TJ INTERNATIONAL INC
8-A12G, 1999-09-17
MILLWOOD, VENEER, PLYWOOD, & STRUCTURAL WOOD MEMBERS
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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 (g) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



                             TJ INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



             Delaware                                       82-0250992
    (State of incorporation)                   (IRS Employer Identification No.)



                              200 E. Mallard Drive
                               Boise, Idaho 83706
              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)



  If this form relates to the               If this form relates to the
  registration of a class of                registration of a class of
  securities pursuant to Section 12(b)      securities pursuant to Section 12(g)
  of the Exchange Act and is effective      of the Exchange Act and is effective
  pursuant to General Instruction           pursuant to General Instruction
  A.(c), please check the following         A.(d), please check the following
  box.  [  ]                                box.  [X]


Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

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

Preferred Share Purchase Rights
       (Title of Class)




<PAGE>
ITEM 1.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.

     On  August  26,  1999,   the  Board  of   Directors  of  our  Company,   TJ
International,  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation,  declared  a  dividend  of  one
preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding  share of common
stock,  par value $1.00 per share. The dividend is payable on September 22, 1999
to stockholders of record on September 22, 1999.

     Our Board has adopted this Rights  Agreement to protect  stockholders  from
coercive or otherwise  unfair  takeover  tactics.  In general terms, it works by
imposing a  significant  penalty upon any person or group which  acquires 20% or
more of our  outstanding  common stock  without the  approval of our Board.  The
Rights  Agreement  should  not  interfere  with any  merger  or  other  business
combination approved by our Board.

     For those  interested in the specific terms of the Rights Agreement as made
between our Company and First  Chicago  Trust Company of New York, as the Rights
Agent, on August 26, 1999, we provide the following summary description.  Please
note, however, that this description is only a summary, and is not complete, and
should be read together with the entire Rights  Agreement,  which has been filed
as an exhibit to this Form 8-A.

The Rights.  Our Board  authorized  the issuance of a Right with respect to each
issued and  outstanding  share of common stock on September 22, 1999. The Rights
will initially trade with, and will be inseparable  from, the common stock.  The
Rights are evidenced only by certificates  or book-entry  credits that represent
shares of common stock. New Rights will accompany any new shares of common stock
we issue after September 22, 1999 until the Distribution Date described below.

Exercise  Price.  Each Right will allow its holder to purchase  from our Company
one  one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior  Participating  Preferred Stock
("Preferred Share") for $135, once the Rights become  exercisable.  This portion
of a Preferred Share will give the stockholder  approximately the same dividend,
voting,  and  liquidation  rights as would one share of common  stock.  Prior to
exercise,  the  Right  does  not  give  its  holder  any  dividend,  voting,  or
liquidation rights.

Exercisability. The Rights will not be exercisable until

o    10 days after the public  announcement that a person or group has become an
     "Acquiring Person" by obtaining  beneficial ownership of 20% or more of our
     outstanding common stock, or, if earlier,

o    10 business days (or a later date determined by our Board before any person
     or group  becomes an  Acquiring  Person)  after a person or group  begins a
     tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in that person
     or group becoming an Acquiring Person.

     We  refer  to  the  date  when  the  Rights  become   exercisable   as  the
"Distribution  Date." Until that date, the common stock  certificates  will also
evidence the Rights,  and any transfer of shares of common stock will constitute
a transfer of Rights.  After that date, the Rights will separate from the common
stock and be evidenced by book-entry credits or by Rights
<PAGE>
certificates  that we will mail to all  eligible  holders of common  stock.  Any
Rights held by an Acquiring Person are void and may not be exercised.

     Our Board may reduce the  threshold  at which a person or group  becomes an
Acquiring Person from 20% to not less than 10% of the outstanding common stock.

Consequences of a Person or Group Becoming an Acquiring Person.

o    Flip In. If a person or group becomes an Acquiring  Person,  all holders of
     Rights except the Acquiring  Person may, for $135,  purchase  shares of our
     common stock with a market value of $270,  based on the market price of the
     common stock prior to such acquisition.

o    Flip  Over.  If our  Company  is  later  acquired  in a merger  or  similar
     transaction  after the  Rights  Distribution  Date,  all  holders of Rights
     except the Acquiring Person may, for $135, purchase shares of the acquiring
     corporation  with a market  value of $270 based on the market  price of the
     acquiring corporation's stock, prior to such merger.

Preferred Share Provisions.

Each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, if issued:

o    will not be redeemable.

o    will entitle holders to quarterly  dividend  payments of $.01 per share, or
     an  amount  equal  to the  dividend  paid on one  share  of  common  stock,
     whichever is greater.

o    will entitle holders upon liquidation  either to receive $1 per share or an
     amount equal to the payment made on one share of common stock, whichever is
     greater.

o    will have the same voting power as one share of common stock.

o    if shares of our common stock are exchanged via merger, consolidation, or a
     similar  transaction,  will entitle holders to a per share payment equal to
     the payment made on one share of common stock.

The value of one one-hundredth  interest in a Preferred Share should approximate
the value of one share of common stock.

Expiration. The Rights will expire on September 22, 2009.

Redemption. Our Board may redeem the Rights for $.001 per Right at any time
before any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person. If our Board redeems any
Rights, it must redeem all of the Rights. Once the Rights are redeemed, the only
right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption  price of $.001
per Right.  The  redemption  price will be  adjusted if we have a stock split or
stock dividends of our common stock.

                                       2
<PAGE>
Exchange.  After a person or group  becomes an Acquiring  Person,  but before an
Acquiring Person owns 50% or more of our outstanding common stock, our Board may
extinguish  the Rights by exchanging  one share of common stock or an equivalent
security for each Right, other than Rights held by the Acquiring Person.

Anti-Dilution  Provisions.  Our  Board  may  adjust  the  purchase  price of the
Preferred  Shares,  the number of  Preferred  Shares  issuable and the number of
outstanding  Rights to prevent dilution that may occur from a stock dividend,  a
stock split,  a  reclassification  of the Preferred  Shares or common stock.  No
adjustments to the Exercise Price of less than 1% will be made.

Amendments.  The  terms of the  Rights  Agreement  may be  amended  by our Board
without the consent of the  holders of the  Rights.  However,  our Board may not
amend the Rights  Agreement  to lower the  threshold  at which a person or group
becomes an Acquiring  Person to below 10% of our  outstanding  common stock.  In
addition,  the Board  may not  cause a person  or group to  become an  Acquiring
Person by lowering this threshold below the percentage interest that such person
or group already owns. After a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person,  our
Board may not amend the agreement in a way that adversely affects holders of the
Rights.

                                       3

<PAGE>
ITEM 2.  EXHIBITS.

       1.  Rights  Agreement,  dated  as of  August  26,  1999,  between  TJ
           International,  Inc. and First  Chicago Trust Company of New York.

                                       4

<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:  September 17, 1999

                                TJ INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                By: /s/ THOMAS H. DENIG
                                    -------------------
                                    Name: Thomas H. Denig
                                    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT LIST


Exhibit
  No.                             Description
  --                              -----------
  1.       Rights  Agreement,  dated  as  of  August  26,  1999,  between  TJ
           International,  Inc. and First  Chicago  Trust Company of New York.




                                                                       EXHIBIT 1
                                                                       ---------











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


                             TJ International, Inc.

                                       and

                     First Chicago Trust Company of New York


                                Rights Agreement

                           Dated as of August 26, 1999


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





<PAGE>





                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                      Page
                                                                     Number

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

Section 2.  Appointment of Rights Agent..........................      6

Section 3.  Issue of Right Certificates..........................      7

Section 4.  Form of Right Certificates...........................      9

Section 5.  Countersignature and Registration....................     10

Section 6.  Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
            Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
            Right Certificates...................................     11

Section 7.  Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date
            of Rights............................................     12

Section 8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates...     14

Section 9.  Availability of Preferred Shares.....................     14

Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date.........................     15

Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or
            Number of Rights.....................................     16

Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
            Shares...............................................     27

Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets
            or Earning Power.....................................     27

Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares..............     29

Section 15. Rights of Action.....................................     31

Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders...........................     31

Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder....     32

Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent..........................     33

Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights
            Agent................................................     33

                                       -i-
<PAGE>

                                                                      Page
                                                                     Number

Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent...............................     34

Section 21. Change of Rights Agent...............................     37

Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates...................     39

Section 23. Redemption...........................................     39

Section 24. Exchange.............................................     40

Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.............................     42

Section 26. Notices..............................................     44

Section 27. Supplements and Amendments...........................     45

Section 28. Successors...........................................     45

Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement...........................     45

Section 30. Severability.........................................     46

Section 31. Governing Law........................................     46

Section 32. Counterparts.........................................     46

Section 33. Descriptive Headings.................................     46

Signatures.......................................................     47



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 August 26, 1999, between TJ International,  Inc., a
Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),  and First Chicago Trust Company of New
York, as rights agent (the "Rights Agent").

     The Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has  authorized  and  declared  a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share
(as hereinafter  defined) of the Company  outstanding on September 22, 1999 (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. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
have the meanings indicated:

     (a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of 20% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding, but shall
not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding
Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an



<PAGE>

acquisition  of Common  Shares by the Company  which,  by reducing the number of
Common Shares of the Company outstanding,  increases the proportionate number of
Common Shares of the Company beneficially owned by such Person to 20% or more of
the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that, if a
Person shall become the Beneficial  Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares of
the Company  then  outstanding  by reason of share  purchases by the Company and
shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of
any additional Common Shares of the Company, then such Person shall be deemed to
be an  "Acquiring  Person."  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"  shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2
of the General Rules and Regulations  under the Exchange Act as in effect on the
date of this Agreement.

     (c) "Associate"  shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2
of the General Rules and Regulations  under the Exchange Act as in effect on the
date of this Agreement.

                                       -2-
<PAGE>

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

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

          (ii)  which  such  Person  or  any  of  such  Person's  Affiliates  or
     Associates has (A) the right to acquire  (whether such right is exercisable
     immediately  or only after the passage of time)  pursuant to any agreement,
     arrangement  or  understanding  (other than customary  agreements  with and
     between  underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
     public offering of securities),  or upon the exercise of conversion rights,
     exchange rights, rights (other than these Rights),  warrants or options, or
     otherwise;  provided,  however,  that a  Person  shall  not be  deemed  the
     Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own,  securities  tendered pursuant
     to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of
     such Person's  Affiliates or Associates until such tendered  securities are
     accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
     agreement,  arrangement or understanding;  provided, 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



                                       -3-
<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(d)(ii)(B)  hereof) 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.

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

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

     (g) "Common  Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean the
shares of common  stock,  par value  $1.00 per share,  of the  Company.  "Common
Shares" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean
the capital stock (or



                                      -4-
<PAGE>

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.

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

     (i)  "Exchange  Act" shall mean the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
amended.

     (j)  "Exchange  Ratio"  shall have the meaning  set forth in Section  24(a)
hereof.

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

     (l) "NASDAQ"  shall mean the National  Association  of Securities  Dealers,
Inc. Automated Quotation System.

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

     (n) "Preferred  Shares" shall mean shares of Series A Junior  Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 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.

     (o) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4 hereof.

     (p) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the second  paragraph
hereof.



                                      -5-
<PAGE>

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

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

     (s)  "Right"  shall  have the  meaning  set forth in the  second  paragraph
hereof.

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

     (u)  "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.

     (v)  "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.

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

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

     Section 2.  Appointment of Rights Agent.  The Company  hereby  appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall, prior to the Distribution Date, also
be the holders of the Common Shares of the Company) in accordance with the terms
and conditions hereof, and the Rights



                                      -6-
<PAGE>

Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint
such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable, upon ten (10) days'
prior written notice to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to
supervise,  and shall in no event be liable for,  the acts or  omissions  of any
such co-Rights Agent.

     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 of the
Company 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 of the Company 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 of the Company 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 of the
Company  aggregating  20% or more of the then  outstanding  Common Shares of the
Company  (including  any such date which is after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the  issuance  of the Rights;  the  earlier of such dates being  herein
referred  to as the  "Distribution  Date"),  (x) the  Rights  will be  evidenced
(subject to the  provisions  of Section  3(b)  hereof) by the  certificates  for
Common  Shares of the Company  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



                                      -7-
<PAGE>

only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares of the Company. As soon as
practicable  after the Distribution  Date, the Company will prepare and execute,
the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent
(and the  Rights  Agent  will,  if  requested,  send) by  first-class,  insured,
postage-prepaid  mail,  to each record holder of Common Shares of the Company 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  certificates  for Common Shares of
the Company  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 of the Company  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 of the Company 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

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

(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 an  Agreement  between TJ  International,  Inc.  and
     First Chicago Trust Company of New York, dated as of August 26, 1999, as it
     may be amended from time to time (the "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 TJ  International,  Inc. Under certain
     circumstances,  as set forth in the  Agreement,  such Rights (as defined in
     the  Agreement)  will be  evidenced  by separate  certificates  and will no
     longer be evidenced by this certificate.  TJ International,  Inc. will mail
     to the holder of this  certificate a copy of the Agreement  without  charge
     after receipt of a written request therefor. As set forth in the Agreement,
     Rights  beneficially  owned by any Person (as defined in the Agreement) who
     becomes an Acquiring  Person (as defined in the Agreement)  become null and
     void.

With respect to such  certificates  containing the foregoing  legend,  until the
Distribution  Date, the Rights  associated with the Common Shares of the Company
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  of the  Company
represented  thereby.  In the event that the Company  purchases  or acquires any
Common Shares of the Company after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution
Date,  any Rights  associated  with such Common  Shares of the Company  shall be
deemed  cancelled  and  retired so that the  Company  shall not be  entitled  to
exercise any Rights  associated  with the Common Shares of the Company 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




                                      -9-
<PAGE>

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
applicable rule or regulation made pursuant  thereto or with any applicable rule
or regulation of any stock  exchange or the National  Association  of Securities
Dealers,  Inc., or to conform to usage.  Subject to the provisions of Section 22
hereof,  the Right  Certificates  shall entitle the holders  thereof to purchase
such number of one  one-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  individual  who
signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company;
and any  Right  Certificate  may be  signed  on  behalf  of the  Company  by any
individual who, at the actual date of the execution of



                                      -10-
<PAGE>

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 Agreement any
such individual was not such an officer.

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

     Section  6.  Transfer,   Split  Up,   Combination  and  Exchange  of  Right
Certificates;  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.  Subject
to the provisions of Section 14 hereof,  at any time after the Close of Business
on the  Distribution  Date,  and at or prior to the  Close  of  Business  on the
earlier  of the  Redemption  Date  or  the  Final  Expiration  Date,  any  Right
Certificate or Right Certificates  (other than Right  Certificates  representing
Rights that have become void pursuant to Section  11(a)(ii)  hereof or that have
been  exchanged  pursuant  to Section 24 hereof) may be  transferred,  split up,
combined  or  exchanged  for another  Right  Certificate  or Right  Certificates
entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one  one-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  principal  office of the
Rights Agent.  Thereupon the Rights Agent shall  countersign  and deliver to the
Person entitled



                                      -11-
<PAGE>

thereto a Right  Certificate  or Right  Certificates,  as the case may be, as so
requested.  The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or  governmental  charge that may be imposed in  connection  with any  transfer,
split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.

     Upon  receipt by the  Company and the Rights  Agent of evidence  reasonably
satisfactory  to them of the loss,  theft,  destruction or mutilation of a Right
Certificate,  and,  in case of  loss,  theft or  destruction,  of  indemnity  or
security  reasonably  satisfactory  to  them,  and,  at the  Company's  request,
reimbursement  to the Company and the Rights  Agent of all  reasonable  expenses
incidental  thereto,  and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right  Certificate  if  mutilated,  the Company  will make and deliver a new
Right  Certificate  of like  tenor  to the  Rights  Agent  for  delivery  to the
registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated.

     Section 7. Exercise of Rights;  Purchase Price;  Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) The  registered  holder of any Right  Certificate  may  exercise  the Rights
evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein), in whole or in part, at
any time after the Distribution  Date, upon surrender of the Right  Certificate,
with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed,
to the Rights Agent at the principal  office of the Rights Agent,  together with
payment of the Purchase Price for each one one-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 September 22, 2009 (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.



                                      -12-
<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 $135,  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 any such 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 of the Preferred  Shares
with such depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs such depositary agent
to comply with such request; (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company
the  amount  of cash to be paid in lieu of  issuance  of  fractional  shares  in
accordance  with  Section  14  hereof;  (iii)  promptly  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, promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Right Certificate.



                                      -13-
<PAGE>

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

     Section 8.  Cancellation and Destruction of Right  Certificates.  All Right
Certificates  surrendered  for the  purpose  of  exercise,  transfer,  split up,
combination  or exchange  shall,  if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents,  be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in 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 Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement,  and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire,  any other  Right  Certificate  purchased  or  acquired  by the  Company
otherwise  than upon the exercise  thereof.  The Rights Agent shall  deliver all
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 hereof.
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



                                      -14-
<PAGE>

of delivery of the certificates for such Preferred Shares (subject to payment of
the Purchase  Price),  be duly and validly  authorized and issued and fully paid
and nonassessable shares.

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

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



                                      -15-
<PAGE>

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 the  continuing  or  surviving  corporation),
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect
at the time of the record  date for such  dividend or of the  effective  date of
such subdivision,  combination or  reclassification,  and the number and kind of
shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted
so that the holder of any Right  exercised  after such time shall be entitled to
receive the aggregate  number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such
Right had been exercised  immediately  prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have
owned upon such exercise and been entitled



                                      -16-
<PAGE>

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  hereof,  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  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 the  Company
(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 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
hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person whose
Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or
Affiliate


                                      -17-
<PAGE>

thereof;  no Right  Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the transfer of
any Rights to an Acquiring  Person  whose  Rights would be void  pursuant to the
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 Rights  Agent for transfer to an Acquiring  Person whose Rights
would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be cancelled.

     (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  subparagraph  (ii) above,  the Company shall take
all such action as may be necessary to authorize  additional  Common  Shares for
issuance upon exercise of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after good
faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
such additional  Common Shares,  the Company shall  substitute,  for each Common
Share that would  otherwise be issuable  upon  exercise of a Right,  a number of
Preferred  Shares or fraction  thereof  such that the  current per share  market
price of one Preferred  Share  multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to
the  current  per  share  market  price  of one  Common  Share as of the date of
issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.

     (b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights,
options or warrants to all holders of  Preferred  Shares  entitling  them (for a
period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for
or purchase  Preferred Shares (or shares having the same rights,  privileges and
preferences  as  the  Preferred  Shares  ("equivalent   preferred  shares"))  or
securities convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares at a
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



                                      -18-
<PAGE>

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 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 and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and holders
of the Rights.  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.



                                      -19-
<PAGE>

     (c) In case the  Company  shall  fix a  record  date  for the  making  of a
distribution  to all  holders  of  the  Preferred  Shares  (including  any  such
distribution  made in  connection  with a  consolidation  or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Preferred Shares) or subscription  rights or warrants  (excluding those referred
to in Section  11(b)  hereof),  the  Purchase  Price to be in effect  after such
record date shall be  determined  by  multiplying  the Purchase  Price in effect
immediately  prior to such  record date by a fraction,  the  numerator  of which
shall be the then-current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on such
record  date,  less the fair market  value (as  determined  in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company,  whose  determination shall be described in a
statement  filed with the Rights  Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent
and  holders  of the  Rights)  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
then-current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on such record date;
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



                                      -20-
<PAGE>

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



                                      -21-
<PAGE>

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) hereof (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
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.



                                      -22-
<PAGE>

     (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 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) hereof,  inclusive,  and
the  provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 hereof 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) hereof,  upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of
the calculations  made in Sections 11(b) and (c) hereof,  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 (A)  multiplying  (x)  the  number  of one
one-hundredths  of a  share  covered  by  a  Right  immediately  prior  to  this
adjustment  by (y) the  Purchase  Price  in  effect  immediately  prior  to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price and (B) dividing the product so obtained by the
Purchase  Price in effect  immediately  after such  adjustment  of the  Purchase
Price.



                                      -23-
<PAGE>

     (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 to adjust the number of
Rights,  indicating  the record  date for the  adjustment,  and, if known at the
time, the amount of the adjustment to be made.  This record date may be the date
on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right
Certificates have been issued,  shall be at least 10 days later than the date of
the public  announcement.  If Right  Certificates  have been  issued,  upon each
adjustment of the number of Rights  pursuant to this Section 11(i),  the Company
shall, as promptly as practicable,  cause to be distributed to holders of record
of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject
to Section 14  hereof,  the  additional  Rights to which such  holders  shall be
entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall
cause  to  be  distributed  to  such  holders  of  record  in  substitution  and
replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment,  and upon surrender thereof,  if required by the Company,  new Right
Certificates  evidencing  all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
after such adjustment.  Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued,
executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein, and



                                      -24-
<PAGE>

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



                                      -25-
<PAGE>

     (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 in Section 11(b) hereof,  hereafter made by the Company to
holders of the Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.

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



                                      -26-
<PAGE>

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 and the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  a copy of such
certificate and (c) if such adjustment occurs at any time after the Distribution
Date,  mail a brief  summary  thereof to each holder of a Right  Certificate  in
accordance with Section 25 hereof.

     Section 13. Consolidation,  Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power.  In the event,  directly  or  indirectly,  at any time after 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



                                      -27-
<PAGE>

otherwise provided herein) shall thereafter have the right to receive,  upon the
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 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 of the Company thereafter
deliverable  upon the exercise of the Rights.  The Company shall not  consummate
any such  consolidation,  merger,  sale or transfer unless,  prior thereto,  the
Company and such issuer shall have  executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental  agreement  so  providing.  The  Company  shall not enter  into any
transaction  of the kind  referred to in this  Section 13 if at the time of such
transaction   there  are  any  rights,   warrants,   instruments  or  securities
outstanding  or  any  agreements  or  arrangements  which,  as a  result  of the
consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or substantially



                                      -28-
<PAGE>

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 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



                                      -29-
<PAGE>

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  evidence  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
such holder's  right to receive any fractional  Rights or any fractional  shares
upon exercise of a Right (except as provided above).



                                      -30-
<PAGE>

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

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

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



                                      -31-
<PAGE>

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

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

     Section 17. Right Certificate  Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.  No holder,
as such, of any Right Certificate  shall be entitled to vote,  receive dividends
or be deemed for any  purpose  the holder of the  Preferred  Shares or any other
securities  of the Company  which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of
the Rights  represented  thereby,  nor shall anything contained herein or in any
Right  Certificate  be  construed  to  confer  upon  the  holder  of  any  Right
Certificate,  as such,  any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the  election of  directors  or upon any matter  submitted  to
stockholders  at any  meeting  thereof,  or to give or  withhold  consent to any
corporate  action,  or to receive notice of meetings or other actions  affecting
stockholders  (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription  rights,  or otherwise,  until the Right or Rights  evidenced by
such  Right  Certificate  shall  have  been  exercised  in  accordance  with the
provisions hereof.



                                      -32-
<PAGE>

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

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

     Section 19. Merger or  Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. Any
corporation  into which the Rights  Agent or any  successor  Rights Agent may be
merged or with which it may be consolidated,  or any corporation  resulting from
any merger or  consolidation  to which the Rights Agent or any successor  Rights
Agent shall be a party, or any



                                      -33-
<PAGE>

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

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

     Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.  The Rights Agent undertakes the duties
and  obligations  imposed  by  this  Agreement  upon  the  following  terms  and
conditions, by all of



                                      -34-
<PAGE>

which the  Company and the holders of Right  Certificates,  by their  acceptance
thereof, shall be bound:

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

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

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

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



                                      -35-
<PAGE>

     (e) The Rights  Agent shall not be under any  responsibility  in respect of
the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery  hereof (except the
due  execution  hereof by the Rights  Agent) or in respect  of the  validity  or
execution of any Right Certificate (except its  countersignature  thereof);  nor
shall it be  responsible  for any  breach  by the  Company  of any  covenant  or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate;  nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the
Rights becoming void pursuant to Section  11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment in
the terms of the  Rights  (including  the  manner,  method  or  amount  thereof)
provided for in Section 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24 hereof,  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.

     (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



                                      -36-
<PAGE>

with its duties,  and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by
it in good faith in accordance with  instructions of any such officer or for any
delay in acting while waiting for those instructions.

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

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

     Section  21.  Change of Rights  Agent.  The Rights  Agent or any  successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged  from its duties under this  Agreement
upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to
the  holders of the Right  Certificates  by  first-class  mail.  The Company may
remove the Rights  Agent or any  successor  Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in
writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the



                                      -37-
<PAGE>

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 (which holder
shall,  with such notice,  submit such holder's Right Certificate for inspection
by the Company),  then the registered  holder of any Right Certificate may apply
to any court of  competent  jurisdiction  for the  appointment  of a new  Rights
Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a
court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of
the  United  States  or of a  state  of the  United  States  (so  long  as  such
corporation is authorized to do business as a banking  institution in each state
where such  authorization  is  required  in order to carry out the duties of the
Rights Agent under this Agreement)  which is authorized under applicable 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 or (b) an  affiliate  of a  corporation  described in clause (a) of this
sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the
same powers,  rights,  duties and  responsibilities as if it had been originally
named as Rights Agent without  further act or deed; but the  predecessor  Rights
Agent shall deliver and transfer to the  successor  Rights Agent any property at
the time held by it  hereunder,  and execute and deliver any further  assurance,
conveyance,  act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such  appointment,  the Company shall file notice thereof in writing
with the



                                      -38-
<PAGE>

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

     Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates.  Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary,  the Company may,
at its option,  issue new Right  Certificates  evidencing Rights in such form as
may be  approved  by the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  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 $.001 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 as the "Redemption Price").
The  redemption  of the Rights by the Board of  Directors  of the Company may be
made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board
of Directors of the Company, in its sole discretion, may establish.

     (b)  Immediately  upon the 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



                                      -39-
<PAGE>

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  of the Company  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
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 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  adjustment  in the  number  of Rights
pursuant to Section 11(i) (such exchange ratio being hereinafter  referred to as
the "Exchange Ratio").  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of
the Company shall



                                      -40-
<PAGE>

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.

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

     (c) In the event that there shall not be  sufficient  Common  Shares issued
but not  outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights
as contemplated in



                                      -41-
<PAGE>

accordance  with this Section 24, the Company  shall take all such action as may
be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exchange of
the Rights.  In the event the Company shall,  after good faith effort, be unable
to take all such action as may be necessary to authorize such additional  Common
Shares, the Company shall substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise
be issuable upon exchange of a Right,  a number of Preferred  Shares or fraction
thereof  such that the current per share  market  price of one  Preferred  Share
multiplied  by such number or fraction is equal to the current per share  market
price of one Common Share as of the date of issuance of such Preferred Shares or
fraction thereof.

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

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




                                      -42-
<PAGE>

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

     (b) 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 each holder
of a Right Certificate, in




                                      -43-
<PAGE>

accordance  with Section 26 hereof,  a notice of the  occurrence  of such event,
which notice shall  describe  such event and the  consequences  of such event to
holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

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

            TJ International, Inc.
            200 East Mallard Drive
            Boise, ID  83706
            Attention:  Corporate Secretary


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:

            First Chicago Trust Company of New York
            525 Washington Blvd.
            Jersey City, NJ 07310
            Attention:  Corporate Actions Administrator


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.



                                      -44-
<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.  Without limiting
the  foregoing,  the  Company  may at any time  prior to such time as any Person
becomes an Acquiring  Person amend this  Agreement to lower the  thresholds  set
forth in Sections  1(a) and 3(a) hereof to not less than 10%  (provided  that no
Person shall become an Acquiring Person solely by reason of any such lowering of
the  thresholds set forth in Sections 1(a) and 3(a) hereof unless and until such
Person shall thereafter  become,  together with all Affiliates and Associates of
such  Person,  the  Beneficial  Owner of any  additional  Common  Shares  of the
Company, whereupon such Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person if such
Person,  together  with all  Affiliates  and  Associates  of such Person,  would
otherwise be an Acquiring Person under such thresholds as modified).

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

     Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered



                                      -45-
<PAGE>

holders of the Right  Certificates  (and,  prior to the  Distribution  Date, the
Common  Shares)  any  legal or  equitable  right,  remedy  or claim  under  this
Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company,  the Rights Agent and the registered  holders of the Right Certificates
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).

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

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

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

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



                                      -46-
<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.

Attest:                               TJ INTERNATIONAL, INC.


By: /s/ RICHARD B. DRURY              By: /S/ THOMAS H. DENIG
- --------------------------            ---------------------------
   Name:  Richard B. Drury               Name:  Thomas H. Denig
   Title: Secretary                      Title: President and Chief Executive
                                                Officer


Attest:                               FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY
                                      OF NEW YORK


By: /S/ MARK GHERZO                   By: /S/ MICHAEL S. DUNCAN
- ------------------------------        -----------------------------
   Name:  Mark Gherzo                 Name:  Michael S. Duncan
   Title: Asst. Vice President        Title: Director, Corporate Actions






                                      -47-
<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit A
                                                                       ---------

                                      FORM

                                       of

                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

                                       of

                  SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                             TJ INTERNATIONAL, INC.

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




           TJ International, 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 August 26, 1999:

           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 $1.00 per share, of the Corporation (the "Preferred Stock"),
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 2,000,000. 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 $1.00 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 declared on
     the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment
     Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of
     $1 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable
     on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

            (C)   Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
     outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend
     Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the
     date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first
     Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such



                                      A-2
<PAGE>

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

            (B)   Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other 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.



                                      A-3
<PAGE>

            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 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




                                      A-4
<PAGE>

forth herein, 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 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-5
<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.




                                      A-6
<PAGE>



            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is executed on
behalf of the Corporation by its Chief Executive Officer and attested by its
Secretary this ___ day of _____, 1999.



                                          -------------------------------
                                                Thomas H. Denig
                                                Chief Executive Officer

Attest:

- ---------------------
Richard B. Drury
Secretary





                                      A-7
<PAGE>






                                                                       Exhibit B
                            Form of Right Certificate

Certificate No. R-                                                ___Rights

          NOT  EXERCISABLE  AFTER SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 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 AGREEMENT.

                                Right Certificate

                             TJ INTERNATIONAL, 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 Agreement, dated as of August 26, 1999 (the "Agreement"), between TJ
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and First Chicago
Trust Company of New York (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at
any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Agreement)
and prior to 5:00 P.M., Jersey City, New Jersey time, on September 22, 2009 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 $1.00 per share, of the Company
(the "Preferred Shares"), at a purchase price of $135 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 ____________ , _____, based on the Preferred Shares as
constituted at such date. As provided in the 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 Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. A copy of
the Agreement is on file at the principal executive offices of the Company.

            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



                                      B-1
<PAGE>

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 Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price
of $.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for Preferred
Shares or shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $1.00 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 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 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
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 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 ___________ , ____.

ATTEST:                                 TJ INTERNATIONAL, INC.


___________________________             ____________________________________
Name:                                      Name:
Title:  Secretary                          Title:  President and Chief Executive
                                                    Officer
Countersigned:


First Chicago Trust Company of New York

By:__________________________________
   Name:
   Title:

                  Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

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

            FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
                 (Please print name and address of transferee)
________________________________________________________________________________
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________________ Attorney,
to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named
Company, with full power of substitution.

Dated: ___________________


                                          ______________________________________
                                          Signature


                                      B-3
<PAGE>


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 Agreement).

                                          ______________________________________
                                          Signature

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

            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:  TJ INTERNATIONAL, 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:



                                      B-4
<PAGE>

Please insert social security
or other identifying number

________________________________________________________________________________
                         (Please print name and address)


________________________________________________________________________________

Dated: ___________________


                                                ________________________
                                                Signature
Signature Guaranteed:

            Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a 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 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 Agreement) and such Assignment
or Election to Purchase will not be honored.





                                      B-5
<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit C




                          SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
                                PREFERRED SHARES


Introduction

            On August 26, 1999, the Board of Directors of our Company, TJ
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, declared a dividend of one
preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common
stock, par value $1.00 per share. The dividend is payable on September 22, 1999
to the stockholders of record on September 22, 1999. These rights will replace
rights to purchase common stock that will expire on September 22, 1999.

            Our Board has adopted this Rights Agreement to protect stockholders
from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics. In general terms, it works
by imposing a significant penalty upon any person or group which acquires 20% or
more of our outstanding common stock without the approval of our Board. The
Rights Agreement should not interfere with any merger or other business
combination approved by our Board.

            For those  interested in the specific terms of the Rights Agreement
as made between our Company and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as the
Rights Agent, on August 26, 1999, we provide the following summary  description.
Please note, however, that this description  is only a  summary,  and is not
complete,  and should be read together with the entire Rights  Agreement,  which
has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commissions as an exhibit to a
Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated September 17, 1999.  A copy of the
agreement is available free of charge from our Company.

The Rights. Our Board authorized the issuance of a Right with respect to each
issued and outstanding share of common stock on September 22, 1999. The Rights
will initially trade with, and will be inseparable from, the common stock. The
Rights are evidenced only by certificates or book-entry credits that represent
shares of common stock. New Rights will accompany any new shares of common stock
we issue after September 22, 1999 until the Distribution Date described below.

Exercise Price. Each Right will allow its holder to purchase from our Company
one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
("Preferred Share") for $135, once the Rights become exercisable. This portion
of a Preferred Share will give the stockholder approximately the same dividend,
voting, and liquidation rights as would one share of common stock. Prior to
exercise, the Right does not give its holder any dividend, voting, or
liquidation rights.

Exercisability.  The Rights will not be exercisable until

o  10 days after the public announcement that a person or group has become an
   "Acquiring Person" by obtaining beneficial ownership of 20% or more of our
   outstanding common stock, or, if earlier,

                                      C-1
<PAGE>

o  10 business days (or a later date determined by our Board before any person
   or group becomes an Acquiring Person) after a person or group begins a tender
   or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in that person or group
   becoming an Acquiring Person.

            We refer to the date when the Rights become exercisable as the
"Distribution Date." Until that date, the common stock certificates will also
evidence the Rights, and any transfer of shares of common stock will constitute
a transfer of Rights. After that date, the Rights will separate from the common
stock and be evidenced by book-entry credits or by Rights certificates that we
will mail to all eligible holders of common stock. Any Rights held by an
Acquiring Person are void and may not be exercised.

            Our Board may reduce the threshold at which a person or group
becomes an Acquiring Person from 20% to not less than 10% of the outstanding
common stock.

Consequences of a Person or Group Becoming an Acquiring Person.

o  Flip In. If a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, all holders of
   Rights except the Acquiring Person may, for $135, purchase shares of our
   common stock with a market value of $270, based on the market price of the
   common stock prior to such acquisition.

o  Flip Over. If our Company is later acquired in a merger or similar
   transaction after the Rights Distribution Date, all holders of Rights except
   the Acquiring Person may, for $135, purchase shares of the acquiring
   corporation with a market value of $270 based on the market price of the
   acquiring corporation's stock, prior to such merger.

Preferred Share Provisions.

Each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, if issued:

o  will not be redeemable.

o  will entitle holders to quarterly dividend payments of $.01 per share, or an
   amount equal to the dividend paid on one share of common stock, whichever is
   greater.

o  will entitle holders upon liquidation either to receive $1 per share or an
   amount equal to the payment made on one share of common stock, whichever is
   greater.

o  will have the same voting power as one share of common stock.

o  if shares of our common stock are exchanged via merger, consolidation, or a
   similar transaction, will entitle holders to a per share payment equal to the
   payment made on one share of common stock.

The value of one one-hundredth interest in a Preferred Share should approximate
the value of one share of common stock.


                                      C-2
<PAGE>


Expiration.  The Rights will expire on September 22, 2009.

Redemption. Our Board may redeem the Rights for $.001 per Right at any time
before any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person. If our Board redeems any
Rights, it must redeem all of the Rights. Once the Rights are redeemed, the only
right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price of $.001
per Right. The redemption price will be adjusted if we have a stock split or
stock dividends of our common stock.

Exchange. After a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, but before an
Acquiring Person owns 50% or more of our outstanding common stock, our Board may
extinguish the Rights by exchanging one share of common stock or an equivalent
security for each Right, other than Rights held by the Acquiring Person.

Anti-Dilution Provisions. Our Board may adjust the purchase price of the
Preferred Shares, the number of Preferred Shares issuable and the number of
outstanding Rights to prevent dilution that may occur from a stock dividend, a
stock split, a reclassification of the Preferred Shares or common stock. No
adjustments to the Exercise Price of less than 1% will be made.

Amendments. The terms of the Rights Agreement may be amended by our Board
without the consent of the holders of the Rights. However, our Board may not
amend the Rights Agreement to lower the threshold at which a person or group
becomes an Acquiring Person to below 10% of our outstanding common stock. In
addition, the Board may not cause a person or group to become an Acquiring
Person by lowering this threshold below the percentage interest that such person
or group already owns. After a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, our
Board may not amend the agreement in a way that adversely affects holders of the
Rights.




                                      C-3


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