EXHIBIT 4.3 Number Shares KEYSPAN KEYSPAN CORPORATION SEE REVERSE COMMON STOCK Incorporated Under The Laws Of the State of New York FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS Cusip THIS CERTIFIES THAT IS THE OWNER OF FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE, OF KeySpan Corporation transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney upon the surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate and the shares represented hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation and any amendments thereto, to all of which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assets. This certificate is not valid unless countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. Witness the facsimile seal of the Corporation and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. Dated Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: Transfer Agent and Registrar By Authorized Signature The Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each authorized class of series hereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM - as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT _____Custodian ______ (Cust) (Minor) TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants under Uniform Gifts to Minors in common Act------------------ (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list For value received, __________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Please print or typewrite name and address, including zip code, of assignee) ================================================================================ ________________________________________________________________________________ shares of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ________________________________________________________________________Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated _______________________ ------------------------------------- NOTICE: The signature to this assignment mustcorrespond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular withoutalteration or enlargement or any change whatever. Signature(s) Guaranteed THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM) PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15. THIS CERTIFICATE ALSO EVIDENCES AND ENTITLES THE HOLDER HEREOF TO CERTAIN RIGHTS AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED MARCH 30, 1999, BY AND BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND THE RIGHTS AGENT THEREUNDER (THE "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF THE COMPANY. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, SUCH RIGHTS AGREEMENT, SUCH RIGHTS WILL BE EVIDENCED BY SEPARATE CERTIFICATES AND WILL NO LONGER BE EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE. THE CORPORATION WILL MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, AS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MAILING, WITHOUT CHARGE, PROMPTLY AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO, OR HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATED 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 OF SUCH RIGHTS, SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID.