to any such other shares.

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

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


                                      -30-
<PAGE>

Price in effect  immediately  prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and
(ii)  dividing  the  product  so  obtained  by  the  Purchase  Price  in  effect
immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.

          (i) The  Company may elect on or after the date of any  adjustment  of
the  Purchase  Price to adjust  the number of Rights,  in  substitution  for any
adjustment in the number of one  one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable
upon  the  exercise  of a  Right.  Each of the  Rights  outstanding  after  such
adjustment  of the number of Rights shall be  exercisable  for the number of one
one-hundredths   of  a  Preferred  Share  for  which  a  Right  was  exercisable
immediately  prior to such  adjustment.  Each Right held of record prior to such
adjustment  of  the  number  of  Rights  shall  become  that  number  of  Rights
(calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase
Price in effect  immediately  prior to adjustment  of the Purchase  Price by the
Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The
Company shall make a public announcement of its election and send a copy of such
to the Rights Agent to adjust the number of Rights,  indicating  the record date
for the  adjustment,  and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to
be  made.  This  record  date may be the date on  which  the  Purchase  Price is
adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have been issued,
shall be at least 10 days  later than 


                                      -31-
<PAGE>

the date of the public  announcement.  If Right  Certificates  have been issued,
upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates  evidencing,
subject to Section 14 hereof,  the additional Rights to which such holders shall
be entitled as a result of such  adjustment,  or, at the option of the  Company,
shall cause to be  distributed  to such  holders of record in  substitution  and
replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment,  and upon surrender thereof,  if required by the Company,  new Right
Certificates  evidencing  all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
after such adjustment.  Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued,
executed  and  countersigned  in the  manner  provided  for  herein and shall be
registered  in the names of the holders of record of Right  Certificates  on the
record date specified in the public announcement.

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


                                      -32-
<PAGE>

a Preferred Share which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates  issued
hereunder.

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

          (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 issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of
the Preferred  Shares and other  capital stock or securities of the Company,  if
any,  issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred  Shares and other
capital stock or securities of the Company,  if any, issuable upon such exercise
on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided,
however,  that the  Company  shall  deliver  to such  holder a due bill or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to


                                      -33-
<PAGE>

receive such  additional  shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such
adjustment.

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

          (n) In the event that at any time after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the  Distribution  Date,  the  Company  shall  (i)  declare  or pay any
dividend  on the  Common  Shares  payable  in  Common  Shares  or (ii)  effect a
subdivision,   combination   or   consolidation   of  the   Common   Shares  (by
reclassification  or otherwise  than by payment of  dividends in Common  Shares)
into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such case


                                      -34-
<PAGE>

(A) the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable after such
event upon proper  exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the
number of one  one-hundredths  of a Preferred  Share so purchasable  immediately
prior to such  event by a  fraction,  the  numerator  of which is the  number of
Common Shares  outstanding  immediately before such event and the denominator of
which is the number of Common Shares  outstanding  immediately after such event,
and (B) each Common Share  outstanding  immediately  after such event shall have
issued  with  respect  to it that  number  of Rights  which  each  Common  Share
outstanding  immediately  prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The
adjustments  provided  for in this  Section  11(n)  shall  be made  successively
whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision,  combination
or consolidation is effected.

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


                                      -35-
<PAGE>

fully protected in relying on any such certificate and in any adjustment therein
contained and shall have no duty with respect to and shall not be deemed to have
any  knowledge of any  adjustment  unless and until it shall have  received such
certificate.

          Section  13.  Consolidation,  Merger or Sale or  Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power. In the event, directly or indirectly,  at any time after a Person
has become an Acquiring Person, (a) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge
with and into,  any other  Person,  (b) any Person  shall  consolidate  with the
Company,  or  merge  with  and into the  Company  and the  Company  shall be the
continuing or surviving  corporation of such merger and, in connection with such
merger,  all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for
stock or other  securities  of any other  Person (or the Company) or cash or any
other property,  or (c) the Company shall sell or otherwise  transfer (or one or
more of its  Subsidiaries  shall  sell or  otherwise  transfer),  in one or more
transactions,  assets or earning power  aggregating 50% or more of the assets or
earning  power of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole) to any
other  Person  other  than  the  Company  or one  or  more  of its  wholly-owned
Subsidiaries,  then, and in each such case,  proper  provision  shall be made so
that (i) each holder of a Right  (except as  otherwise  provided  herein)  shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at a price equal
to  the  then  current   Purchase   


                                      -36-
<PAGE>

Price  multiplied by the number of one  one-hundredths  of a Preferred Share for
which  a Right  is then  exercisable,  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of this
Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares,  such number of Common Shares of such
other Person  (including  the Company as successor  thereto or as the  surviving
corporation)  as shall  equal the result  obtained by (A)  multiplying  the then
current Purchase Price by the number of one  one-hundredths of a Preferred Share
for which a Right is then  exercisable  and dividing  that product by (B) 50% of
the then  current  per share  market  price of the  Common  Shares of such other
Person (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation
of such consolidation,  merger, sale or transfer; (ii) the issuer of such Common
Shares  shall  thereafter  be liable for,  and shall  assume,  by virtue of such
consolidation,  merger, sale or transfer,  all the obligations and duties of the
Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be
deemed to refer to such  issuer;  and (iv) such  issuer  shall  take such  steps
(including,  but not limited to, the  reservation of a sufficient  number of its
Common  Shares in  accordance  with  Section 9 hereof) in  connection  with such
consummation  as may be  necessary  to assure that the  provisions  hereof shall
thereafter be  applicable,  as nearly as  reasonably  may be, in relation to the
Common  Shares  thereafter  deliverable  upon the  exercise of the  Rights.  The
Company shall not consummate any such  consolidation,  merger,  sale or 


                                      -37-
<PAGE>

transfer  unless prior  thereto the Company and such issuer shall have  executed
and delivered to the Rights Agent a  supplemental  agreement so  providing.  The
Company  shall not enter into any  transaction  of the kind  referred to in this
Section 13 if at the time of such  transaction  there are any rights,  warrants,
instruments or securities  outstanding or any agreements or arrangements  which,
as a  result  of the  consummation  of  such  transaction,  would  eliminate  or
substantially  diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.  The
provisions of this Section 13 shall  similarly  apply to  successive  mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers.

          Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional  Shares.  (a) The Company
shall not be  required  to issue  fractions  of Rights  or to  distribute  Right
Certificates  which  evidence  fractional  Rights.  In lieu  of such  fractional
Rights,  there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates
with regard to which such  fractional  Rights would  otherwise  be issuable,  an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole
Right.  For the purposes of this Section  14(a),  the current  market value of a
whole  Right  shall be the  closing  price of the  Rights  for the  Trading  Day
immediately  prior to the date on which such  fractional  Rights would have been
otherwise issuable.  The closing price for any day shall be the last sale price,
regular  way,  or, in case no such sale takes place on 


                                      -38-
<PAGE>

such day,  the  average of the  closing bid and asked  prices,  regular  way, in
either case as  reported in the  principal  consolidated  transaction  reporting
system with respect to securities  listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock  Exchange  or, if the Rights are not listed or  admitted to trading on the
New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal  consolidated  transaction
reporting  system with respect to securities  listed on the  principal  national
securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if
the Rights  are not listed or  admitted  to trading on any  national  securities
exchange,  the last quoted  price or, if not so quoted,  the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the  over-the-counter  market, as reported by 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 of Directors  of the Company.  If on any such date no such
market  maker is making a market in the Rights,  the fair value of the Rights on
such date as  determined  in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company
shall be used.

          (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Shares (other than fractions which are integral  multiples of one  one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute  certificates
which  evi-


                                      -39-
<PAGE>

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

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


                                      -40-
<PAGE>

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

          Section 16.  Agreement of Right Holders.  Every holder of a Right,  by
accepting  the same,  consents  and agrees with the 

                                      -41-
<PAGE>

Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:

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

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

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

          Section 17.  Right  Certificate  Holder Not Deemed a  Stockholder.  No
holder,  as such, of any Right  Certificate  shall be entitled to vote,  receive
dividends or be deemed for any pur-


                                      -42-
<PAGE>

pose the holder of the Preferred  Shares or any other  securities of the Company
which may at any time be  issuable  on the  exercise  of the Rights  represented
thereby,  nor shall  anything  contained  herein or in any Right  Certificate be
construed to confer upon the holder of any Right  Certificate,  as such,  any of
the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election
of  directors  or upon any  matter  submitted  to  stockholders  at any  meeting
thereof,  or to give or withhold consent to any corporate  action, or to receive
notice of meetings or other actions affecting  stockholders  (except as provided
in Section 25  hereof),  or to receive  dividends  or  subscription  rights,  or
otherwise,  until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Right  Certificate shall
have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

          Section 18.  Concerning the Rights Agent. The Company agrees to pay to
the  Rights  Agent  reasonable  compensation  for all  services  rendered  by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent,  its reasonable
expenses   and   counsel   fees  and  other   disbursements   incurred   in  the
administration,  preparation,  amendment 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,  damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement,  cost or
expense,  incurred 


                                      -43-
<PAGE>

without  gross  negligence,  bad faith or willful  misconduct on the part of the
Rights Agent,  for any action taken,  suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent in
connection with the acceptance and  administration of this Agreement,  including
without  limitation  the costs and  expenses of  defending  against any claim of
liability in the premises.

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

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

                                      -44-
<PAGE>

Agent shall be a Person succeeding to the stock transfer,  stockholder  services
or corporate  trust powers of the Rights Agent or any  successor  Rights  Agent,
shall be the  successor  to the Rights  Agent under this  Agreement  without the
execution  or filing of any paper or any  further  act on the part of any of the
parties hereto;  provided, that such Person would be eligible for appointment as
a successor  Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof.  In case at
the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this
Agreement,  any of the Right  Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the
predecessor  Rights Agent and deliver such Right  Certificates so countersigned;
and in case at that  time any of the  Right  Certificates  shall  not have  been
countersigned,   any  successor   Rights  Agent  may   countersign   such  Right
Certificates  either in the name of the predecessor  Rights Agent or in the name
of the  successor  Rights Agent;  and in all such cases such Right  Certificates
shall  have  the full  force  provided  in the  Right  Certificates  and in this
Agreement.

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

                                      -45-
<PAGE>

the Right Certificates shall not have been  countersigned,  the Rights Agent may
countersign such Right  Certificates  either in its prior name or in its changed
name;  and in all such cases such Right  Certificates  shall have the full force
provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.

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

          (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the  Company),  and the advice or opinion of such  counsel  shall be
full and complete  authorization  and  protection to the Rights Agent as to, and
the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken,
suffered  or omitted by it in good faith and in  accordance  with such advice or
opinion.

          (b) Whenever in the  performance  of its duties under this  Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering or omitting to
take any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect
thereof  be herein  specifically  prescribed)  may be deemed to be  


                                      -46-
<PAGE>

conclusively  proved and  established by a certificate  signed by any one of the
Chairman of the Board,  the Chief  Executive  Officer,  the President,  any Vice
President,  the  Treasurer or the  Secretary of the Company and delivered to the
Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization and protection to
the Rights Agent for,  and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability  for, or in
respect of, any action taken,  suffered or omitted in good faith by it under the
provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

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

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

          (e)  The  Rights   Agent   shall  not  be  under  any   liability   or
responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery  hereof  (except the due  execution  hereof by the Rights  Agent) or in
respect of the  validity  or  execution  of any Right  Certificate  (except  its
countersignature  


                                      -47-
<PAGE>

thereof);  nor shall it be  responsible  for any  breach by the  Company  of any
covenant or condition  contained in this Agreement or in any Right  Certificate;
nor shall it be responsible for any change in the  exercisability  of the Rights
(including  the Rights  becoming  null and void  pursuant  to Section  11(a)(ii)
hereof) or any  adjustment  in the terms of the Rights  (including  the  manner,
method or amount  thereof)  provided  for in Section 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the
ascertaining  of the  existence  of facts that would  require any such change or
adjustment  (except with  respect to the  exercise of Rights  evidenced by Right
Certificates  after actual  notice that such change or  adjustment is required);
nor  shall it by any act  hereunder  be  deemed  to make any  representation  or
warranty as to the  authorization  or reservation of any Preferred  Shares to be
issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right  Certificate or as to whether any
Preferred Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.

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


                                      -48-
<PAGE>

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

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

          (i) The Rights  Agent may  execute and  exercise  any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder  either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for 


                                      -49-
<PAGE>

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,  absent  gross  negligence,  bad faith,  willful  misconduct  in the
selection and continued employment thereof.

          Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.  The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged  from its duties under this  Agreement
upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to
the  holders of the Right  Certificates  by  first-class  mail.  The Company may
remove the Rights  Agent or any  successor  Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in
writing,  mailed to the Rights Agent or successor  Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each  transfer  agent of the  Common  Shares or  Preferred  Shares by
registered or certified  mail, and to the holders of the Right  Certificates  by
first-class  mail.  If the  Rights  Agent  shall  resign or be  removed or shall
otherwise become  incapable of acting,  the Company shall appoint a successor to
the Rights Agent.  If the Company shall fail to make such  appointment  within a
period  of 30 days  after  giving  notice of such  removal  or after it has been
notified  in writing of such  resignation  or  incapacity  by the  resigning  or
incapacitated  Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right  Certificate (who shall,
with such notice,  submit his Right  Certificate 


                                      -50-
<PAGE>

for  inspection  by the  Company),  then  the  registered  holder  of any  Right
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent.  Any successor  Rights  Agent,  whether  appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be a Person organized and doing business under
the laws of the  United  States or of the State of  California  (or of any other
state of the  United  States so long as such  corporation  is  authorized  to do
business as a banking institution in the State of California), in good standing,
having an office in the State of California, which is authorized under such laws
to  exercise  corporate  trust  or  stock  transfer  powers  and is  subject  to
supervision or  examination  by federal or state  authority and which has at the
time of its  appointment  as Rights  Agent a combined  capital and surplus of at
least $50 million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested
with the same  powers,  rights,  duties and  responsibilities  as if it had been
originally  named  as  Rights  Agent  without  further  act  or  deed;  but  the
predecessor  Rights Agent, upon complete payment of any and all fees and charges
owing to it,  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 


                                      -51-
<PAGE>

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

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

          Section 23. Redemption. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may,
at its option, at any time prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person,  redeem  all but not  less  than all the then  outstanding  Rights  at a
redemption price of $.01 per Right,  appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
split,  stock dividend or similar  transaction  occurring  after the date hereof
(such redemption price being hereinafter referred to 


                                      -52-
<PAGE>

as the  "Redemption  Price").  The  redemption  of the  Rights  by the  Board of
Directors  may be made  effective  at such  time,  on such  basis  and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.

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

                                      -53-
<PAGE>

or  purchase  for value any  Rights at any time in any  manner  other  than that
specifically  set forth in this  Section 23 or in  Section 24 hereof,  and other
than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the  Distribution
Date.

          Section 24.  Exchange.  (a) The Board of Directors of the Company 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 null and void pursuant to the provisions of
Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common
Share per Right,  appropriately  adjusted  to  reflect  any stock  split,  stock
dividend or similar  transaction  occurring after the date hereof (such exchange
ratio being hereinafter  referred to as the "Exchange  Ratio").  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company's Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect
such  exchange  at any time  after  any  Person  (other  than the  Company,  any
Subsidiary of the Company,  any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such
Subsidiary,  or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan),  together  with all  Affiliates  and  Associates of such Person,
becomes  the  Beneficial  Owner  of  50%  or  more  of the  Common  Shares  then
outstanding.



                                      -54-
<PAGE>

          (b)  Immediately  upon the  action  of the Board of  Directors  of the
Company  ordering the exchange of any Rights  pursuant to paragraph  (a) of this
Section 24 and without any further  action and without any notice,  the right to
exercise such Rights shall  terminate and the only right  thereafter of a holder
of such Rights  shall be to receive  that number of Common  Shares  equal to the
number of such Rights held by such holder  multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The
Company  shall  promptly  give public  notice (as well as written  notice to the
Rights Agent) of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give,
or any defect in, such notice  shall not affect the  validity of such  exchange.
The  Company  promptly  shall mail a notice of any such  exchange  to all of the
holders of such Rights at their last  addresses as they appear upon the registry
books of the  Rights  Agent.  Any notice  which is mailed in the  manner  herein
provided shall be deemed given,  whether or not the holder  receives the notice.
Each such notice of exchange  will state the method by which the exchange of the
Common  Shares for Rights  will be  effected  and,  in the event of any  partial
exchange,  the number of Rights which will be  exchanged.  Any partial  exchange
shall be  effected  pro rata based on the number of Rights  (other  than  Rights
which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof)
held by each holder of Rights.

                                      -55-
<PAGE>


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

          (d) The Company  shall not be required  to issue  fractions  of Common
Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In
lieu of such fractional  Common Shares,  the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of the Right  Certificates  with regard to which such fractional  Common
Shares would  otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction
of the current  market value of a whole Common  Share.  For the purposes of this
paragraph  (d),  the current  market  value of a whole Common Share shall be the
closing price of a 


                                      -56-
<PAGE>

Common Share (as determined  pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i)
hereof) for the Trading Day immediately  prior to the date of exchange  pursuant
to this Section 24.

          Section 25.  Notice of Certain  Events.  (a) In case the Company shall
propose (i) to pay any dividend  payable in stock of any class to the holders of
its  Preferred  Shares or to make any other  distribution  to the holders of its
Preferred Shares (other than a regular  quarterly cash dividend),  (ii) to offer
to the holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to
purchase any additional  Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any
other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its
Preferred Shares (other than a  reclassification  involving only the subdivision
of outstanding  Preferred  Shares),  (iv) to effect any  consolidation or merger
into or with, or to effect any sale or other  transfer (or to permit one or more
of its  Subsidiaries  to  effect  any  sale or other  transfer),  in one or more
transactions,  of 50% or more of the assets or earning  power of the Company and
its  Subsidiaries  (taken as a whole)  to, any other  Person,  (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay
any  dividend  on the  Common  Shares  payable  in Common  Shares or to effect a
subdivision,   combination   or   consolidation   of  the   Common   Shares  (by
reclassification  or otherwise  than by payment of dividends in Common  Shares),
then,  in each such 


                                      -57-
<PAGE>

case,  the  Company  shall give to the Rights  Agent and each  holder of a Right
Certificate,  in  accordance  with Section 26 hereof,  a notice of such proposed
action,  which  shall  specify  the record  date for the  purposes of such stock
dividend,  or  distribution  of rights or  warrants,  or the date on which  such
reclassification,    consolidation,   merger,   sale,   transfer,   liquidation,
dissolution,  or  winding  up is to take  place  and the  date of  participation
therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, if any such
date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10 days prior to but not  including
the record date for determining  holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of
such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to
but not including the date of the taking of such proposed  action or the date of
participation  therein  by the  holders of the Common  Shares  and/or  Preferred
Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.

          (b) In case the event  set forth in  Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof  shall
occur,  then the Company  shall as soon as  practicable  thereafter  give to the
Rights  Agent and to each  holder of a Right  Certificate,  in  accordance  with
Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event,  which notice shall
describe  such  event and the  consequences  of such  event to holders of Rights
under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

                                      -58-
<PAGE>

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

              ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
              235 Montgomery Street, 23rd Floor
              San Francisco, California  94104
              Attention:  Relationship Management


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

              The PMI Group, Inc.
              601 Montgomery Street
              San Francisco, California  94111
              Attention:  Corporate Secretary


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

                                      -59-
<PAGE>


          Section 27.  Supplements and Amendments.  The Company may from time to
time  supplement or amend this Agreement  without the approval of any holders of
Right Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity,  to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions  herein,  or to make any other  provisions with respect to the Rights
which the  Company may deem  necessary  or  desirable,  any such  supplement  or
amendment  to be  evidenced  by a writing  signed by the  Company and the Rights
Agent; provided, however, that from and after such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person,  this Agreement shall not be amended in any manner which would
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights.

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

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


                                      -60-
<PAGE>

for the sole and  exclusive  benefit of the  Company,  the Rights  Agent and the
registered  holders of the Right  Certificates  (and,  prior to the Distribution
Date, the Common Shares).

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

          Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right
Certificate  issued  hereunder  shall be deemed to be a contract  made under the
laws of the State of  Delaware  and for all  purposes  shall be  governed by and
construed in accordance  with the laws of such State  applicable to contracts to
be made and performed  entirely  within such State;  except that all  provisions
regarding  the  rights,  duties and  obligations  of the Rights  Agent  shall be
governed by and controlled in accordance  with the laws of the State of New York
applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State.

          Section 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such  counterparts  shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original,  and all such


                                      -61-
<PAGE>

counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

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









                                      -62-
<PAGE>




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

                                         THE PMI GROUP, INC.

Attest:


By  /s/ Victor J. Bacigalupi             By  /s/ W. Roger Haughton
    Name:  Victor J. Bacigalupi              Name:  W. Roger Haughton
    Title: Senior Vice President,            Title: President and Chief
            General Counsel                          Executive Officer
             and Secretary


                                         CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
                                           SERVICES, L.L.C.

Attest:


By  /s/ Duane Knutson                    By  /s/ Asa Drew
    Name:  Duane Knutson                     Name:  Asa Drew
    Title: Assistant Vice President          Title: Assistant Vice President 










                                      -63-
<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit A

                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

                                       of

                  SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                               THE PMI GROUP, INC.

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

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


          The PMI Group,  Inc., a corporation  organized and existing  under the
General  Corporation  Law of the  State  of  Delaware  (hereinafter  called  the
"Corporation"),  hereby  certifies that the following  resolution was adopted by
the Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation  as  required by Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law at a meeting duly called and held on January 13, 1998:

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

          Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:

          Section 1. Designation and Amount.  The shares of such series shall be
designated  as "Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock" (the "Series A
Preferred  Stock") and the number of shares  constituting the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be 400,000.  Such number of shares may be  increased or decreased by
resolution of the Board of Directors;  provided,  that no decrease  shall reduce
the  number  of shares of  Series A  Preferred  Stock to a number  less than the
number of shares  then  outstanding  plus the  number  of  shares  reserved  for
issuance upon the exercise of  outstanding  options,  rights or warrants or upon
the  conversion  of  any  outstanding   securities  issued  by  the  Corporation
convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.

                                      A-1
<PAGE>


          Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.

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

          (B) The  Corporation  shall declare a dividend or  distribution on the
     Series A  Preferred  Stock as  provided in  paragraph  (A) of this  Section
     immediately  after it  declares a dividend  or  distribution  on the Common
     Stock (other than a dividend  payable in shares of Common Stock);  provided
     that, in the event no dividend or distribution  shall have been de-


                                       A-2
<PAGE>

     clared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend
     Payment Date and the next  subsequent  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date, a
     dividend of $1 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless
     be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

          (C) Dividends  shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on  outstanding
     shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
     next  preceding the date of issue of such shares,  unless the date of issue
     of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend
     Payment Date, in which case  dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue
     from the date of issue of such  shares,  or  unless  the date of issue is a
     Quarterly  Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the
     determination  of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to
     receive a quarterly  dividend and before such  Quarterly  Dividend  Payment
     Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be
     cumulative from such Quarterly  Dividend  Payment Date.  Accrued but unpaid
     dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A
     Preferred  Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such  dividends
     at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated  pro rata
     on a  share-by-share  basis among all such shares at the time  outstanding.
     The  Board of  Directors  may fix a record  date for the  determination  of
     holders of shares of Series A Preferred  Stock entitled to receive  payment
     of a dividend or distribution declared thereon,  which record date shall be
     not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

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

          (A) Subject to the provision  for  adjustment  hereinafter  set forth,
     each share of Series A Preferred  Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to
     100 votes on all matters  submitted  to a vote of the  stockholders  of the
     Corporation.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay
     any  dividend on the Common  Stock  payable in shares of Common  Stock,  or
     effect a subdivision  or combination or  consolidation  of the  outstanding
     shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of
     a dividend in shares of Common  Stock)  into a greater or lesser  number of
     shares of  Common  Stock,  then in each  such case the  number of votes per
     share to which holders of shares of Series A 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 de-


                                      A-3
<PAGE>

     nominator  of which is the  number  of shares  of  Common  Stock  that were
     outstanding immediately prior to such event.

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

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

          Section 4. Certain Restrictions.

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

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

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

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


                                      A-4
<PAGE>

          stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the  Corporation  ranking
          junior  (either as to dividends or upon  dissolution,  liquidation  or
          winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or

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

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

          Section 5. Reacquired  Shares.  Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased  or otherwise  acquired by the  Corporation  in any manner  whatsoever
shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition  thereof. All such
shares shall upon their  cancellation  become  authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred  Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred  Stock
subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein,  in the
Certificate  of  Incorporation,  or in any  other  Certificate  of  Designations
creating  a series  of  Preferred  Stock or any  similar  stock or as  otherwise
required by law.

          Section  6.   Liquidation,   Dissolution   or  Winding  Up.  Upon  any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall
be made (1) to the  holders  of shares of stock  ranking  junior  (either  as to
dividends  or upon  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up) to the  Series A
Preferred  Stock  unless,  prior  thereto,  the  holders  of  shares of Series A
Preferred  Stock shall have  received  $100 per share,  plus an amount  equal to
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared,
to the date of such  payment,  provided  that the  holders of shares of Series A
Preferred  Stock  shall be entitled  to receive an  aggregate  amount per share,
subject to the  provision for  adjustment  hereinafter  set forth,  equal to 100
times the aggregate  amount to be distributed  per share to holders 


                                      A-5
<PAGE>

of shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a
parity (either as to dividends or upon  liquidation,  dissolution or winding up)
with the Series A Preferred  Stock,  except  distributions  made  ratably on the
Series A Preferred  Stock and all such parity stock in  proportion  to the total
amounts  to which  the  holders  of all  such  shares  are  entitled  upon  such
liquidation,  dissolution or winding up. In the event the  Corporation  shall at
any time declare or pay any  dividend on the Common  Stock  payable in shares of
Common Stock,  or effect a subdivision or combination  or  consolidation  of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock (by  reclassification  or otherwise  than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock,  then in each such case the aggregate amount to which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to
such event under the proviso in clause (1) of the  preceding  sentence  shall be
adjusted by multiplying  such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock  outstanding  immediately  after such event and
the  denominator  of which is the  number of shares  of Common  Stock  that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.

          Section 7.  Consolidation,  Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation,  merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common  Stock are  exchanged  for or changed  into other  stock or
securities,  cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of
Series A  Preferred  Stock  shall at the same  time be  similarly  exchanged  or
changed  into an amount  per  share,  subject to the  provision  for  adjustment
hereinafter  set  forth,  equal to 100  times  the  aggregate  amount  of stock,
securities,  cash and/or any other property  (payable in kind),  as the case may
be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or  exchanged.
In the event the  Corporation  shall at any time  declare or pay any dividend on
the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,  or effect a subdivision  or
combination  or  consolidation  of the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock (by
reclassification  or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common  Stock,  then in each
such case the amount set forth in the  preceding  sentence  with  respect to the
exchange  or change of shares of Series A  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.

                                      A-6
<PAGE>


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

          Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect
to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series
of any other class of the Corporation's Preferred Stock.

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


          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Certificate of Designations is executed on
behalf of the  Corporation  by its  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer and
attested by its Secretary this day of January, 1998.




                                        W. Roger Haughton
                                        President and Chief
                                        Executive Officer


Attest:


Victor J. Bacigalupi
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel &
Secretary





                                      A-7
<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit B

                            Form of Right Certificate


Certificate No. R-                                               ________ Rights



         NOT   EXERCISABLE   AFTER  January  25,  2008  OR  EARLIER  IF
         REDEMPTION  OR  EXCHANGE  OCCURS.  THE RIGHTS  ARE  SUBJECT TO
         REDEMPTION  AT $.01 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET
         FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.


                                Right Certificate

                               THE PMI GROUP, INC.


          This certifies that                   ,  or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement,  dated as of January   , 1998 (the "Rights  Agreement"),  between The
PMI Group,  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  and  ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services,  L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company
at any time after the  Distribution  Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement)  and prior to 5:00 P.M.,  San Francisco  time, on January 25, 2008 at
the principal  office of the Rights Agent,  or at the office of its successor as
Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A
Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred
Shares"), of the Company, at a purchase price of $275 per one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"),  upon presentation and surrender of this
Right  Certificate  with the Form of  Election to Purchase  duly  executed.  The
number of Rights  evidenced  by this  Right  Certificate  (and the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof)
set forth  above,  and the Purchase  Price set forth  above,  are the number and
Purchase  Price as of  January   ,  1998,  based  on the  Preferred  Shares  as
constituted  at such date.  As provided in the Rights  Agreement,  the  Purchase
Price and the number of one  one-hundredths  of a  Preferred  Share which may be
purchased  upon the exercise of the Rights  evidenced by this Right  Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

          This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms,  provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement,  which terms,  provisions and conditions are
hereby  incorporated  herein by  reference  and made a part  hereof and to which
Rights Agreement  reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limi-


                                      B-1
<PAGE>

tations of rights,  obligations,  duties and immunities  hereunder of the Rights
Agent,  the  Company and the  holders of the Right  Certificates.  Copies of the
Rights Agreement are on file at the principal  executive  offices of the Company
and the above-mentioned offices of the Rights Agent.

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

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

          No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights  evidenced  hereby  (other  than  fractions  which are  integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share,  which may, at the election
of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash
payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

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

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

                                      B-2
<PAGE>


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

ATTEST:                                       THE PMI GROUP, INC.

                                              By:
- -------------------------------                  -----------------------------
    Name:                                        Name:
    Title:                                       Title:

Countersigned:


CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.


By
  ------------------------------------
    Name:
    Title:












                                      B-3
<PAGE>


                    Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate


                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT


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


                  FOR VALUE RECEIVED
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

                  (Please print name and address of transferee)

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


Dated:                          , 19


                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Signature



Signature Guaranteed:

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

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



                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Signature

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


                                      B-4
<PAGE>


             Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued


                          FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

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


To:  THE PMI GROUP, INC.

          The  undersigned   hereby   irrevocably   elects  to  exercise  
                             Rights  represented  by this Right  Certificate  to
purchase  the  Preferred  Shares  issuable  upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares be issued in the name of:

Please insert social security
or other identifying number


                         (Please print name and address)


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

Please insert social security
or other identifying number


                         (Please print name and address)


Dated:                    , 19


                                          ---------------------------------
                                          Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

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


                                      B-5
<PAGE>


             Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate -- continued

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



                                          --------------------------------
                                          Signature


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


                                     NOTICE

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

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













                                      B-6
<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit C
 
                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                                PREFERRED SHARES


          On January 13, 1998,  the Board of  Directors  of The PMI Group,  Inc.
(the  "Company")  declared a dividend of one preferred  share  purchase right (a
"Right") for each  outstanding  share of common stock,  par value $.01 per share
(the "Common  Shares"),  of the Company.  The dividend is payable on January 26,
1998 (the "Record Date") to the  stockholders of record on that date. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of
a share of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock,  par value $.01 per
share  (the  "Preferred  Shares"),  of the  Company  at a price  of $275 per one
one-hundredth  of  a  Preferred  Share  (the  "Purchase   Price"),   subject  to
adjustment.  The  description  and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement  (the  "Rights   Agreement")   between  the  Company  and  ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

          Until  the  earlier  to  occur  of  (i) 10  days  following  a  public
announcement  that a person or group of affiliated or associated  persons (other
than (A) the Company,  (B) a majority owned  subsidiary of the Company,  (C) any
employee  benefit plan of the Company or any majority  owned  subsidiary  of the
Company,  (D) any entity  holding  Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan, or (E) The Allstate  Corporation  and its  affiliates,  and their
respective successors ("Allstate"),  pending such time that Allstate distributes
or transfers its current ownership interest in the Common Shares as contemplated
by the Prospectus  dated April 10, 1995 relating to the initial public  offering
of the Common Shares) (an "Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership
of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares or (15% in the case of a passive
investor  meeting the  definition of a Qualified  Institutional  Investor as set
forth in the Rights  Agreement)  or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as
may be determined by action of the Board of Directors  prior to such time as any
person or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the
commencement  of, or  announcement  of an  intention  to make, a tender offer or
exchange  offer  the  consummation  of  which  would  result  in the  beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 10% or more of the  outstanding  Common Shares
(the earlier of such dates being  called the  "Distribution  Date"),  the Rights
will  be  evidenced,  with  respect  to  any of the  Common  Share  



<PAGE>

certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate
with a copy of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.

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

          The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on January 25, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"),  unless the Final
Expiration  Date is  extended  or unless  the  Rights are  earlier  redeemed  or
exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.

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

          The number of outstanding  Rights and the number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred  Share  issuable  upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment  in the  event  of a stock  split  of the  Common  Shares  or a stock
dividend  on the  Common  Shares  payable  in  Common  Shares  or  subdivisions,
consolidations 


                                      C-2
<PAGE>

or combinations of the Common Shares  occurring,  in any such case, prior to the
Distribution Date.

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

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

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

          At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring  Person and
prior  to the  acquisition  by  such  person  or  group  of 50% or  more  of the
outstanding  Common  Shares,  the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights  (other  than  Rights  owned by such  person or group which will have
become void),  in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or
one  one-hundredth  of a Preferred  Share (or of a share of a class or series of
the  Company's  preferred  stock  having  


                                      C-3
<PAGE>

equivalent   rights,   preferences  and  privileges),   per  Right  (subject  to
adjustment).

          With certain  exceptions,  no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until  cumulative  adjustments  require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional  Preferred  Shares will be issued (other than
fractions  which are  integral  multiples  of one  one-hundredth  of a Preferred
Share,  which may, at the  election of the Company,  be evidenced by  depositary
receipts) and in lieu  thereof,  an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the  Preferred  Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.

          At  any  time  prior  to the  acquisition  by a  person  or  group  of
affiliated or associated  persons of beneficial  ownership of 10% or more of the
outstanding  Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole,  but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption
Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time on such
basis with such  conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish.  Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise
the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.

          The terms of the Rights may be  amended by the Board of  Directors  of
the Company  without the consent of the holders of the Rights,  except that from
and after such time as any person or group of affiliated  or associated  persons
becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests
of the holders of the Rights.

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

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







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