1 EXHIBIT 4.3 45 2 AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT No. 2 (the "Agreement"), dated as of January 16, 1997, is between Studio Plus Hotels, Inc., a Virginia corporation (the "Company"), and FIFTH THIRD BANK, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent") Recitals A. The Company and the Rights Agent are parties to an Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of June 6, 1995, as amended on February 27, 1996 (the "Rights Agreement"). B. Extended Stay America, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Merger Partner"), ESA Merger Sub. Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Merger Partner ("Merger Sub"), and the Company propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of January 16, 1997 (the "Merger Agreement") pursuant to which the Company will be merged with and into Merger Sub, with the Merger Sub as the surviving corporation (the "Merger") C. Pursuant to section 27 of the Rights Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that an amendment to the Rights Agreement as set forth herein is necessary and desirable to reflect the foregoing and certain other matters, and the Company and the Rights Agent desire to evidence such amendment in writing. Accordingly, the parties agree as follows: 1. Amendment of Section 1(a). Section 1(a) of the Rights Agreement is amended by inserting the following at the end of Section 1(a): "In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Rights Agreement to the contrary neither Extended Stay America, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Merger Partner"), ESA Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Merger Partner ("Merger Sub"), nor any Affiliate or Associate of Merger Partner or Merger Sub, shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person by virtue of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, to be entered into as of January 16, 1997, between the Company, Merger Partner and Merger Sub, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms (the "Merger Agreement"), or by virtue of any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including without limitation, the publication or other announcement of the Merger in accordance with Section 5.6 of the Merger Agreement." 2. Amendment of Section 1(k). Section 1(k) of the Rights Agreement is amended by deleting the word "or" before the numeral (iii) therein and by adding to the end thereof the following: "or (iv) immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in 46 3 the Merger Agreement) of the Merger contemplated by and in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement." 3. Amendment of Section 3(a). Section 3(a) of the rights Agreement is amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof: "Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in this Rights Agreement to the contrary, a Distribution Date shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the execution, consummation or public announcement of the Merger Agreement or by virtue of any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement." 4. Amendment of Section 13. Section 13 of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following sentence at the end of such Section: "Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 13 shall not apply to the Merger or as a result of the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby." 5. Effectiveness. This Amendment shall be deemed effective as of January 16, 1997, as if executed on such date. Except as amended hereby, the Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be otherwise unaffected hereby. 6. Miscellaneous. This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such Commonwealth applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such Commonwealth. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute bu one and the same instrument. If any term, provision, covenants or restriction of this Amendment 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 Amendment shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. 47 4 EXECUTED as of the date first set forth above. STUDIO PLUS HOTELS, INC. Attest: a Virginia corporation - ------------------------------ --------------------------------- Name: Name: Title: Title: Attest: FIFTH THIRD BANK, as Rights Agent - ------------------------------ --------------------------------- Name: Name: Title: Title: 48