<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3


                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                         Dated as of November 13, 1998
                                 by and among

                                  PSINet Inc.


                                      and

             Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation,
                           Chase Securities Inc. and
                       Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
<PAGE>
 
      This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and entered
                                                ---------                      
into as of November 13, 1998, by and among PSINet Inc., a New York corporation
(the "COMPANY"), and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, Chase
      -------                                                                  
Securities Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (each an "INITIAL
                                                                -------
PURCHASER" and, collectively, the "INITIAL PURCHASERS"), each of whom has agreed
---------                          ------------------                           
to purchase the Company's 11 1/2% Senior Notes due 2008 (the "NOTES") pursuant
                                                              -----           
to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

      This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated November
9, 1998 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), by and among the Company and the Initial
              ------------------                                            
Purchasers.  In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Notes,
the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the
obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 3 of the Purchase
Agreement.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have
the meaning assigned to them the Indenture, dated as of November 3, 1998, as
amended, between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, relating
to the Notes and the Exchange Notes (as defined below) (as amended, the
"INDENTURE").
 ---------   

      The parties hereby agree as follows:


SECTION 1.     DEFINITIONS

      As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the
following meanings:

      ACT:  The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
      ---                                          

      AFFILIATE:  As defined in Rule 144 of the Commission under the Act.
      ---------                                                          

      AFFILIATED MARKET MAKER:  A Broker-Dealer who is deemed to be an Affiliate
      -----------------------                                                   
of the Company.

      BROKER-DEALER:  Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
      -------------                                                          

      BUSINESS DAY: A day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking
      ------------                                                             
institutions located in New York City or in the place in which the Company
maintains its principal office are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or
executive order to be closed.

      CERTIFICATED SECURITIES:  Physical Notes, as defined in the Indenture.
      -----------------------                                               

      CLOSING DATE:  The date hereof.
      ------------                   

      COMMISSION:  The Securities and Exchange Commission.
      ----------                                          

      CONSUMMATE:  An Exchange Offer shall be deemed "Consummated" for purposes
      ----------                                                               
of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (a) the filing and effectiveness under
the Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange
Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (b) the 
<PAGE>
 
maintenance of such Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective
and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the period
required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and (c) the delivery by the Company to
the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Notes in the same aggregate
principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Notes validly tendered by
Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The term "Consummation" shall
have a correlative meaning.

      CONSUMMATION DEADLINE:  As defined in Section 3(b) hereof.
      ---------------------                                     

      EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE:  As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
      ----------------------                                               

      EXCHANGE ACT:  The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
      ------------                                                   

      EXCHANGE NOTES:  The Company's 11 1/2% Senior Notes due 2008 to be issued
      --------------                                                           
pursuant to the Indenture:  (i) in the Exchange Offer or (ii) as contemplated by
Section 4 hereof.

      EXCHANGE OFFER:  The exchange and issuance by the Company of an aggregate
      --------------                                                           
principal amount of Exchange Notes (which shall be registered pursuant to the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement) equal to the outstanding aggregate
principal amount of Notes that are tendered by such Holders in connection with
such exchange and issuance.

      EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT:  The Registration Statement
      -------------------------------------                             
relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.

      EXEMPT RESALES:  The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers propose
      --------------                                                           
to resell the Notes to certain "qualified institutional buyers," as such term is
defined in Rule 144A under the Act and pursuant to Regulation S under the Act.

      FILING DEADLINE:  As defined in Sections 3(a) and 4(a) hereof.
      ---------------                                               

      HOLDERS:  As defined in Section 2 hereof.
      -------                                  

      PERSON: Any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
      ------                                                         
partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof.

      PROSPECTUS:  The prospectus included in a Registration Statement at the
      ----------                                                             
time such Registration Statement is declared effective, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference
into such Offering Memorandum.

      RECOMMENCEMENT DATE: As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
      -------------------                                    

      REGISTRATION DEFAULT:  As defined in Section 5 hereof.
      --------------------                                  

      REGISTRATION STATEMENT:  Any registration statement of the Company
      ----------------------                                            
relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer or
(b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted 
<PAGE>
 
Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, (i) that
is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) including the
Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including
post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by
reference therein.

      REGULATION S: Regulation S promulgated under the Act.
      ------------                                         

      SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT:  As defined in Section 4 hereof.
      ----------------------------                                  

      SUSPENSION NOTICE:  As defined in Section 6(d) hereof.
      -----------------                                     

      TIA:  The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Section 77aaa-77bbbb) as
      ---                                                                      
in effect on the date of the Indenture.

      TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES: Each  Note, until the earliest to occur of
      ------------------------------                                            
(a) the date on which such Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer for a
Exchange Note which is entitled to be resold to the public by the Holder thereof
without complying with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Act, (b) the
date on which such Note has been disposed of in accordance with a Shelf
Registration Statement (and the purchasers thereof have been issued Exchange
Notes), or (c) the date on which such Note is entitled to be distributed to the
public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act (and purchasers thereof have been
issued Exchange Notes), and each Exchange Note until the date on which such
Exchange Note is disposed of by a Broker-Dealer pursuant to the "Plan of
Distribution" contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
(including the delivery of the Prospectus contained therein).


SECTION 2.     HOLDERS

      A Person is deemed to be a holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (each,
a "HOLDER") whenever such Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.
   ------                                                            


SECTION 3.     REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER

      (a) Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permitted by applicable federal
law (after the procedures set forth in Section 6(a)(i) below have been complied
with), the Company shall (i) cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to
be filed with the Commission as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but
in no event later than 65 days after the Closing Date (such 65th day being the
"FILING DEADLINE"), (ii) use its best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer
 ---------------                                                          
Registration Statement to become effective at the earliest possible time
(consistent with existing contractual obligations of the Company), but in no
event later than 140 days after the Closing Date (such 140th day being the
"EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE"), (iii) in connection with the foregoing, (A) file all
 ----------------------                                                        
pre-effective amendments to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement as may be
necessary in order to cause it to become effective, (B) file, if applicable, a
post-effective amendment to such Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant
to Rule 430A under the Act and (C) cause all necessary filings, if any, in
connection with the registration and qualification of the Exchange Notes to be
made under the Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as are necessary to permit
Consummation of the Exchange Offer, and (iv) upon the effectiveness of such
<PAGE>
 
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, commence and Consummate the Exchange
Offer.  The Exchange Offer shall be on the appropriate form permitting (i)
registration of the Exchange Notes to be offered in exchange for the Notes that
are Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) resales of Exchange Notes by Broker-
Dealers that tendered into the Exchange Offer the Notes that such Broker-Dealer
acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other
trading activities (other than  Notes acquired directly from the Company or any
of its Affiliates) as contemplated by Section 3(c) below.

      (b) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to be effective continuously and shall keep the Exchange
Offer open for a period of not less than the minimum period required under
applicable federal and state securities laws to Consummate the Exchange Offer;
provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 Business
Days.  The Company shall cause the Exchange Offer to comply with all applicable
federal and state securities laws.  No securities other than the Exchange Notes
shall be included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  The Company
shall use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer to be Consummated on the
earliest practicable date after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has
become effective, but in no event later than 30 Business Days thereafter (such
30/th/ day being the "CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").
                      ---------------------   

      (c) The Company shall include a "Plan of Distribution" section in the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and indicate
therein that any Broker-Dealer who holds Transfer Restricted Securities that
were acquired for the account of such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities (other than Notes acquired directly from
the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), may exchange such Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer; however, such Broker-
Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Act and
must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Act in
connection with any resales of the Exchange Notes received by such Broker-Dealer
in the Exchange Offer, which prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by
the delivery by such Broker-Dealer of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement.  Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also
contain all other information with respect to such sales by such Broker-Dealers
that the Commission may require in order to permit such sales pursuant thereto,
but such "Plan of Distribution" shall not name any such Broker-Dealer or
disclose the amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by any such Broker-
Dealer, except to the extent required by the Commission as a result of a change
in policy, rules or regulations after the date of this Agreement.  The letter of
transmittal or similar documentation to be executed by a Holder in order to
participate in the Exchange Offer will include, among other things, a provision
to the effect that, if the Holder is a Broker-Dealer holding Notes acquired for
its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, such Holder acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus meeting
the requirements of the Act in connection with any resale of Exchange Notes
received in respect of Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

      Because such Broker-Dealer may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Act in connection with its initial sale of any Exchange
Notes received by such Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, the Company shall
permit the use of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement by such Broker-Dealer to satisfy such prospectus delivery requirement.
To the extent necessary to ensure that the prospectus contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement is available for sales of Exchange Notes by Broker-
Dealers, the Company agree to use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
<PAGE>
 
Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current
as required by and subject to the provisions of Section 6(a) and (c) hereof and
in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies,
rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a
period of one year from the Consummation Deadline or such shorter period as will
terminate when all Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold pursuant thereto.  The Company shall provide sufficient
copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to such Broker-Dealers, promptly
upon request, and in no event later than two Business Days after such request,
at any time during such period.


SECTION 4.     SHELF REGISTRATION

      (a) Shelf Registration.  If (i) the Exchange Offer is not permitted by
          ------------------                                                
applicable law (after the Company has complied with the procedures set forth in
Section 6(a)(i) below) or (ii) if any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities
shall notify the Company within 20 Business Days following the Consummation
Deadline that (A) such Holder was prohibited by law or Commission policy from
participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) such Holder may not resell the
Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without
delivering a prospectus and the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such
Holder or (C) such Holder is a Broker-Dealer and holds Notes acquired directly
from the Company or any of its Affiliates, then the Company shall:

          (x) cause to be filed, on or prior to 30 days after the earlier of (i)
   the date on which the Company determines that the Exchange Offer Registration
   Statement cannot be filed as a result of clause (a)(i) above or (ii) the date
   on which the Company receives the notice specified in clause (a)(ii) above
   (such earlier date, the "FILING DEADLINE"), a shelf registration statement
                            ---------------                                  
   pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act (which may be an amendment to the Exchange
   Offer Registration statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT")), relating
                                      ----------------------------             
   to all Transfer Restricted Securities, the Holders of which shall have
   provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, and

          (y)  shall use its best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration
   Statement to become effective on or prior to 60 days after the filing of the
   Shelf Registration Statement (or such longer period, not to exceed 150 days
   after the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary to
   avoid conflicts with existing contractual obligations of the Company) (such
   60th day or longer period the "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE").
                                  ----------------------   

      If, after the Company has filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
that satisfies the requirements of Section 3(a) above, the Company is required
to file and make effective a Shelf Registration Statement solely because the
Exchange Offer is not permitted under applicable federal law (i.e., clause
(a)(i) above), then the filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of clause (x) above; provided that,
in such event, the Company shall remain obligated to meet the Effectiveness
Deadline set forth in clause (y) above.

      To the extent necessary to ensure that the Shelf Registration Statement is
available for sales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof
entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a) and the other securities required
to be registered therein pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, the Company shall
<PAGE>
 
use its best efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement required by this
Section 4(a) continuously effective, supplemented, amended and current as
required by and subject to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof and in
conformity with the requirements of this Agreement, the Act and the policies,
rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a
period of at least two years (as extended pursuant to Section 6(c)(i)) following
the Closing Date, or such shorter period as will terminate when all Transfer
Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant thereto.

      (b) Provision by Holders of Certain Information in Connection with the
          ------------------------------------------------------------------
Shelf Registration Statement.  No Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may
----------------------------                                                  
include any of its Transfer Restricted Securities in any Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such Holder furnishes to
the Company in writing, within 10 Business days after receipt of a request
therefor, such information as the Company may reasonably request for use in
connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary
prospectus included therein, including, without limitation, the information
specified in Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, under the Act for
use in connection with any Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus or
preliminary Prospectus included therein.  No Holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities shall be entitled to liquidated damages pursuant to Section 5 hereof
unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such information.  Each
selling Holder as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected
agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or
change in information previously furnished by such Holder to the Company or the
happening of any event, in either case as a result of which the Shelf
Registration Statement contains any untrue statement of a material fact
regarding such Holder or the distribution of Transfer Restricted Securities or
omits to state any material fact regarding such Holder or the distribution of
such Transfer Restricted Securities required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statement therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
are made, not misleading or any prospectus relating to such Shelf Registration
Statement contains any untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Holder
or the distribution of such Transfer Restricted Securities or omits to state any
material fact regarding such Holder or the distribution of such Transfer
Restricted Securities necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and to furnish
promptly to the Company any additional information (i) required to correct and
update any previously furnished information or (ii) required so that the Shelf
Registration Statement or any Prospectus shall not contain any such untrue
statement of a material fact or any such omission to state a material fact.


SECTION 5.     LIQUIDATED DAMAGES

      If (i) any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not filed
with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, (ii) any such
Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission on or
prior to the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (iii) the Exchange Offer has not
been Consummated on or prior to the Consummation Deadline, or (iv) any
Registration Statement required by this Agreement is filed and declared
effective but shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for
its intended purpose without being succeeded immediately (subject to the terms
of this Agreement) by a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement
that cures such failure and that is itself declared effective immediately (each
such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"),
                                                       --------------------   
then the Company hereby agrees to pay to each Holder of 
<PAGE>
 
Transfer Restricted Securities affected thereby liquidated damages in an amount
equal to $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of Transfer Restricted
Securities held by such Holder for each week or portion thereof that the
Registration Default continues for the first 90-day period immediately following
the occurrence of such Registration Default. The amount of the liquidated
damages shall increase by an additional $.05 per week per $1,000 in principal
amount of Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to each subsequent 90-day
period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount
of liquidated damages of $.50 per week per $1,000 in principal amount of
Transfer Restricted Securities, provided that the Company shall in no event be
required to pay liquidated damages for more than one Registration Default at any
given time. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (1) upon
filing of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if applicable, the
Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (i) above, (2) upon the
effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (and/or, if
applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement), in the case of (ii) above, (3)
upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer, in the case of (iii) above, or (4) upon
the filing of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or an
additional Registration Statement that causes the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement (and/or, if applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement) to again be
declared effective or made usable in the case of (iv) above, the liquidated
damages payable with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities as a result
of such clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), as applicable, shall cease.

      All accrued liquidated damages shall be paid to the Holders entitled
thereto, in the manner provided for the payment of interest in the Indenture, on
each Interest Payment Date, as more fully set forth in the Indenture and the
Notes.  Notwithstanding the fact that any securities for which liquidated
damages are due cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities, all obligations of
the Company to pay liquidated damages with respect to such securities
outstanding prior to the time such securities ceased to be Transfer Restricted
Securities shall survive until such time as such obligations with respect to
such securities shall have been satisfied in full.


SECTION 6.     REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

      (a) Exchange Offer Registration Statement.  In connection with the
          -------------------------------------                         
Exchange Offer, the Company shall (x) comply with all applicable provisions of
Section 6(c) below, (y) use its best efforts to effect such exchange and to
permit the resale of Exchange Notes by Broker-Dealers that tendered in the
Exchange Offer Notes that such Broker-Dealer acquired for its own account as a
result of its market making activities or other trading activities (other than
Notes acquired directly from the Company or any of its Affiliates) being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof, and (z)
comply with all of the following provisions:

          (i) If, following the date hereof there has been announced a change in
   Commission policy with respect to exchange offers such as the Exchange Offer,
   that in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company raises a substantial
   question as to whether the Exchange Offer is permitted by applicable federal
   law, the Company hereby agrees to seek a no-action letter or other favorable
   decision from the Commission allowing the Company to Consummate an Exchange
   Offer for such Transfer Restricted Securities.  The Company hereby agrees to
   pursue the issuance of such a decision to the Commission staff level.  In
   connection with and subject to the foregoing, the Company hereby agrees to
   take all such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the 
<PAGE>
 
   Commission or otherwise required in connection with the issuance of such
   decision, including, without limitation, (A) participating in telephonic
   conferences with the Commission, (B) delivering to the Commission staff an
   analysis prepared by counsel to the Company setting forth the legal bases, if
   any, upon which such counsel has concluded that such an Exchange Offer should
   be permitted and (C) diligently pursuing a resolution (which need not be
   favorable) by the Commission staff.

          (ii)  As a condition to its participation in the Exchange Offer, each
   Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (including, without limitation, any
   Holder who is a Broker Dealer) shall furnish, upon the request of the
   Company, prior to the Consummation of the Exchange Offer, a written
   representation to the Company (which may be contained in the letter of
   transmittal contemplated by the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to the
   effect that (A) it is not an Affiliate of the Company, (B) it is not engaged
   in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding
   with any person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes to be
   issued in the Exchange Offer and (C) it is acquiring the Exchange Notes in
   its ordinary course of business.  In addition, all such Holders of Transfer
   Restricted Securities shall otherwise reasonably cooperate to the extent
   necessary in the Company's preparations for the Exchange Offer.  Each Holder
   using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the Exchange
   Notes hereby acknowledges and agrees that, if the resales are of Exchange
   Notes obtained by such Holder in exchange  Notes acquired directly from the
   Company or an Affiliate thereof, it (1) could not, under Commission policy as
   in effect on the date of this Agreement, rely on the position of the
   Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available June 5,
                            ----------------------------                   
   1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as
             ----------------------------------                             
   interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2,
                                             -------------------              
   1993, and similar no-action letters (including, if applicable, any no-action
   letter obtained pursuant to clause (i) above), and (2) must comply with the
   registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection
   with a secondary resale transaction and that such a secondary resale
   transaction must be covered by an effective registration statement containing
   the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as
   applicable, of Regulation S-K.

          (iii) Prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
   Statement, the Company shall provide a supplemental letter to the Commission
   (A) stating that the Company is registering the Exchange Offer in reliance on
   the position of the Commission enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings
                                                ----------------------
   Corporation (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (available
   -----------                           ----------------------------           
   June 5, 1991) as interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman &
                                                              ----------
   Sterling dated July 2, 1993, and, if applicable, any no-action letter
   --------                                                             
   obtained pursuant to clause (i) above, (B) including a representation that
   the Company has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any
   Person to distribute the Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer,
   and to the extent that the Company is capable of so representing, to the best
   of the Company's information and belief, each Holder participating in the
   Exchange Offer is acquiring the Exchange Notes in its ordinary course of
   business and has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to
   participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes received in the
   Exchange Offer and (C) any other undertaking or representation required by
   the Commission as set forth in any no-action letter obtained pursuant to
   clause (i) above, if applicable.
<PAGE>
 
      (b) Shelf Registration Statement.  In connection with the Shelf
          ----------------------------                               
Registration Statement, the Company shall (i) (x) comply with all the provisions
of Section 6(c) below and (y) use its best efforts to effect such registration
to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold in
accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (as
indicated in the information furnished to the Company pursuant to Section 4(b)
hereof), and pursuant thereto the Company will prepare and file with the
Commission a Registration Statement relating to the registration on any
appropriate form under the Act, which form shall be available for the sale of
the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance with the intended method or
methods of distribution thereof within the time periods and otherwise in
accordance with the provisions hereof; and (ii) issue, upon the request of any
Holder or purchaser of Notes covered by any Shelf Registration Statement
contemplated by this Agreement, Exchange Notes having an aggregate principal
amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Notes sold pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement and surrendered to the Company for cancellation;
the Company shall register Exchange Notes on the Shelf Registration Statement
for this purpose and issue the Exchange Notes to the purchaser(s) of securities
subject to the Shelf Registration Statement in the names as such purchaser(s)
shall designate.

      (c) General Provisions.  In connection with any Registration Statement and
          ------------------                                                    
any related Prospectus required by this Agreement, the Company shall:

          (i)    use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement
   continuously effective and provide all requisite financial statements for the
   period specified in Section 3 or 4 of this Agreement, as applicable.  Upon
   the occurrence of any event that would cause any such Registration Statement
   or the Prospectus contained therein (A) to contain an untrue statement of
   material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
   statements therein not misleading or (B) not to be effective and usable for
   resale of Transfer Restricted Securities during the period required by this
   Agreement, the Company shall file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
   Registration Statement curing such defect, and, if Commission review is
   required, use its best efforts to cause such amendment to be declared
   effective as soon as practicable.

          (ii)   prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-
   effective amendments to the applicable Registration Statement as may be
   necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable
   period set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as the case may be; cause the
   Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as
   so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply
   fully with the applicable provisions of Rules 424, 430A and 462, as
   applicable, under the Act in a timely manner; and comply with the provisions
   of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
   Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
   intended method or methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth
   in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

          (iii)  advise each Holder and each Initial Purchaser who is required
   to deliver a prospectus in connection with sales or market making activities
   (an "AFFILIATED MARKET MAKER") promptly and, if requested by such Holder or
        -----------------------                                               
   Person, confirm such advice in writing, (A) when the Prospectus or any
   Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with
   respect to any applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective
   amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (B) of any request by
   the Commission for amendments to the Registration 
<PAGE>
 
   Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional
   information relating thereto, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any
   stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under
   the Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the
   qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for offering or sale in
   any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the
   preceding purposes, (D) of the existence of any fact or the happening of any
   event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration
   Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto or any
   document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or that requires the
   making of any additions to or changes in the Registration Statement in order
   to make the statements therein not misleading, or that requires the making of
   any additions to or changes in the Prospectus in order to make the statements
   therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
   misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order
   suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any state
   securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order
   suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Transfer
   Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company
   shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order
   at the earliest practical time;

          (iv)   subject to Section 6(c)(i), if any fact or event contemplated
   by Section 6(c)(iii)(D) above shall exist or have occurred, prepare a
   supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
   related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file
   any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the
   purchasers of Transfer Restricted Securities, the Prospectus will not contain
   an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
   necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
   under which they were made, not misleading;

          (v)    furnish to each Holder and each Affiliated Market Maker in
   connection with such exchange or sale, if any, before filing with the
   Commission, copies of any Registration Statement or any Prospectus included
   therein or any amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement
   or Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference after the
   initial filing of such Registration Statement), which documents will be
   subject to the review and comment of such Holders in connection with such
   sale, if any, for a period of at least five Business Days, and the Company
   will not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment
   or supplement to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (including all
   such documents incorporated by reference) to which such Holders shall
   reasonably object within five Business Days after the receipt thereof.  A
   Holder shall be deemed to have reasonably objected to such filing if such
   Registration Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable,
   as proposed to be filed, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or
   omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
   misleading or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of the Act
   which has been specifically identified by such Holder or Affiliated Market
   Maker;

          (vi)   promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be
   incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or Prospectus,
   provide copies of such document to each Holder and each Affiliated Market
   Maker in connection with such exchange or sale, if any, make the Company's
   representatives available at reasonable times for discussion of such document
   and other customary due diligence matters, and include such information in
   such document prior to the filing thereof as such Holders may reasonably
   request;
<PAGE>
 
          (vii)  make available, at reasonable times, for inspection by each
   Holder and each Affiliated Market Maker and any attorney or accountant
   retained by such Holders all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
   documents of the Company and cause the Company's officers, directors and
   employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Holder
   or attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement or
   any post-effective amendment thereto subsequent to the filing thereof and
   prior to its effectiveness; provided, however, that such Persons shall first
   agree in writing with the Company that any information that is reasonably and
   in good faith designated by the Company in writing as confidential at the
   time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such
   Persons, unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or
   administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory
   authorities, (ii) disclosure of such information is required by law
   (including any disclosure requirements pursuant to federal securities laws in
   connection with the filing of such Registration Statement or the use of any
   Prospectus), (iii) such information becomes generally available to the public
   other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard such
   information by such Person or (iv) such information becomes available to such
   Person from a source other than the Company and its subsidiaries and such
   source is not known, after due inquiry, by such Person to be bound by a
   confidentiality agreement; provided further, that the foregoing investigation
   shall be coordinated on behalf of such Persons by one representative
   designated by and on behalf of such Persons and any such confidential
   information shall be available from such representative to such Persons so
   long as any Person agrees to be bound by such confidentiality agreement;

          (viii) if requested by any Holders in connection with such exchange or
   sale or any Affiliated Market Maker, promptly include in any Registration
   Statement or Prospectus, pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment
   if necessary, such information as such Holders may reasonably request to have
   included therein, including, without limitation, information relating to the
   "Plan of Distribution" of the Transfer Restricted Securities and the use of
   the Registration Statement or Prospectus for market making activities, except
   to the extent that the Company, upon receipt of an opinion of counsel,
   reasonably believes that the inclusion of such information could result in a
   violation of federal or state securities laws; and make all required filings
   of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as
   practicable after the Company is notified of the matters to be included in
   such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

          (ix)   furnish to each Holder in connection with such exchange or sale
   and each Affiliated Market Maker, without charge, at least one copy of the
   Registration Statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each
   amendment thereto, including all documents incorporated by reference therein
   and all exhibits (including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);

          (x)    deliver to each Holder and each Affiliated Market Maker,
   without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary
   prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons
   reasonably may request; the Company hereby consents to the use (in accordance
   with law) of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each
   selling Holder in connection with the offering and the sale of the Transfer
   Restricted Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or
   supplement thereto and all market making activities of such Affiliated Market
   Maker, as the case may be;
<PAGE>
 
          (xi)   upon the request of any Holder, enter into such agreements
   (including underwriting agreements) and make such representations and
   warranties as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary
   underwritten offerings and take all such other actions in connection
   therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Transfer
   Restricted Securities pursuant to any applicable Registration Statement
   contemplated by this Agreement as may be reasonably requested by any Holder
   in connection with any sale or resale pursuant to any applicable Registration
   Statement.  In such connection, and also in connection with market making
   activities by any Affiliated Market Maker, the Company shall:

            (A)  upon request of any Holder furnish (or in the case of
     paragraphs (2) and (3) below, use its best efforts to cause to be
     furnished) to each Holder upon Consummation of the Exchange Offer or upon
     the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, in such substance
     and scope and as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary
     underwritten offerings, as the case may be:

                 (1)  a certificate, dated such date, signed on behalf of the
        Company by (x) the President or any Vice President and (y) a principal
        financial or accounting officer of the Company, confirming, as of the
        date thereof, the matters set forth in Sections 6(y), 9(a) and 9(b) of
        the Purchase Agreement and such other similar matters as such Holders
        may reasonably request;

                 (2)  an opinion, dated the date of Consummation of the Exchange
        Offer or the date of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement,
        as the case may be, of counsel for the Company covering matters similar
        to those set forth in paragraph (e) of Section 9 of the Purchase
        Agreement and such other matters as such Holder may reasonably request,
        and in any event including a statement to the effect that such counsel
        has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives
        of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants
        for the Company, the underwriters' representatives and the underwriters'
        counsel in connection with the preparation of such Registration
        Statement and the related Prospectus, and have considered the matters
        required to be stated therein and the statements contained therein,
        although such counsel has not independently verified the accuracy,
        completeness or fairness of such statements; and that such counsel
        advises that, on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality
        to the extent such counsel deems appropriate upon the statements of
        officers and other representatives of the Company and without
        independent check or verification), no facts came to such counsel's
        attention that caused such counsel to believe that the applicable
        Registration Statement, at the time such Registration Statement or any
        post-effective amendment thereto became effective and, in the case of
        the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as of the date of
        Consummation of the Exchange Offer, contained an untrue statement of a
        material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
        therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
        that the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement as of its
        date and, in the case of the opinion dated the date of Consummation of
        the Exchange Offer, as of the date of Consummation, contained an untrue
        statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
        necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
        circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Without
        limiting the foregoing, such counsel may 
<PAGE>
 
        state further that such counsel assumes no direct or indirect
        responsibility, explicitly or implicitly, for, and has not independently
        verified, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the financial
        statements (including, without limitation, pro forma financial
        statements), notes and schedules and other financial, numerical,
        statistical and accounting information and data included in any
        Registration Statement contemplated by this Agreement or the related
        Prospectus; and

                 (3)  a customary comfort letter, dated the date of Consummation
        of the Exchange Offer, or as of the date of effectiveness of the Shelf
        Registration Statement, as the case may be, from the Company's
        independent accountants, in the customary form and covering matters of
        the type customarily covered in comfort letters to underwriters in
        connection with underwritten offerings, and affirming the matters set
        forth in the comfort letters delivered pursuant to Section 9(g) of the
        Purchase Agreement; and

          (B)  deliver such other documents and certificates as may be
     reasonably requested by the selling Holders or such Persons to evidence
     compliance with the matters covered in clause (A) above and with any
     customary conditions contained in the underwriting or other agreement
     entered into by the Company pursuant to this clause (xi);

          (xii)  prior to any public offering of Transfer Restricted Securities,
   cooperate with the selling Holders and their counsel in connection with the
   registration and qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities under
   the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the selling Holders
   may request and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to
   enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Transfer Restricted
   Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement; provided,
   however, that the Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a
   foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action
   that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation,
   other than as to matters and transactions relating to the Registration
   Statement, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;

          (xiii) in connection with any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
   that will result in such securities no longer being Transfer Restricted
   Securities, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation
   and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to
   be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and to register such
   Transfer Restricted Securities in such denominations and such names as the
   selling Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of
   Transfer Restricted Securities;

          (xiv)  use its best efforts to cause the disposition of the Transfer
   Restricted Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered
   with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be
   necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof to consummate the
   disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities, subject to the proviso
   contained in clause (xii) above;

          (xv)   provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities
   not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement covering such
   Transfer Restricted Securities and provide the Trustee under the Indenture
   with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted Securities which are in
   a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;
<PAGE>
 
          (xvi)   otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable
   rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its
   security holders with regard to any applicable Registration Statement, as
   soon as practicable, a consolidated earnings statement meeting the
   requirements of Rule 158 (which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month
   period beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as
   such term is defined in paragraph (c) of Rule 158 under the Act);

         (xvii)   use its best efforts to cause the Indenture to be qualified
   under the TIA not later than the effective date of the first Registration
   Statement required by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, cooperate
   with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as
   may be required for such Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the
   terms of the TIA; and execute and use its best efforts to cause the Trustee
   to execute, all documents that may be required to effect such changes and all
   other forms and documents required to be filed with the Commission to enable
   such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; and

          (xviii) provide promptly to each Holder and Affiliated Market Maker,
   upon request, each document filed with the Commission pursuant to the
   requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

      (d) Restrictions on Holders.  Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a
          -----------------------                                         
Transfer Restricted Security and each Affiliated Market Maker agrees that, upon
receipt of the notice referred to in Section 6(c)(iii)(C) or any notice from the
Company of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section
6(c)(iii)(D) hereof (in each case, a "SUSPENSION NOTICE"), such Holder or Person
                                      -----------------                         
will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until (i) such Holder or
Person has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
contemplated by Section 6(c)(iv) hereof, or (ii) such Holder or Person is
advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed,
and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (in each case, the "RECOMMENCEMENT
                                                                --------------
DATE").  Each Holder or Person receiving a Suspension Notice hereby agrees that
----                                                                           
it will either (i) destroy any Prospectuses, other than permanent file copies,
then in such Holder's or Person's possession which have been replaced by the
Company with more recently dated Prospectuses or (ii) deliver to the Company (at
the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in
such Holder's Person's possession of the Prospectus covering such Transfer
Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of the Suspension
Notice.  The time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended
by a number of days equal to the number of days in the period from and including
the date of delivery of the Suspension Notice to the date of delivery of the
Recommencement Date.


SECTION 7.     REGISTRATION EXPENSES

      (a) All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance
with this Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a
Registration Statement becomes effective, including without limitation:  (i) all
registration and filing fees and expenses; (ii) all fees and expenses of
compliance with federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii)
all expenses of 
<PAGE>
 
printing (including printing certificates for the Exchange Notes to be issued in
the Exchange Offer and printing of Prospectuses whether for exchanges, sales,
market making or otherwise), messenger and delivery services and telephone; (iv)
all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and one counsel for the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities as provided in Section 7(b) below; (v)
all application and filing fees in connection with listing the Exchange Notes on
a national securities exchange or automated quotation system pursuant to the
requirements hereof; and (vi) all fees and disbursements of independent
certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any
special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

      The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the
fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the
Company.

      (b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the Shelf Registration Statement), the Company will reimburse the
Initial Purchasers and the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities who are
tendering Notes in the Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling Notes or
Exchange Notes pursuant to the "Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable,
for the reasonable fees and disbursements of not more than one counsel, who
shall be Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, unless another firm shall be
chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer
Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration Statement is being
prepared.


SECTION 8.     INDEMNIFICATION

      (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its
directors, officers and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments
(including without limitation, any legal or other expenses incurred in
connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action that
could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments)
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus or Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto) provided by the Company to any Holder
or any prospective purchaser of Exchange Notes or registered Notes, or caused by
any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are
caused by (i) an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission that is based upon information relating to any of the Holders furnished
in writing to the Company by any of the Holders or (ii) an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in any preliminary
prospectus that was corrected by the Prospectus and such Holder failed to comply
with such Prospectus delivery requirements as are applicable to it and such
loss, claim, damage, liability or judgment would not have arisen if such
Prospectus had been so delivered.
<PAGE>
 
      (b) Each Holder of Transfer Restricted agrees, severally and not jointly,
to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and officers, and
each Person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company set forth in section (a) above, but only
(i) with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished in writing
to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement or
(ii) if an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission in any preliminary prospectus was corrected by the Prospectus and such
Holder failed to comply with such Prospectus delivery requirements as are
applicable to it and such loss, claim, damage, liability or judgment would not
have arisen if such Prospectus had been so delivered.  In no event shall any
Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls such Holder be liable
or responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount
received by such Holder with respect to its sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) the amount paid by
such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) the amount of any
damages that such Holder, its directors, officers or any Person who controls
such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission or failure to comply
with such Prospectus delivery requirements as are applicable to it.

      (c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any Person in respect
of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) (the
                                                                      
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person
------------------                                                          
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PERSON") in writing
                                                -------------------             
and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and
the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that
in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant
to both Sections 8(a) and 8(b), a Holder shall not be required to assume the
defense of such action pursuant to this Section 8(c), but may employ separate
counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of the Holder).
Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any
such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing by
the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume
the defense of such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that
there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from
or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of the indemnified party).  In any such case, the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for
all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred.  Such firm shall be designated in writing by a majority of
the Holders, in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a),
and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b).
The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments
by reason of any settlement of any action (i) effected with its written consent
or (ii) effected without its written consent if the settlement is entered into
more than 20 Business Days after the indemnifying party shall have received a
request from 
<PAGE>
 
the indemnified party for reimbursement for the fees and expenses of counsel (in
any case where such fees and expenses are at the expense of the indemnifying
party) and, prior to the date of such settlement, the indemnifying party shall
have failed to comply with such reimbursement request. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect
to, any pending or threatened action in respect of which the indemnified party
is or could have been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could have
been sought hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such settlement,
compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified
party from all liability on claims that are or could have been the subject
matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an
admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of the
indemnified party.

      (d) To the extent that the indemnification provided for in this Section 8
is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one
hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, from their sale of Transfer Restricted
Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) is not permitted
by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative
fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Holder, on the other hand, in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand,
and of the Holder, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to (A)
information supplied by the Company on the one hand, or by the Holder, on the
other hand, or (B) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission therein that was corrected by the Prospectus and any Holder
failed to comply with such Prospectus delivery requirements as are applicable to
it and such loss, claim, damage, liability or judgment would not have arisen if
such Prospectus had been so delivered, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.  The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments referred to above shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in the second paragraph
of Section 8(a), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.

      The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or
by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.  The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with investigating or defending any matter.  Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 8, no Holder, its directors, its officers or any
Person, if any, who controls such Holder shall be required to contribute, in the
aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total amount received
by such Holder with respect to the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds (i) 
<PAGE>
 
the amount paid by such Holder for such Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii)
the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay
by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission or failure to comply with such Prospectus delivery requirements as are
applicable to it. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders'
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(c) are several in
proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities
held by each Holder hereunder and not joint.

      (e)  The Company agrees that the indemnity and contribution provisions of
this Section 8 shall apply to Affiliated Market Makers to the same extent, on
the same conditions, as it applies to Holders.


SECTION 9.        RULE 144A AND RULE 144

      The Company agrees with each Holder, for so long as any Transfer
Restricted Securities remain outstanding and during any period in which the
Company (i) is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make
available, upon request of any Holder, to such Holder or beneficial owner of
Transfer Restricted Securities in connection with any sale thereof and any
prospective purchaser of such Transfer Restricted Securities designated by such
Holder or beneficial owner, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under
the Act in order to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to Rule 144A, and (ii) is subject to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
Exchange Act, to make all filings required thereby in a timely manner in order
to permit resales of such Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144.


SECTION 10.    MISCELLANEOUS

      (a) Remedies.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that any failure by it
          --------                                                             
to comply with its obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof may result in
material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders or
Affiliated Market Makers for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it
will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in
the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder or
Affiliated Market Makers may obtain such relief as may be required to
specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Sections 3 and 4 hereof.
The Company further agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific
performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

      (b) No Inconsistent Agreements.  The Company will not, on or after the
          --------------------------                                        
date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities
that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.  Except as set forth on Schedule
A attached hereto, there are no agreements between the Company and any Person
granting such Person any registration rights with respect to its securities.
Except as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto, the rights granted to the
Holders hereunder do not conflict with the rights granted to the holders of the
Company's securities under any agreement in effect on the date hereof.
<PAGE>
 
      (c) Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement may not be
          ----------------------                                              
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to or departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given unless (i) in the case of Section 5
hereof and this Section 10(c)(i), the Company has obtained the written consent
of Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities and (ii) in the
case of all other provisions hereof, the Company has obtained the written
consent of Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Transfer
Restricted Securities (excluding Transfer Restricted Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to departure from the provisions hereof that relates exclusively to the rights
of Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are being tendered pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, and that does not affect directly or indirectly the rights
of other Holders whose Transfer Restricted Securities are not being tendered
pursuant to such Exchange Offer, may be given by the Holders of a majority of
the outstanding principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities subject to
such Exchange Offer.

      (d) Third Party Beneficiary.  The Holders and Affiliated Market Makers
          -----------------------                                           
shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the
Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may
deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights
of Holders and Affiliated Market Makers hereunder.

      (e) Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or
          -------                                                       
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail
(registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

          (i)    if to a Holder, at the address set forth on the records of the
   Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy to the Registrar under the
   Indenture; and

          (ii)   if to the Company:

                 PSINet Inc.
                 510 Huntmar Park Drive
                 Herndon, VA 20170-5100

                 Telecopier No.:  (703) 904-9527
                 Attention: David N. Kunkel
                            Executive Vice President and General Counsel

                 With a copy to:

                            Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle LLP
                            437 Madison Avenue
                            New York, NY 10022

                 Telecopier No.:  (212) 940-3111
                 Attention:  Richard F. Langan, Jr.
<PAGE>
 
      All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given:  at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business
Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered
to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

      Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the
address specified in the Indenture.

      Upon the date of filing of the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration
Statement, as the case may be, notice shall be delivered to Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation, on behalf of the Initial Purchasers (in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A) and shall be addressed to:  Attention: Louise
Guarneri (Compliance Department), 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10172.

      (f) Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
          ----------------------                                               
and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties,
including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment,
subsequent Holders; provided, that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any
assignment, transfer or other disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in
violation of the terms hereof or of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture.  If
any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted Securities in any
manner permitted by this Agreement, the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted Securities
shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, the Purchase
Agreement and the Indenture, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted
Securities, such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound
by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the
Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, including the restrictions on resale set
forth in this Agreement, the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, and such
Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.

      (g) Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
          ------------                                                  
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

      (h) Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
          --------                                                        
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

      (i) Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
          -------------                                                       
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
THE CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES THEREOF.

      (j) Severability.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions
          ------------                                                      
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

      (k) Entire Agreement.  This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
          ----------------                                                 
final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein.  There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration 
<PAGE>
 
rights granted with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties
with respect to such subject matter.
<PAGE>
 
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.

                                        PSINET INC.



                                        By: /s/ Edward D. Postal
                                           -----------------------------
                                        Name:  Edward D. Postal
                                        Title: Senior Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer

DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION



By: /s/ Colin Knudsen
   -----------------------------
   Name:  Colin Knudsen
   Title: Managing Director


CHASE SECURITIES INC.



By: /s/ Stephanie Cuskley
   -----------------------------
   Name:  Stephanie Cuskley
   Title: Managing Director


MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED



By: /s/ James D. Allen
   -----------------------------
   Name:  James D. Allen
   Title: Vice President
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A

                              NOTICE OF FILING OF
                     EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT


To:   Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
      277 Park Avenue
      New York, New York  10172
      Attention:  Louise Guarneri (Compliance Department)
      Fax: (212) 892-7272

From: PSINet Inc.
      11 1/2% Senior Notes due 2008


Date: ___, 199_

   For your information only (NO ACTION REQUIRED):

   Today, ______, 199_, we filed [an Exchange Registration Statement/a Shelf
Registration Statement] with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We
currently expect this registration statement to be declared effective within __
business days of the date hereof.