SEC Filing | Neurocrine Biosciences

================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 --------------------- FORM 10-Q (Mark One) [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended JUNE 30, 1999 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ______________________ to ____________________ Commission file number 0-28150 NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 33-0525145 (State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer Identification No.) incorporation or organization) 10555 SCIENCE CENTER DRIVE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92121 (Address of principal executive offices) (619) 658-7600 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes X No The number of outstanding shares of the registrant's Common Stock, par value of $0.001, was 18,984,198 as of July 31, 1999. ================================================================================ NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC FORM 10-Q INDEX PAGE PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1: Financial Statements ........................................... 3 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 1999 and December 31, 1998 ..................................... 3 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998 ............... 4 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998 ....................... 5 Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements ....... 6 ITEM 2: Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ................................. 7 ITEM 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk ..... 12 PART II OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 4: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders ............ 12 ITEM 5: Other Information .............................................. 13 ITEM 6: Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K ............................... 13 SIGNATURES ..................................................... 13 Page 2 PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) Jun 30, Dec 31, 1999 1998 -------- -------- (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents ........................ $ 11,900 $ 11,708 Short-term investments, available-for-sale ....... 41,198 50,962 Receivables under collaborative agreements ....... 1,689 863 Receivables from related parties ................. 1,045 544 Other current assets ............................. 687 1,556 -------- -------- Total current assets ............................. 56,519 65,633 Property and equipment, net ...................... 11,100 10,899 Other assets ..................................... 2,964 3,997 -------- -------- Total assets ..................................... $ 70,583 $ 80,529 ======== ======== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable ................................. $ 1,237 $ 2,481 Accrued liabilities .............................. 1,471 2,077 Deferred revenues and current portion of long-term obligations ............... 986 1,011 -------- -------- Total current liabilities ........................ 3,694 5,569 Long-term debt and capital lease obligations ..... 2,287 2,247 Other liabilities ................................ 1,268 755 -------- -------- Total liabilities ................................ 7,249 8,571 Stockholders' equity: Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding ... -- -- Common Stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding shares were 18,962,083 in 1999 and 18,930,865 in 1998 ...... 19 19 Additional paid in capital ....................... 97,325 97,064 Deferred compensation and shareholder notes ...... (315) (306) Accumulated other comprehensive income ........... (119) 31 Accumulated deficit .............................. (33,576) (24,850) -------- -------- Total stockholders' equity ....................... 63,334 71,958 -------- -------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity ....... $ 70,583 $ 80,529 ======== ======== See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Page 3 NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited; in thousands except loss per share data) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, ----------------- ----------------- 1999 1998 1999 1998 ------- ------- ------- ------- Revenues: Sponsored research and development ... $ 2,762 $ 1,976 $ 5,551 $ 4,637 Sponsored research and development from related party ................... -- -- 494 -- Milestones ........................... 750 -- 750 1,250 Grant income and other revenues ...... 298 315 566 540 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total revenues ....................... 3,810 2,291 7,361 6,427 Operating expenses: Research and development ............. 7,182 4,423 13,562 9,064 General and administrative ........... 2,008 1,339 3,705 2,867 Write-off of acquired in-process research and development and licenses ......... -- 4,910 -- 4,910 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total operating expenses ............. 9,190 10,672 17,267 16,841 Loss from operations .................. (5,380) (8,381) (9,906) (10,414) Other income and (expenses): Interest income ...................... 694 1,000 1,586 2,119 Interest expense ..................... (64) (30) (110) (64) Equity in NPI loss and other ......... (141) (1,043) (890) (1,443) Other income ......................... 254 478 594 641 ------- ------- ------- ------- Loss before income taxes ............. (4,637) (7,976) (8,726) (9,161) Income taxes ......................... -- -- -- -- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net loss ............................. $(4,637) $(7,976) $(8,726) $(9,161) ======== ======== ======== ======== Loss per common share: Basic and Diluted .................... $ (0.24) $ (0.45) $ (0.46) $ (0.51) Shares used in the calculation of loss per common share: Basic and Diluted .................... 18,958 18,961 17,874 17,790 See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. Page 4 NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited; in thousands) Six Months Ended June 30, ------------------- 1999 1998 --------- --------- CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net loss .............................................. $ (8,726) $ (9,161) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Acquisition of NNL .................................... -- 4,200 Equity in NPI losses and other adjustments ............ 890 600 Depreciation and amortization ......................... 959 781 Deferred revenues ..................................... 43 (1,750) Deferred expenses ..................................... 504 241 Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquired business: Accounts receivable and other current assets ........ (458) (61) Other non-current assets ............................ 33 (567) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities ............ (1,850) (2,066) --------- --------- Net cash flows used in operating activities ........... (8,605) (7,783) CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Purchases of short-term investments ................... (5,890) (27,063) Sales/maturities of short-term investments ............ 15,504 31,833 Purchases of property and equipment ................... (1,050) (1,679) --------- --------- Net cash flows provided by investing activities ....... 8,564 3,091 CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Issuance of Common Stock .............................. 261 109 Proceeds from capital lease financing ................. 437 -- Principal payments on long-term obligations ........... (465) (546) Payments received on notes receivable from stockholders ................................... -- 1 --------- --------- Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities .................................. 233 (436) --------- --------- Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents .. 192 (5,128) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period .. 11,708 15,771 --------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period ........ $ 11,900 $ 10,643 ========= ========= See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Page 5 NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited. These financial statements include the accounts of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. ("Neurocrine" or the "Company") and its wholly owned subsidiary, Northwest NeuroLogic, Inc. ("NNL"). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company's minority ownership interest in Neuroscience Pharma, Inc. ("NPI") has been accounted for under the equity method. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the presentation for the three and six months ended June 30, 1999. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions of the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods shown in this report are not necessarily indicative of results expected for the full year. The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes for the year ended December 31, 1998, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 2. NET INCOME PER SHARE In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 128, "Earnings Per Share", basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of the Company such as common stock which may be issuable upon exercise of outstanding common stock options, warrants and preferred stock. These shares are excluded when their effects are antidilutive. For the three and six months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998, potentially dilutive securities were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation as their effects were antidilutive. 3. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 130, "Comprehensive Income", requires the disclosure of all components of comprehensive income, including net income and changes in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances generated from non-owner sources. Other comprehensive income consisted of gains (losses) on short-term investments of ($115,000) and ($150,000) for the three and six months ended June 30, 1999; and ($12,000) and 5,000 for the same periods in 1998, respectively. 4. SEGMENT INFORMATION Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information", establishes standards for reporting financial and descriptive information about an enterprise's operating segments in its annual financial statements and selected segment information in interim financial reports. The Company is engaged in the discovery and development of prescription drugs and considers its operations to be a single reportable segment. Financial results of this reportable segment are presented in the accompanying financial statements. The Company has no foreign operations. Page 6 5. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On July 7, 1999, Novartis Pharma A.G. ("Novartis"), the successor in rights of Ciba-Geigy, Limited, exercised its right to terminate the Development and Commercialization Agreement, effective January 7, 2000. As a result, Neurocrine will reacquire the worldwide rights to its multiple sclerosis compound, MSP771. On July 20, 1999, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board for the MSP771 Phase II trials recommended that the administration of the drug be stopped due to a number of patients reporting hypersensitivity-type reactions. As defined in the protocol, all patients treated with MSP771 will be followed to establish a complete safety and efficacy database. The results of the analysis should be completed by year-end 1999. ITEM 2: MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company contain forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties, pertaining generally to the expected continuation of the Company's collaborative agreements, the receipt of research payments thereunder, the future achievement of various milestones in product development and the receipt of payments related thereto, the potential receipt of royalty payments, pre-clinical testing and clinical trials of potential products, the period of time the Company's existing capital resources will meet its funding requirements, and financial results and operations. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth below and those outlined in the Company's 1998 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. OVERVIEW Since the founding of the Company in January 1992, Neurocrine has been engaged in the discovery and development of novel pharmaceutical products for diseases and disorders of the central nervous and immune systems. To date, Neurocrine has not generated any revenues from the sale of products, and does not expect to generate any product revenues in the foreseeable future. The Company has funded its operations primarily through public offering and payments under research and development agreements. The Company is developing a number of products with corporate collaborators and will rely on those collaborators and new collaborators to meet funding requirements. Revenues are expected to come from the Company's strategic alliances. The Company expects to generate future net losses in anticipation of significant increases in operating expenses as products are advanced through the various stages of clinical development. As of June 30, 1999, Neurocrine has incurred a cumulative deficit of $33.6 million and expects to incur operating losses in the future, which may be greater than losses in prior years. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1999 AND 1998 Revenues for the second quarter of 1999 were $3.8 million compared to $2.3 million for the respective period in 1998. The increase in revenues primarily resulted from the 1999 collaboration with Wyeth-Ayerst. This agreement included a number of milestone payments, one of which was achieved during the second quarter earning a $750,000 payment in addition to quarterly sponsored research payments of $750,000. Page 7 Research and development expenses increased to $7.2 million for the second quarter of 1999 compared to $4.4 million for the same period in 1998. The increase reflects higher costs associated with increased scientific personnel and related expenditures as the Company advances its drug candidates through clinical testing. Currently, the Company has five compounds in clinical development. General and administrative expenses increased to $2.0 million during the second quarter of 1999 compared to $1.3 million for the same period in 1998. The increase resulted primarily from additional administrative personnel, business development and professional service expenses to support the expanded clinical development efforts. During 1998, the Company wrote-off acquired in-process research and development fees of $4.9 million. Of that total, $4.2 million were non-cash charges relating to the acquisition of NNL. Interest income decreased to $694,000 during the second quarter of 1999 compared to $1.0 million for the same period last year. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in investment balances. The Company anticipates further decline in interest income as cash reserves are used to fund progressive clinical trials. Net loss for the second quarter of 1999 was $4.6 million or $0.24 per share compared to $8.0 million or $0.45 per share for the same period in 1998. The decrease in net loss resulted from higher revenues primarily associated with the Wyeth-Ayerst collaboration offset by the write-off of acquired in-process research and development during 1998. To date, the Company's revenues have come from funded research and achievements of milestones under corporate collaborations. The nature and amount of these revenues from period to period may lead to substantial fluctuations in the results of quarterly revenues and earnings. Accordingly, results and earnings of one period are not predictive of future periods. SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1999 AND 1998 Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 1999 were $7.4 million compared to $6.4 million for the same period in 1998. The 15% increase in revenues included $2.3 million in milestones and development funding from the 1999 collaboration with Wyeth-Ayerst, and $540,000 of development funding from the Company's Canadian affiliate, NPI. The 1998 revenues under the Novartis and Janssen collaborations exceed those earned in 1999 by $1.6 million and $250,000, respectively. Research and development expenses increased to $13.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 1999 compared to $9.1 million for the same period in 1998. The increase reflects higher costs associated with increased scientific personnel and development costs as the Company advances its drug candidates through the clinical testing The Company has five compounds in clinical development. General and administrative expenses increased to $3.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 1999 compared to $2.9 million for the same period last year. The increase is attributable to additional administrative personnel, business development and professional service expenses to support the expanded clinical development efforts. During 1998, the Company wrote-off acquired in-process research and development fees of $4.9 million. Of that total, $4.2 million were non-cash charges relating to the acquisition of NNL. Interest income decreased to $1.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 1999 compared to $2.1 million for the same period last year. The decline in interest income resulted from lower investment balances. The Company anticipates further decline in interest income as cash reserves are used to fund progressive clinical trials. Page 8 Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 1999 was $8.7 million or $0.46 per share compared to $9.1 million or $0.51 per share for the same period in 1998. The decrease in net loss resulted from higher revenues associated with the 1999 collaboration with Wyeth-Ayerst, net of the increased funding of progressive clinical trials and the write-off of acquired in-process research and development during 1998. To date, the Company's revenues have come from funded research and achievements of milestones under corporate collaborations. The nature and amount of these revenues from period to period may lead to substantial fluctuations in the results of year-to-date revenues and earnings. Accordingly, results and earnings of one period are not predictive of future periods. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES At June 30, 1999, the Company's cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $53.1 million compared with $62.7 million at December 31, 1998. The decline in cash balances during 1999 reflects the increased losses associated with the increasing costs of clinical development and the addition of scientific personnel. Net cash used in operating activities during the first half of 1999 was $8.6 million compared with $7.8 million for the same period last year. Net cash used during 1999 and 1998 reflects the payment of clinical development expenses and other accrued liabilities. The Company anticipates further funding of clinical trials to use cash in future periods. Net cash provided by investing activities during 1999 was $8.5 million compared with $3.1 million during 1998. The increase in cash provided was primarily the result of timing differences in the investment purchases and sales/maturities and the fluctuations in the Company's portfolio mix between cash equivalents and short-term investment holdings. Net cash provided by financing activities during the first half of 1999 was $233,000 compared with net cash used of $436,000 during the same period in 1998. Proceeds capital lease financing provided cash during 1999. Payment on long-term debts used cash during 1998. The Company believes that its existing capital resources, together with interest income and future payments due under the strategic alliances, will be sufficient to satisfy its current and projected funding requirements at least through the year 2001. However, no assurance can be given that such capital resources and payments will be sufficient to conduct its research and development programs as planned. The amount and timing of expenditures will vary depending upon a number of factors, including progress of the Company's research and development programs. Failure of a corporate collaborator to meet its contractual obligations could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations. INTEREST RATE RISK The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates primarily from its long-term debt. The Company believes that a hypothetical 100 basis point adverse move in interest rates along the entire interest rate yield curve would not materially effect the fair value of interest sensitive financial instruments nor the costs associated with the long-term debt. Interest risk exposure on long-term debt relates to the Company's note payable which bears a floating interest rate of prime plus one quarter percent (8.00% at June 30, 1999 and December 31, 1998). At June 30, 1999 and December 31, 1998, the note balance was $535,000 and $610,000, respectively. This note is payable in equal monthly installments through January 2003. Page 9 IMPACT OF YEAR 2000 The Year 2000 Issue is the result of computer programs being written using two digits rather than four to define the applicable year. Any of the Company's computer programs or hardware that have date-sensitive software or embedded chips may recognize a date using "00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000. This could result in a system failure or miscalculations causing disruptions of operations, including, among other things, a temporary inability to process transactions, send invoices, or engage in similar normal business activities. Based on recent assessments, the Company determined that it will not be required to modify or replace significant portions of hardware and software so that those systems will properly utilize dates beyond December 31, 1999. The Company presently believes that with modifications and replacement of existing hardware and software, the Year 2000 Issue can be mitigated. However, if such modifications and replacements are not made, or are not completed timely, the Year 2000 Issue could have a material impact on the operations of the Company. The Company's plan to resolve the Year 2000 Issue involves the following four phases: assessment, remediation, testing, and implementation. To date the Company has completed its assessment of all systems that could be significantly affected by the Year 2000. The completed assessment indicated that most of the Company's significant information technology systems are Year 2000 compliant. That assessment did, however, indicated that software and hardware (embedded chips) used in some scientific equipment were at risk. The Company is currently assessing cost comparisons on whether to remediate or replace this equipment and expects to have the equipment corrected and re-tested by September 30, 1999. The Company has gathered information about the Year 2000 compliance status of its significant suppliers and contractors and continues to monitor their compliance. For its information technology exposures, to date the Company is 99% complete on the remediation phase and expects to complete software reprogramming and replacement by September 30, 1999. To date, the Company has completed 100% of its testing and has implemented 95% of its remediated systems for its scientific equipment. The remediation phase for all significant systems is expected to be complete and fully tested by September 30, 1999. The Company has queried its important suppliers and contractors that do not share information systems with the Company (external agents). To date, the Company is not aware of any external agent Year 2000 issue that would materially impact the company's results of operations, liquidity, or capital resources. However, the Company has no means of ensuring that external agents will be Year 2000 ready. The inability of external agents to complete their Year 2000 resolution process in a timely fashion could materially impact the Company. The effect of non-compliance by external agents is not determinable. The Company will utilize both internal and external resources to reprogram, or replace, test and implement the software and scientific equipment for Year 2000 modifications. The total cost of the Year 2000 project is estimated at approximately $175,000 and is being funded through operating cash flows and capital equipment financing. To date, the Company has incurred approximately $140,000 related to all phases of the Year 2000 project. Of the total remaining project costs, approximately $25,000 is for the replacement scientific capital equipment and $10,000 for the remediation of other hardware and software. Page 10 The Company's plan to complete the Year 2000 modifications are based on management's best estimates, which were derived utilizing numerous assumptions of future events including continued availability of certain resources, and other factors. Estimates on the status of completion and the expected completion dates are based on costs incurred to date compared to total expected costs. However, there can be no guarantee that these estimates will be achieved and actual results could differ materially from those plans. Specific factors that might cause such material differences include, but are not limited to, the availability and cost of personnel trained in this area, the ability to locate and correct all relevant computer codes, and similar uncertainties. The Company has not completed a formal contingency plan for non-compliance, but it is developing a plan based on the information obtained from third parties and an on-going evaluation of the Company's own systems. The Company anticipates having a contingency plan in place by September 30, 1999, which will include development of backup procedures, identification of alternate suppliers and possible increases in supplies inventory levels. The Company has not identified its most likely worst case scenario with respect to possible losses in connection with Year 2000 related problems. The Company plans on completing this analysis by October 30, 1999. The information above contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions, and adequate resources that are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements about the Year 2000 should be read in conjunction with the Company's disclosures under the heading: "Caution on forward-looking statements". CAUTION ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The Company's business is subject to significant risks, including but not limited to, the risks inherent in its research and development activities, including the successful continuation of the Company's strategic collaborations, the successful completion of clinical trials, the lengthy, expensive and uncertain process of seeking regulatory approvals, uncertainties associated both with the potential infringement of patents and other intellectual property rights of third parties, and with obtaining and enforcing its own patents and patent rights, uncertainties regarding government reforms and of product pricing and reimbursement levels, technological change and competition, manufacturing uncertainties and dependence on third parties. Even if the Company's product candidates appear promising at an early stage of development, they may not reach the market for numerous reasons. Such reasons include the possibilities that the product will be ineffective or unsafe during clinical trials, will fail to receive necessary regulatory approvals, will be difficult to manufacture on a large scale, will be uneconomical to market or will be precluded from commercialization by proprietary rights of third parties. Neurocrine will require additional funding for the continuation of its research and product development programs, for progress with preclinical testing and clinical trials, for operating expenses, for the pursuit of regulatory approvals for its product candidates, for the costs involved in filing and prosecuting patent applications and enforcing or defending patent claims, if any, for the cost of product in-licensing and any possible acquisitions, and may require additional funding for establishing manufacturing and marketing capabilities in the future. The Company may seek to access the public or private equity markets whenever conditions are favorable. The Company may also seek additional funding through strategic alliances and other financing mechanisms, potentially including off-balance sheet financing. There can be no assurance that adequate funding will be available on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all. If adequate funds are not available, the Company may be required to curtail significantly one or more of its research or development programs or obtain funds through arrangements with collaborative partners or others. This may require the Company to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies or product candidates. Page 11 The Company believes that its existing capital resources will be adequate to satisfy its current and planned operations through the year 2000. The Company's operating expenses are anticipated to rise significantly in future periods as products are advanced through the various development and clinical stages. Neurocrine expects to incur additional operating expenses over the next several years as its research, development, preclinical testing and clinical trial activities increase. To the extent that the Company is unable to obtain third party funding for such expenses, the Company expects that increased expenses will result in increased losses from operations. There can be no assurance that the Company's products under development will be successfully developed or that its products, if successfully developed, will generate revenues sufficient to enable the Company to earn a profit. For a further discussion of the risks assoicaited with an investment in the Company, please see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 1998. ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK. A discussion of the Company's exposure to, and management of, market risk appears in Part 1, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the heading "Interest Rate Risk". PART II: OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS (a) The Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on May 21, 1999 (the "Annual Meeting"). (b) The following Class III Directors were elected at the Annual Meeting: Name Position Term Expires ---- -------- ------------ Gary A. Lyons Class III Director 2002 Harry F. Hixson, Jr. Class III Director 2002 The following Class I and II Directors continue to serve their respective terms which expire on the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders in the year as noted: Name Position Term Expires ---- -------- ------------ Joseph A. Mollica Class I Director 2000 Wylie W. Vale Class I Director 2000 Stephen A. Sherwin Class II Director 2001 Richard F. Pops Class II Director 2001 (c) At the Annual Meeting, stockholders voted on three matters: (i) the election of two Class III directors for a term of three years expiring in 2002, (ii) the amendment of the 1992 Incentive Stock Plan (the "1992 Plan") to increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance thereunder from 4,700,000 to 5,300,000 shares, and (iii) the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent auditors. The voting results were as follows: (i) The election of Gary A. Lyons and Harry F. Hixson, Jr. as Class III Directors for a term of three years: For 13,502,854 Withhold 408,452 (ii) Approval to amend the Company's 1992 Incentive Stock Plan, increasing the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance from 4,700,000 to 5,300,000 Shares: For 13,027,929 Against 853,922 Abstain 29,455 (iii)Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999: For 13,886,053 Against 16,993 Abstain 8,260 Page 12 ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION On July 7, 1999, Novartis exercised its right to terminate the Development and Commercialization Agreement, effective January 7, 2000. Please see note 5 to Item 1 for discussion of this event. On July 19, 1999, the Board of Directors of the Company amended and restated the Rights Agreement by and between the Company and American Stock & Trust Company (as amended and restated, the "Rights Agreement") to, among other things, remove both the continuing director provisions and the 10-day redemption window following the Shares Acquisition Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement). The Rights Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. On July 20, 1999, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board for the MSP771 Phase II trials recommended that the administration of the drug be stopped due to a number of patients reporting hypersensitivity-type reactions. Please see note 5 to Item 1 for discussion of this event. ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (A) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed as part of this report: 4 Amended and Restated Rights Agreement by and between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent, dated as of July 19, 1999. 10 Amended 1992 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended May 27, 1997, May 27, 1998 and May 21, 1999. 27 Financial Data Schedule. (B) Reports on Form 8-K. During the quarter ended June 30, 1999, the Company filed no current reports on Form 8-K. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. Dated: 08/11/99 /s/ Paul W. Hawran Paul W. Hawran Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) Page 13 EXHIBIT INDEX 4 Amended and Restated Rights Agreement by and between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent, dated as of July 19, 1999. 10 Amended 1992 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended May 27, 1997, May 27, 1998 and May 21, 1999. 27 Financial Data Schedule. Page 14

NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY RIGHTS AGENT AMENDED AND RESTATED PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JULY 19, 1999 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Section 1. Certain Definitions -1- Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent -7- Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates -7- Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates -9- Section 5. Countersignature and Registration -10- Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates -11- Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights -11- Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates -13- Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares -14- Section 10. Record Date -15- Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights -17- Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares -22- Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power -24- Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares -26- Section 15. Rights of Action -27- Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders -28- Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder -28- Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent -28- Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent -29- Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent -29- Section 21. Change of Rights Agent -31- Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates -32- Section 23. Redemption -33- Section 24. Exchange -33- Section 25. Notice of Certain Events -35- Section 26. Notices -35- Section 27. Supplements and Amendments -36- Section 28. Successors -37- Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. -37- Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement -37- Section 31. Severability -37- Section 32. Governing Law -38- Section 33. Counterparts -38- Section 34. Descriptive Headings -38- EXHIBITS Exhibit A Form of Certificate of Designation Exhibit B Form of Rights Certificate Exhibit C Summary of Rights AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of July 19, 1999, by and between NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC., a Delaware corporation, and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the "Agreement"), amending and restating the Rights Agreement, dated as of May 27, 1997, by and between NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC., a Delaware corporation, and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. On April 10, 1997 (the "RIGHTS DIVIDEND DECLARATION DATE"), the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors") authorized and declared a dividend of one Preferred Share Purchase Right (a "RIGHT") for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on June 15, 1997 (the "RECORD DATE"), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement), having the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in the form of Certificate of Designations of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Participating Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) with respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), and in certain circumstances after the Distribution Date. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows: Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated: (a) "ACQUIRING PERSON" shall mean any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, but shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% 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 (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares), then such Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional Common Shares of the Company such Person does not beneficially own 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Board of Directors 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 (including, without limitation, because (A) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of the Common Shares that would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person," or (B) such Person was aware of the extent of the Common Shares it beneficially owned but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such beneficial ownership under this Agreement) and without any intention of changing or influencing control of the Company, and if such Person divested or divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person," then such Person shall not be deemed to be or to have become an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement; and (ii) if, as of the date hereof, any Person is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares outstanding, such Person shall not be or become an "Acquiring Person," unless and until such time as such Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of additional Common Shares (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares), unless, upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional Common Shares, such Person is not then the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding. (b) "ADJUSTMENT FRACTION" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(i) hereof. (c) "AFFILIATE" and "ASSOCIATE" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement. (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, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder (or any comparable or successor law or regulation); (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 the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed pursuant to this Section 1(d)(ii)(A) to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (1) 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 (2) securities which a Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates may be deemed to have the right to acquire pursuant to any merger or other acquisition agreement between the Company and such Person (or one or more of its Affiliates or Associates) if such agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors prior to there being an Acquiring Person; 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 under this Section 1(d)(ii)(B) 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 of the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or (iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing (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)) or disposing of any securities of the Company; provided, however, that in no case shall an officer or director of the Company be deemed (x) the Beneficial Owner of any securities beneficially owned by another officer or director of the Company solely by reason of actions undertaken by such persons in their capacity as officers or directors of the Company or (y) the Beneficial Owner of securities held of record by the trustee of any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than the officer or director, by reason of any influence that such officer or director may have over the voting of the securities held in the plan. (e) "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York 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., New York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the next succeeding Business Day. (g) "COMMON SHARES" when used with reference to the Company shall mean the shares of Common Stock of the Company, $0.001 par value. Common Shares when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person. (h) "COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. (i) "COMPANY" shall mean NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC., a Delaware corporation, subject to the terms of Section 13(a)(iii)(C) hereof. (j) "CURRENT PER SHARE MARKET PRICE" of any security (a "Security" for purposes of this definition), for all computations other than those made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall mean the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Per Share Market Price of any Security on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the ten (10) 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 (i) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such shares or (ii) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration of the applicable thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, 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 sale price or, if such last sale price is not reported, 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. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Security, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors shall be used. 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 this Section 1(k), as appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof, multiplied by 1000. If the Security is not 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, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. (k) "CURRENT VALUE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. (l) "DISTRIBUTION DATE" shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors) after the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if, assuming the successful consummation thereof, such Person would be an Acquiring Person. (m) "EQUIVALENT SHARES" shall mean Preferred Shares and any other class or series of capital stock of the Company which is entitled to the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares. (n) "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (o) "EXCHANGE RATIO" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a) hereof. (p) "EXERCISE PRICE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof. (q) "EXPIRATION DATE" shall mean the earliest to occur of: (i) the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) consummation of any transaction contemplated by Section 13(f) hereof, or (iv) the time at which the Board of Directors orders the exchange of the Rights as provided in Section 24 hereof. (r) "FINAL EXPIRATION DATE" shall mean April 10, 2007. (s) "NASDAQ" shall mean the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System. (t) "PERMITTED OFFER" shall mean a tender offer for all outstanding Common Shares made in the manner prescribed by Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; provided, however, that such tender offer occurs at a time when the Board of Directors has determined that the offer is both fair and otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders (taking into account all factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant). (u) "PERSON" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity. (v) "POST-EVENT TRANSFEREE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e) hereof. (w) "PREFERRED SHARES" shall mean shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company. (x) "PRE-EVENT TRANSFEREE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e) hereof. (y) "PRINCIPAL PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof. (z) "RECORD DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals at the beginning of this Agreement. (aa) "REDEMPTION DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a) hereof. (bb) "REDEMPTION PRICE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a) hereof. (cc) "RIGHTS AGENT" shall mean American Stock Transfer & Trust Company or its successor or replacement as provided in Sections 19 and 21 hereof. (dd) "RIGHTS CERTIFICATE" shall mean a certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. (ee) "RIGHTS DIVIDEND DECLARATION DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals at the beginning of this Agreement. (ff) "SECTION 11(A)(II) TRIGGER DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. (gg) "SECTION 13 EVENT" shall mean any event described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof. (hh) "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. (ii) "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE" shall mean the first date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such; provided that, if such Person is determined not to have become an Acquiring Person pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition Date shall be deemed to have occurred. (jj) "SPREAD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. (kk) "SUBSIDIARY" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other entity of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect a majority of the directors or Persons having similar authority of such corporation or other entity is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or any corporation or other entity otherwise controlled by such Person. (ll) "SUBSTITUTION PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof. (mm) "SUMMARY OF RIGHTS" shall mean a summary of this Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C. (nn) "TOTAL EXERCISE PRICE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof. (oo) "TRADING DAY" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which a referenced security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if a referenced security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. (pp) "TRIGGERING EVENT" shall be deemed to have occurred upon any Person becoming an Acquiring Person. Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be the holders of the Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable. Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates. (a) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof) by the certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates shall also be deemed to be Rights Certificates) and not by separate Rights Certificates and (ii) the right to receive Rights Certificates will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the surrender for transfer of certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute the surrender for transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. 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, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Rights Certificate evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per Common Share has been made pursuant to Section 11 hereof, then at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates and may be transferred by the transfer of the Rights Certificates as permitted hereby, separately and apart from any transfer of Common Shares, and the holders of such Rights Certificates as listed in the records of the Company or any transfer agent or registrar for the Rights shall be the record holders thereof. (b) On or about the Record Date, the Company sent a copy of 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's transfer agent and registrar. With respect to certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the holders thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Shares outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. (c) Unless the Board of Directors by resolution adopted at or before the time of the issuance of any Common Shares specifies to the contrary, Rights shall be issued in respect of all Common Shares that are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances provided in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates representing such Common Shares shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend: THIS CERTIFICATE ALSO EVIDENCES AND ENTITLES THE HOLDER HEREOF TO CERTAIN RIGHTS AS SET FORTH IN A RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, AS THE RIGHTS AGENT (THE "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC., UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, SUCH RIGHTS WILL BE EVIDENCED BY SEPARATE CERTIFICATES AND WILL NO LONGER BE EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE. NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. WILL MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO, OR HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD BY OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER, MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. (d) In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding. Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates. (a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase Common Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or a national market system, on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or included, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date (or in the case of Rights issued with respect to Common Shares issued by the Company after the Record Date, as of the date of issuance of such Common Shares) and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one- thousandths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share being hereinafter referred to as the "EXERCISE PRICE" and the aggregate Exercise Price of all Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of one Right being hereinafter referred to as the "TOTAL EXERCISE PRICE"), but the number and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein. (b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend: THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its President or any Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal (if any) or a facsimile thereof. The Rights 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 Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates on behalf of the Company had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer. (b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its office designated for such purposes, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates. Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates. (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates. (b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, 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 Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated. Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights. (a) Subject to Sections 7(e), 23(b) and 24(b) hereof, the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date by surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of the Exercise Price for each one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the case may be) as to which the Rights are exercised. (b) The Exercise Price for each one-thousandth of a Preferred Share issuable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $51.75, shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 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 Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the case may be) to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for the Preferred Shares) a certificate or certificates for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the case may be) to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the case may be) issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the case may be) as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Preferred Shares (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the case may be) represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the Exercise Price (as such amount may be reduced (including to zero) pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, may be made in cash or by certified bank check, cashier's check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue securities of the Company other than Preferred Shares, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. (d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Rights Certificate or to his or her duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof. (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such (a "POST-EVENT TRANSFEREE"), (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e) (a "PRE-EVENT TRANSFEREE") or (iv) any subsequent transferee receiving transferred Rights from a Post-Event Transferee or a Pre-Event Transferee, either directly or through one or more intermediate transferees, shall become null and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or to any other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of such Acquiring Person's Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder. (f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall, in addition to having complied with the requirements of Section 7(a), have (i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company. Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares. (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will use its best efforts to cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares not reserved for another purpose (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and unissued Common Shares and/or other securities), the number of Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of the Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights. (b) If the Company shall hereafter list any of its Preferred Shares on a national securities exchange, then so long as the Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) issuable and deliverable upon exercise of the Rights may be listed on such exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable (but only to the extent that it is reasonably likely that the Rights will be exercised), all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise. (c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event in which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights is described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities and (B) the date of expiration of the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating, and notify the Rights Agent, that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement and notification to the Rights Agent at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction, unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained, or an exemption therefrom shall be available, and until a registration statement has been declared effective. (d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such securities (subject to payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares. (e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates or of any Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due. Section 10. Record Date. Each Person in whose name any certificate for a number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or other securities of the Company) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Total Exercise Price with respect to which the Rights have been exercised (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the 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 transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) 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 Exercise Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights. The Exercise Price, the number and kind of shares or other property 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) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, 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 (by reverse stock split or otherwise) 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), then, in each such event, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11 and Section 7(e) hereof: (1) the Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be adjusted so that the Exercise Price thereafter shall equal the result obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such time by a fraction (the "ADJUSTMENT FRACTION"), the numerator of which shall be the total number of Preferred Shares (or shares of capital stock issued in such reclassification of the Preferred Shares) outstanding immediately following such time and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Preferred Shares outstanding immediately prior to such time; 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 such Right; and (2) the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or share of such other capital stock) issuable upon the exercise of each Right shall equal the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or share of such other capital stock) as was issuable upon exercise of a Right immediately prior to the occurrence of the event described in clauses (A)-(D) of this Section 11(a)(i), multiplied by the Adjustment Fraction; provided, however, that, no such adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i) to the extent that there shall have simultaneously occurred an event described in clause (A), (B), (C) or (D) of Section 11(n) with a proportionate adjustment being made thereunder. Each Common Share that shall become outstanding after an adjustment has been made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i) shall have associated with it the number of Rights, exercisable at the Exercise Price and for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or shares of such other capital stock) as one Common Share has associated with it immediately following the adjustment made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i). (ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event a Triggering Event shall have occurred, then promptly following such Triggering Event each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive for each Right, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the Triggering Event, in lieu of a number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share, such number of Common Shares of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the Triggering Event by the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable (or would have been exercisable if the Distribution Date had occurred) immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, and dividing that product by 50% of the Current Per Share Market Price for Common Shares on the date of occurrence of the Triggering Event; provided, however, that the Exercise Price and the number of Common Shares of the Company so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(e) hereof to reflect any events occurring in respect of the Common Shares of the Company after the occurrence of the Triggering Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii), the right to buy Common Shares of the Company pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall not arise as a result of any Person becoming an Acquiring Person through an acquisition of Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer. (iii) In lieu of issuing Common Shares in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if the Board of Directors determines that such action is necessary or appropriate and not contrary to the interest of holders of Rights and, in the event that the number of Common Shares which are authorized by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights, or if any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance has not been obtained by the Company, the Company shall: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "CURRENT VALUE") over (2) the Exercise Price (such excess, the "SPREAD") and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for such Common Shares, upon exercise of the Rights, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Exercise Price, (3) other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares or units of shares of any series of preferred stock which the Board of Directors has deemed to have the same value as Common Shares (such shares or units of shares of preferred stock are herein called "COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS")), except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for such issuance, (4) debt securities of the Company, except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for such issuance, (5) other assets or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors; provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Triggering Event and (y) the date on which the Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "SECTION 11(A)(II) TRIGGER DATE"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Exercise Price, Common Shares (to the extent available), except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for such issuance, and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional Common Shares could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights or that any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance will be obtained, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares or take action to obtain such regulatory approval (such period, as it may be extended, the "SUBSTITUTION PERIOD"). To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares, to take any action to obtain any required regulatory approval and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Shares shall be the Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Shares on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares on such date. (b) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this Agreement, fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling such holders (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares at a price per share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares) less than the then Current Per Share Market Price of the Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares on such record date, then, in each such case, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date, plus the number of Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, to be offered or issued (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities to be offered or issued) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, 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, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Preferred Shares and Equivalent 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 Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed. (c) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this Agreement, fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares or of any class or series of Equivalent 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, if any, or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), then, in each such case, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Per Share Market Price of a Preferred Share or an Equivalent Share on such record date, less the fair market value per Preferred Share or Equivalent Share (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a Preferred Share or Equivalent Share, as the case may be, and the denominator of which shall be such Current Per Share Market Price of a Preferred Share or Equivalent Share 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 issuable 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 Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed. (d) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Exercise Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(d) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a Common Share or other share or one hundred-thousandth of a Preferred Share, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(d), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date. (e) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) or 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right and, if required, the Exercise Price thereof, shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares contained in Sections 11(a), 11(b), 11(c), 11(d), 11(g), 11(h), 11(i), 11(j), 11(k) and 11(l), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares. (f) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. (g) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(h), upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, that number of Preferred Shares (calculated to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of Preferred Shares covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Exercise Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Exercise Price. (h) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) or (c) to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of Preferred Shares 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-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one hundred-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Exercise 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 Exercise Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(h), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Exercise Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement. (i) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Exercise Price per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share and the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder. (j) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Exercise Price below the par or stated value, if any, of the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share 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 as fully paid and nonassessable shares such number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share at such adjusted Exercise Price. (k) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Exercise 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 number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Exercise Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment. (l) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Exercise 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 (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred or Common Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred or Common Shares at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred or Common Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred or Common Shares, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred or Common Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders. (m) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take (or permit to be taken) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. (n) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, (C) combine the outstanding Common Shares (by reverse stock split or otherwise) into a smaller number of Common Shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such event, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof: (1) each Common Share (or shares of capital stock issued in such reclassification of the Common Shares) outstanding immediately following such time shall have associated with it the number of Rights as were associated with one Common Share immediately prior to the occurrence of the event described in clauses (A)-(D) above; (2) the Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be adjusted so that the Exercise Price thereafter shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such time by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to the event described in clauses (A)-(D) above, and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event; 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 such Right; and (3) the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or shares of such other capital stock) issuable upon the exercise of each Right outstanding after such event shall equal the number of one- thousandths of a Preferred Share (or shares of such other capital stock) as were issuable with respect to one Right immediately prior to such event. Each Common Share that shall become outstanding after an adjustment has been made pursuant to this Section 11(n) shall have associated with it the number of Rights, exercisable at the Exercise Price and for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or shares of such other capital stock) as one Common Share has associated with it immediately following the adjustment made pursuant to this Section 11(n). If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(n) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(n) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof. Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 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 Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 26 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the validity of such adjustment or the force or effect of the requirement for such adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment contained therein and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate. Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power. (a) In the event that, following a Triggering Event, directly or indirectly: (i) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of the Company and which complies with Section 11(m) hereof); (ii) 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 consolidation or 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 (iii) 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 or Persons (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which individually (and together) complies with Section 11(m) hereof),then, concurrent with and in each such case, (A) each holder of a Right (except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at a price equal to the Total Exercise Price applicable immediately prior to the occurrence of the Section 13 Event in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, nonassessable and freely tradable Common Shares of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), free of any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by dividing such Total Exercise Price by 50% of the Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Shares of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event, provided, however, that the Exercise Price and the number of Common Shares of such Principal Party so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(e) hereof; (B) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (C) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (D) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (E) upon the subsequent occurrence of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets or other extraordinary transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a Right shall thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the Total Exercise Price as provided in this Section 13(a), such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property which such holder would have been entitled to receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the Common Shares of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of such Right pursuant to this Section 13(a), and such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property. (F) For purposes hereof, the "earning power" of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be determined in good faith by the Company's Board of Directors on the basis of the operating earnings of each business operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries during the three fiscal years preceding the date of such determination (or, in the case of any business not operated by the Company or any Subsidiary during three full fiscal years preceding such date, during the period such business was operated by the Company or any Subsidiary). (b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "PRINCIPAL PARTY" shall mean: (i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that is the issuer of the securities into which the Common Shares are converted in such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer the Common Shares of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding, or (B) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that is the other party to the merger, if such Person survives said merger, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person the Common Shares of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding or (y) if the Person that is the other party to the merger does not survive the merger, the Person that does survive the merger (including the Company if it survives) or (z) the Person resulting from the consolidation; and (ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if more than one Person that is a party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning power so transferred and each such portion would, were it not for the other equal portions, constitute the greatest portion of the assets or earning power so transferred, or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such Persons is the issuer of Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding; provided, however, that in any such case described in the foregoing clause (b)(i) or (b)(ii), if the Common Shares of such Person are not at such time or have not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Shares of which are and have been so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person, or (2) if such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Shares of which are and have been so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding, or (3) if such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly by the same Person, the rules set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the owners having an interest in the venture as if the Person owned by the joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or all of such joint venturers, and the Principal Party in each such case shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as its interest in such Person bears to the total of such interests. (c) The Company shall not consummate any Section 13 Event unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized Common Shares that have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that such Principal Party shall, upon consummation of such Section 13 Event, assume this Agreement in accordance with Sections 13(a) and 13(b) hereof, that all rights of first refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the issuance of Common Shares of such Principal Party upon exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived, that there are no rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights and that such transaction shall not result in a default by such Principal Party under this Agreement, and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of such Section 13 Event, such Principal Party will: (i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date, and similarly comply with applicable state securities laws; (ii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a national securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements for quotation on Nasdaq and list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on Nasdaq; and (iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for such Principal Party which comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act. In the event that at any time after the occurrence of a Triggering Event some or all of the Rights shall not have been exercised at the time of a transaction described in this Section 13, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter be exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a) (without taking into account any prior adjustment required by Section 11(a)(ii)). (d) In case the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(b) hereof has provision in any of its authorized securities or in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other instrument governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to Section 13 hereof), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a Section 13 Event, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such Principal Party at less than the then Current Per Share Market Price thereof or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such Principal Party at less than such then Current Per Share Market Price, or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar provision in connection with the issuance of the Common Shares of such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13 hereof, then, in such event, the Company hereby agrees with each holder of Rights that it shall not consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled, waived or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the applicable provision will have no effect in connection with or as a consequence of, the consummation of the proposed transaction. (e) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date, effect or permit to occur any Section 13 Event, if (i) at the time or immediately after such Section 13 Event there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such Section 13 Event, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(b) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature of organization of the Principal Party would preclude or limit the exercisability of the Rights. (f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 13(a) if: (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons); (ii) the price per share of Common Shares offered in such transaction is not less than the price per share of Common Shares paid to all holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant to such Permitted Offer; and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the remaining holders of Common Shares pursuant to such transaction is the same form as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such Permitted Offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(f), all Rights hereunder shall expire. (g) 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 Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For 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, as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(k) hereof. (b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share). Interests in fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it; provided, that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a Preferred Share. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Preferred Share shall be one thousand times the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(k) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise. (c) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a Common Share. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of a Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(k) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise. (d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly waives his or her right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of a Right. 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 Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Rights 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 Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his or her own behalf and for his or her own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his or her right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and 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 Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that: (a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares; (b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed; and (c) subject to Sections 6(a) and 7(f) hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights 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 Rights Certificates or the associated Common Shares certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose to be 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 Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights 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 Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof. Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and 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. In no event will the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damage. (b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for 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 reasonably 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. (a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement. (b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement. Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound: (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the written advice or 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 written advice or opinion. (b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of Current Per Share Market Price) be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate. (c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder 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 Rights Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only. (e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Rights 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 Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after receipt by the Rights Agent of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12 describing such change or adjustment); 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 Rights 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 Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five (5) Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted. (h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity. (i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof. (j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. (k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company. Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his or her Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stockholder services 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 $100 million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be. Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities of the Company outstanding at the date hereof or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued and this sentence shall be null and void ab initio if, and to the extent that, such issuance or this sentence would create a significant risk of or result in material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued or would create a significant risk of or result in such options' or employee plans' or arrangements' failing to qualify for otherwise available special tax treatment and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof. Section 23. Redemption. (a) The Company may, at its option and with the approval of the Board of Directors, at any time prior to (i) the Shares Acquisition Date and (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being herein referred to as the "REDEMPTION PRICE") and the Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares (based on the Current Per Share Market Price thereof at the time of redemption) or cash. Such redemption of the Rights by the Company may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. The date on which the Board of Directors elects to make the redemption effective shall be referred to as the "REDEMPTION DATE." (b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. 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 ten (10) days after the action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at 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) Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, and subject to subsection 24(c) below, the Company may, at its option, by the Board of Directors, at any time after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "EXCHANGE RATIO"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such 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 ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection 24(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 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 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 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights. (c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with Section 24(a), the Company shall either take such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights or alternatively, at the option of a majority of the Board of Directors, with respect to each Right (i) pay cash in an amount equal to the Current Value (as hereinafter defined), in lieu of issuing Common Shares in exchange therefor, or (ii) issue debt or equity securities or a combination thereof, having a value equal to the Current Value, in lieu of issuing Common Shares in exchange for each such Right, where the value of such securities shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by majority vote of the Board of Directors, or (iii) deliver any combination of cash, property, Common Shares and/or other securities having a value equal to the Current Value in exchange for each Right. For purposes of this Section 24(c) only, the Current Value shall mean the product of the Current Per Share Market Price of Common Shares on the date of the occurrence of the event described above in subparagraph (a), multiplied by the number of Common Shares for which the Right otherwise would be exchangeable if there were sufficient shares available. To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 24(c), the Board of Directors may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a period of up to sixty (60) days following the date on which the event described in Section 24(a) shall have occurred, in order to seek any authorization of additional Common Shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to the above provision and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended. (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, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights 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 (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(k) hereof). (e) The Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the Board of Directors, at any time before any Person has become an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights for rights of substantially equivalent value, as determined reasonably and with good faith by the Board of Directors, based upon the advice of one or more nationally recognized investment banking firms. (f) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection 24(e) 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 rights in exchange therefor as has been determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with subsection 24(e) above. The Company shall 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 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 transfer agent for the Common Shares of the Company. 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 Rights will be effected. Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. (a) In case the Company shall propose to effect or permit to occur any Triggering Event or Section 13 Event, the Company shall give notice thereof to each holder of Rights in accordance with Section 26 hereof at least twenty (20) days prior to occurrence of such Triggering Event or such Section 13 Event. (b) In case any Triggering Event or Section 13 Event shall occur, then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Sections 11(a)(ii) and 13 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 Rights Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows: NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. 3050 Science Park Road San Diego, California 92121 Attention: Gary A. Lyons with a copy to: Latham & Watkins 633 West Fifth Street, Suite 4000 Los Angeles, California 90071-2007 Attention: Michael W. Sturrock 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 Rights 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: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company 6201 15th Avenue, 3rd Floor Brooklyn, NY 11219 Attention: Isaac Kagan Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company. Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the occurrence of a Distribution Date, the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or amendment. From and after the occurrence of a Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable or (B) any other time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person). Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Shares. Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder. Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board, or the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board of Directors in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights Certificates and all other parties and (y) not subject the Board of Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights. All determinations and actions requiring the vote of, or permitted to be taken by, the Board of Directors shall be by the affirmative vote of a majority of such Board of Directors to be valid and binding. Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, 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 Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares). Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of Directors determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors. Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right and each Rights 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 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written. "COMPANY" NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. By: Name: Gary Lyons Title: CEO "RIGHTS AGENT" AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY By: Name: Herbert J. Lemmer Title: Vice President A-5 EXHIBIT A CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND PRIVILEGES OF SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK OF NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. The undersigned, Gary A. Lyons and Margaret-Valeur-Jensen do hereby certify: 1. That they are the duly elected and acting President and Secretary, respectively, of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "CORPORATION"). 2. That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation of the said Corporation, the said Board of Directors on April 10, 1997 adopted the following resolution creating a series of 50,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series A Participating Preferred Stock: "RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors of the corporation by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors does hereby provide for the issue of a series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation and does hereby fix and herein state and express the designations, powers, preferences and relative and other special rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such series of Preferred Stock as follows: Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be designated as "SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK." The Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.001 per share, and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 50,000. Section 2. Proportional Adjustment. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the issuance of any share or shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock of the Corporation ("COMMON STOCK") payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Corporation shall simultaneously effect a proportional adjustment to the number of outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock. Section 3. Dividends and Distributions. (a) Subject to the prior and superior right of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of January, April, July and October 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 Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock. (b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock). (c) Dividends shall begin to accrue on outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Participating 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 from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof. Section 4. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights: (a) Each share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. (b) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation. (c) Except as required by law, holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action. Section 5. Certain Restrictions. (a) The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make any distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock unless concurrently therewith it shall declare a dividend on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as required by Section 3 hereof. (b) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Section 3 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not (i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Participating Preferred Stock; (ii) declare or pay dividends on, 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 Series A Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled; (iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity 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 Participating Preferred Stock; (iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes. (c) 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 5, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner. Section 6. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein and, in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as then amended. Section 7. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share equal to 1000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends on such shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock. Section 8. 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 the shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. Section 9. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable. Section 10. Ranking. The Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise. Section 11. Amendment. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preference or special rights of the Series A Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class. Section 12. Fractional Shares. Series A Participating Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock. RESOLVED FURTHER, that the President or any Vice President and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of this corporation be, and they hereby are, authorized and directed to prepare and file a Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges in accordance with the foregoing resolution and the provisions of Delaware law and to take such actions as they may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of the foregoing resolution." We further declare under penalty of perjury that the matters set forth in the foregoing Certificate of Designation are true and correct of our own knowledge. Executed at _______________ on ________________, 1999. /s/ Gary A. Lyons Gary A. Lyons, President /s/ Margaret Valeur-Jensen Margaret Valeur-Jensen, Secretary B-3 EXHIBIT B FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE Certificate No. R - Series A Preferred Purchase Rights NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF (i) APRIL 10, 2007 (ii) THE DATE TERMINATED BY THE COMPANY OR (iii) THE DATE THE COMPANY EXCHANGES THE RIGHTS PURSUANT TO THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]1 RIGHTS CERTIFICATE NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, 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 Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of July 19, 1999, (the "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), by and between NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company ( the "RIGHTS AGENT"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., New York time, on April 10, 2007 at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, no par value, (the "PREFERRED SHARES"), of the Company, at a Exercise Price of $51.75 per one thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "EXERCISE PRICE"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above are the number and Exercise Price as of April 10, 1997 based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number and kind of Preferred Shares or other securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events. This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent. Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company, at its option, at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged by the Company in whole or in part for Common Shares, substantially equivalent rights or other consideration as determined by the Company. This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate amount of securities as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. No fractional portion of less than one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement. No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement. This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent. WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal. Dated as of _______________, 19____. ATTEST: NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. By: Margaret Valeur-Jensen Its: Secretary COUNTERSIGNED: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Rights Agent By: ______________________________ Its: _____________________________ FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE FORM OF ASSIGNMENT (To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate) FOR VALUE RECEIVED ___________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto _________________________________________________ (Please print name and address of transferee) __________________________________ this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution. Dated: _______________, 19____ Signature Signature Guaranteed: Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States. CERTIFICATE The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that: (1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person. Dated: _______________, 19____ Signature Signature Guaranteed: Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States. FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE - CONTINUED FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE (To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate) To: ___________________________ The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________________________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such number of one- thousandths of a Preferred Share 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 Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to: Please insert social security or other identifying number (Please print name and address) Dated: _______________, 19____ Signature Signature Guaranteed: Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States. CERTIFICATE The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that: (1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); (2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person. Dated: _______________, 19____ Signature Signature Guaranteed: Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States. FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE - CONTINUED NOTICE The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. C-2 EXHIBIT C STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. Summary of Rights Distribution and Transfer of Rights: The Board of Directors has declared a Transfer of Rights dividend of one Right for Rights Certificate: each share of NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. Common Stock outstanding. Prior to the Distribution Date referred to below, the Rights will be evidenced by and trade with the certificates for the Common Stock. After the Distribution Date, NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. (the "COMPANY") will mail Rights certificates to the Company's stockholders and the Rights will become transferable apart from the Common Stock. Distribution Date: Rights will separate from the Common Stock and become exercisable following (a) the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by a majority of the Board of Directors) after a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock or (b) the tenth business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors) after a person or group announces a tender or exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock. Preferred Stock Purchasable Upon Exercise of Rights: After the Distribution Date, each Right will entitle the holder to purchase for $51.75 (the "EXERCISE PRICE"), a fraction of a share of the Company's Preferred Stock with economic terms similar to that of one share of the Company's Common Stock. Flip-In: If an acquiror (an "ACQUIRING PERSON") obtains 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock (other than pursuant to a tender offer deemed adequate and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders by the Board of Directors (a "PERMITTED OFFER")), then each Right (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person or its affiliates) will entitle the holder thereof to purchase, for the Exercise Price, a number of shares of the Company's Common Stock having a then current market value of twice the Exercise Price. Flip-Over: If, after an Acquiring Person obtains 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock, (a) the Company merges into another entity, (b) an acquiring entity merges into the Company or (c) the Company sells more than 50% of the Company's assets or earning power, then each Right (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person or its affiliates) will entitle the holder thereof to purchase, for the Exercise Price, a number of shares of Common Stock of the person engaging in the transaction having a then current market value of twice the Exercise Price (unless the transaction satisfies certain conditions and is consummated with a person who acquired shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer, in which case the Rights will expire). Exchange Provision: At any time after the date an Acquiring Person obtains 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock and prior to the acquisition by the Acquiring Person of 50% of the outstanding Common Stock, a majority of the Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person or its affiliates), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right (subject to adjustment). Redemption of Rights: Rights will be redeemable at the Company's option for $0.01 per Right at any time prior to a public announcement that a Person has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock (the "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE"). Expiration of the Rights: The Rights expire on the earliest of (a) ten years after the date of adoption of the Plan, (b) exchange or redemption of the Rights as described above, or (c) consummation of a merger, consolidation or asset sale resulting in expiration of the Rights as described above. Amendment of Rights: The terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be amended in any respect without the consent of the Rights holders on or prior to the Distribution Date; thereafter, the terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be amended without the consent of the Rights holders in order to cure any ambiguities or to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of Rights holders (other than the Acquiring Person). Voting Rights: Rights will not have any voting rights. Anti-Dilution Provisions: Rights will have the benefit of certain customary anti-dilution provisions. Taxes: The Rights distribution should not be taxable for federal income tax purposes. However, following an event which renders the Rights exercisable or upon redemption of the Rights, stockholders may recognize taxable income. The foregoing is a summary of certain principal terms of the Plan only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed terms of the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement between the Company and the Rights Agent. - -------- 1 The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence. 1 This Summary of Rights has been revised to conform to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement; as the Company intends to file a Form 10-Q regarding the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, this revised Summary of Rights will not be re-distributed to the Company's stockholders.

EXHIBIT 10 AMENDED 1992 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC. AMENDED 1992 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN (as amended May 27, 1997, May 27, 1998 and May 21, 1999) 1. Purpose of the Plan. The purposes of this Incentive Stock Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentive to the employees of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (the "Company") and to promote the success of the Company's business. Options granted hereunder may be either Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options, at the discretion of the Board and as reflected in the terms of the written option agreement. The Board also has the discretion to grant Stock Purchase Rights. 2. Definitions. (a) "Board" shall mean the Committee, if one has been appointed, or the Board of Directors of the Company, if no Committee is appointed. (b) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. (c) "Committee" shall mean the Committee appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 4(a) of the Plan, if one is appointed. (d) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company. (e) "Company" shall mean Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (f) "Consultant" shall mean any person who is engaged by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to render consulting services and is compensated for such consulting services, and any director of the Company whether compensated for such services or not. (g) "Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant" shall mean the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee or Consultant, as applicable. Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant shall not be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military leave, or any other leave of absence approved by the Board; provided that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days or reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute. (h) "Employee" shall mean any persons, including officers and directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. The payment of a director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company. (i) "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. (j) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" shall mean an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. (k) "Option" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. (l) "Optioned Stock" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an Option or Stock Purchase Right. (m) "Optionee" shall mean an Employee or Consultant who receives an Option. (n) "Parent" shall mean a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code. (o) "Plan" shall mean this 1992 Incentive Stock Plan. (p) "Purchaser" shall mean an Employee or Consultant who exercises a Stock Purchase Right. (q) "Share" shall mean a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 11 of the Plan. (r) "Stock Purchase Right" shall mean a right to purchase Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or the right to receive a bonus of Common Stock for past services. (s) "Subsidiary" shall mean a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code. 3. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares under the Plan is 5,300,000 shares of Common Stock. The Shares may be authorized but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock. If an Option or Stock Purchase Right should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, then the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, shares issued under the Plan and later repurchased by the Company shall not become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. 4. Administration of the Plan. (a) Procedure. (i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. The Plan may be administered by different Committees with respect to different groups of Employees and Consultants. (ii) Section 162(m). To the extent that the Administrator determines it to be desirable to qualify Options granted hereunder as "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan shall be administered by a Committee of two or more "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. (iii) Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder shall be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3. (iv) Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee shall be constituted to satisfy applicable laws. (b) Powers of the Board. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have the authority, in its discretion: (i) to grant Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options or Stock Purchase Rights; (ii) to determine, upon review of relevant information and in accordance with Section 7 of the Plan, the fair market value of the Common Stock; (iii) to determine the exercise price per share of Options or Stock Purchase Rights, to be granted, which exercise price shall be determined in accordance with Section 7 of the Plan; (iv) to determine the Employees or Consultants to whom, and the time or times at which, Options or Stock Purchase Rights shall be granted and the number of shares to be represented by each Option or Stock Purchase Right; (v) to interpret the Plan; (vi) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (vii) to determine the terms and provisions of each Option and Stock Purchase Right granted (which need not be identical) and, with the consent of the holder thereof, modify or amend any provisions (including provisions relating to exercise price) of any Option or Stock Purchase Right; (viii) to accelerate or defer (with the consent of the Optionee) the exercise date of any Option, consistent with the provisions of Section 5 of the Plan; (ix) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effectuate the grant of an Option or Stock Purchase Right previously granted by the Board; (x) to allow Optionees to satisfy withholding tax obligations by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by an Optionee to have Shares withheld for this purpose shall be made in such form and under such conditions as the Administrator may deem necessary or advisable; and (xi) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. (c) Effect of Board's Decision. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Board shall be final and binding on all Optionees, Purchasers and any other holders of any Options or Stock Purchase Rights granted under the Plan. 5. Eligibility. (a) Options and Stock Purchase Rights may be granted to Employees and Consultants, provided that Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Employees. An Employee or Consultant who has been granted an Option or Stock Purchase Right may, if such Employee or Consultant is otherwise eligible, be granted additional Option(s) or Stock Purchase Right(s). (b) Each Option shall be designated in the written option agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the Shares with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. (c) For purposes of Section 5(b), Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the fair market value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted. (d) The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee or holder of a Stock Purchase Right any right with respect to continuation of employment by or the rendition of consulting services to the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with his or her right or the Company's right to terminate his or her employment or services at any time, with or without cause. (e) The following limitations shall apply to grants of Options to Employees: (i) No Employee shall be granted, in any fiscal year of the Company, Options to purchase more than 250,000 Shares. (ii) In connection with his or her initial employment, an Employee may be granted Options to purchase up to an additional 250,000 Shares which shall not count against the limit set forth in subsection (i) above. (iii) The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any change in the Company's capitalization as described in Section 11. (iv) If an Option is canceled in the same fiscal year of the Company in which it was granted (other than in connection with a transaction described in Section 12), the canceled Option shall be counted against the limit set forth in subsection (i) above. For this purpose, if the exercise price of an Option is reduced, such reduction will be treated as a cancellation of the Option and the grant of a new Option. 6. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company entitled to vote on the adoption of the Plan. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 13 of the Plan. 7. Exercise Price and Consideration. (a) The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right shall be such price as is determined by the Board, but shall be subject to the following: (i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option; (A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant of such Incentive Stock Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the fair market value per Share on the date of grant. (B) granted to any other Employee, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the fair market value per Share on the date of grant. (ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option or a Stock Purchase Right, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 85% of the fair market value per Share on the date of grant. In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. (iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a merger or other corporate transaction. For purposes of this Section 7(a), in the event that an Option or Stock Purchase Right is amended to reduce the exercise price, the date of grant of such Option or Stock Purchase Right shall thereafter be considered to be the date of such amendment. (b) The fair market value shall be determined by the Board in its discretion; provided, however, that where there is a public market for the Common Stock, the fair market value per Share shall be the mean of the bid and asked prices (or the closing price per share if the Common Stock is listed on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation ("NASDAQ") National Market System) of the Common Stock for the date of grant, as reported in the Wall Street Journal (or, if not so reported, as otherwise reported by the NASDAQ System) or, in the event the Common Stock is listed on a stock exchange, the fair market value per Share shall be the closing price on such exchange on the date of grant of the Option or Stock Purchase Right, as reported in the Wall Street Journal. (c) The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Board (and in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely of cash, check, promissory note, other Shares of Common Stock which (i) either have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender or were not acquired directly or indirectly, from the Company, and (ii) have a fair market value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised, or any combination of such methods of payment, or such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted under Sections 408 and 409 of the California General Corporation Law. In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the Board shall consider if acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the Company (Section 315(b) of the California General Corporation Law). 8. Options. (a) Term of Option. The term of each Option shall be the term stated in the Option Agreement; provided, however, that the term shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Optionee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement. (b) Exercise of Option. (i) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Board, including performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms of the Plan, but in no case at a rate of less than 20% per year over five (5) years from the date the Option is granted. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the Company. Full payment may, as authorized by the Board, consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 7 of, the Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Sock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon exercise of the Option. In the event that the exercise of a Nonstatutory Stock Option pursuant to Section 5(b), the Company shall issue a separate stock certificate evidencing the Shares treated as acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option and a separate stock certificate evidencing the Shares treated as acquired upon exercise of a Nonstatutory Stock Option and shall identify each such certificate accordingly in its stock transfer records. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 11 of the Plan. Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised. (ii) Termination of Status as an Employee or Consultant. In the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant (as the case may be), such Optionee may, but only within such period of time as is determined by the Board, with such determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option not exceeding three (3) months and in the case of Nonstatutory Stock Option not exceeding six (6) months after the date of termination, with such determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of grant of the Option, exercise the Option to the extent that such Employee or Consultant was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). To the extent that such Employee or Consultant was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of such termination, or if such Employee or Consultant does not exercise such Option (which such Employee or Consultant was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate. (iii) Disability of Optionee. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8(b)(ii) above, in the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant as a result of such Employee's or Consultant's total and permanent disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), such Employee or Consultant may, but only within six (6) months (or such other period of time not exceeding twelve (12) months as in determined by the Board, with such determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of gant of the Option) from the date of such termination (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise the Option to the extent such Employee or Consultant was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. To the extent that such Employee or Consultant was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if such Employee or Consultant does not exercise such Option (which such Employee or Consultant was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate. (iv) Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of an Optionee: (A) during the term of the Option who is at the time of his or her death an Employee or Consultant of the Company and who shall have been in Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant since the date of grant of the Option, the Option may be exercised, at any time within six (6) months (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that the right to exercise would have accrued had the Optionee continued living and remained in Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant six (6) months (or such other period of time as in determined by the Board at the time of grant of the Option) after the date of death; or (B) within thirty (30) days (or such other period of time not exceeding three (3) months as is determined by the Board, with such determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of grant of the Option) after the termination of Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant, the Option may be exercised, at any time within six (6) months (or such other period of time as is determined by the Board at the time of grant of the Option) following the date of death (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that had accrued at the date of termination. 9. Stock Purchase Rights. (a) Rights to Purchase. After the Board of Directors determines that it will offer an Employee or Consultant a Stock Purchase Right, it shall deliver to the offeree a stock purchase agreement or stock bonus agreement, as the case may be, setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions relating to the offer, including the number of Shares which such person shall be entitled to purchase, and the time within which such person must accept such offer, which shall in no event exceed six (6) months from the date upon which the Board of Directors or its Committee made the determination to grant the Stock Purchase Right. The offer shall be accepted by execution of a stock purchase agreement or stock bonus agreement in the from determined by the Board of Directors. (b) Issuance of Shares. Forthwith after payment therefor, the Shares purchased shall be duly issued; provided, however, that the Board may require that the Purchaser make adequate provision for any Federal and State withholding obligations of the Company as a condition to the Purchaser purchasing such Shares. (c) Repurchase Option. Unless the Board determines otherwise, the stock purchase agreement or stock bonus agreement shall grant the Company a repurchase option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the Purchaser's employment with the Company for any reason (including death or disability). If the Board so determines, the purchase price for shares repurchased may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the Purchaser to the Company. The repurchase option shall lapse at such rate as the Board may determine. (d) Other Provisions. The stock purchase agreement or stock bonus agreement shall contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Board of Directors. 10. Non-Transferability of Options and Stock Purchase Rights. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Option or Stock Purchase Right may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee. If the Administrator makes an Option or Stock Purchase Right transferable, such Option or Stock Purchase Right shall contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate. 11. Adjustments upon Changes in Capitalization or Merger. (a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right, and the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options or Stock Purchase Rights have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option or Stock Purchase Right, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company. The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option or Stock Purchase Right. (b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify the Optionee or Purchaser at least fifteen (15) days prior to such proposed action. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, the Option or Stock Purchase Right shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action. (c) Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a merger, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, tender offer or other transaction or series of related transactions resulting in a change of ownership of more than 50% of the voting securities of the Company ("Change in Control"), approved by the majority of the members of the Board on the Board prior to the commencement of such Change in Control, each outstanding Option shall be assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation; provided however, in the event that within one year of the date of the completion of the Change in Control, the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation terminates the employment of an Optionee without Cause (as defined below), such Optionee shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise the options assumed or substituted for the Option as to all of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which it would not otherwise be exercisable. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option, the Optionee shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise the Option as to all of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which it would not otherwise be exercisable. If an Option becomes fully vested and exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a Change of Control, the Administrator shall notify the Optionee in writing or electronically that the Option shall be fully vested and exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and the Option shall terminate upon the expiration of such period. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Option shall be considered assumed if, following the Change of Control, the option confers the right to purchase, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change of Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change of Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change of Control. For purposes of this paragraph, termination shall be for "Cause" in the event of the occurrence of any of the following: (a) any intentional action or intentional failure to act by employee which was performed in bad faith and to the material detriment of the successor corporation or its Parent or Subsidiary; (b) employee willfully and habitually neglects the duties of employment; or (c) employee is convicted of a felony crime involving moral turpitude, provided that in the event that any of the foregoing events is capable of being cured, the successor corporation or its Parent or Subsidiary shall provide written notice to the employee describing the nature of such event and the employee shall thereafter have five (5) business days to cure such event. In the event of a Change in Control which is not approved by the majority of the members of the Board on the Board prior to the commencement of a Change in Control, each Optionee shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise all outstanding Options as to all of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which it would not otherwise be exercisable. 12. Date of Granting Options. The date of grant of an Option or Stock Purchase Right shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Board makes the determination granting such Option or stock Purchase Right. Notice of the determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an Option or Stock Purchase Right is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant. 13. Amendment and Termination of the Plan. (a) Amendment and Termination. The Administrator may at any time amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of any Optionee under any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent. In addition, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Section 422 of the Code (or any other Applicable Laws or regulation, the requirements of the NASD or an established stock exchange), the Company shall obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required. (b) Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any such amendment or termination of the Plan shall not affect Options or Stock Purchase Rights already granted, and such Options and Stock Purchase Rights shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company. 14. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Rights unless the exercise of such Option or Stock Purchase Rights and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. As a condition to the exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right, the Company may require the person exercising such Option or Stock Purchase Right to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned relevant provisions of law. 15. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. 16. Option, Stock Purchase and Stock Bonus Agreements. Options shall be evidenced by written option agreements in such form as the Board shall approve. Upon the exercise of Stock Purchase Rights, the Purchaser shall sign a stock purchase agreement or stock bonus agreement in such form as the Board shall approve. 17. Shareholder Approval. Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted. Such shareholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner required under Applicable Laws and the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed. 18. Information to Optionees and Purchasers. The Company shall provide to each Optionee and Purchaser, during the period for which such Optionee or Purchaser has one or more Options to Stock Purchase Rights outstanding, a balance sheet and an income statement at least annually. The Company shall not be required to provide such information to key employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure there access to equivalent information.

5 1,000 6-MOS DEC-31-1999 JAN-01-1999 JUN-30-1999 11,900 41,198 2,734 0 0 56,519 16,123 (5,023) 70,583 3,694 0 0 0 19 63,315 70,583 0 7,361 0 0 17,267 0 110 0 0 0 0 0 0 (8,726) (0.46) (0.46)