<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2


                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of October 14, 1997

                                  by and among

                           SOUTHWEST ROYALTIES, INC.
                                      and
                       SOUTHWEST ROYALTIES HOLDINGS, INC.

                                      and

                           JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.,
                         BANC ONE CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                                      and
                              PARIBAS CORPORATION,
                             as Initial Purchasers



                                  $200,000,000

                         10 1/2% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2004
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                               -----------------

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
<C>  <S>                                                                    <S> 
1.   Definitions                                                              1

2.   Exchange Offer                                                           4

3.   Shelf Registration                                                       7

4.   Additional Interest                                                      8

5.   Registration Procedures                                                  9

6.   Registration Expenses                                                   17

7.   Indemnification                                                         18

8.   Rules 144 and 144A                                                      21

9.   Underwritten Registrations                                              21

10.  Miscellaneous                                                           21
 
     (a)    No Inconsistent Agreements                                       21
     (b)    Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes                          21
     (c)    Amendments and Waivers                                           21
     (d)    Notices                                                          22
     (e)    Successors and Assigns                                           23
     (f)    Counterparts                                                     23
     (g)    Headings                                                         23
     (h)    Governing Law                                                    23
     (i)    Severability                                                     24
     (j)    Notes Held by the Issuers or Their Affiliates                    24
     (k)    Third Party Beneficiaries                                        24
     (1)    Entire Agreement                                                 24
</TABLE>

                                       i
<PAGE>
 
                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of October 14, 1997, by and among Southwest Royalties, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and Southwest Royalties Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Parent Guarantor") and Jefferies & Company, Inc., Banc One
Capital Corporation and Paribas Corporation (the "Initial Purchasers").

     This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement,
dated as of October 8, 1997, by and among the Company, the Parent Guarantor and
the Initial Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement") which provides for, among
other things, the issuance and sale to the Initial Purchasers of an aggregate of
$200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 10 1/2% Senior Notes
due 2004, Series A (the "Notes").  In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to
enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company and the Parent Guarantor have
agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the
benefit of the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees and
assigns.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the
Initial Purchasers' obligation to purchase the Notes under the Purchase
Agreement.  The Company and the Parent Guarantor are collectively referred to
herein as the "Issuers."

     The parties hereby agree as follows:

 1.  Definitions
     -----------

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

     Additional Interest:  See Section 4(a).

     Advice:  See the last paragraph of Section 5.

     Agreement:  See the first introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

     Applicable Period:  See Section 2(b).

     Business Day:  A day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which
banking institutions in New York, New York or Hartford, Connecticut are required
to be closed.

     Company:  See the first introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

     Effectiveness Date:  The 120th day after the Issue Date.

     Effectiveness Period:  See Section 3(a).

     Event Date:  See Section 4(b).
     Exchange Act:  The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
<PAGE>
 
     Exchange Notes:  See Section 2(a).

     Exchange Offer:  See Section 2(a).

     Exchange Registration Statement:  See Section 2(a).

     Filing Date:  The 60th day after the Issue Date.

     Holder:  Any registered holder of Registrable Notes.

     Indemnified Person:  See Section 7(c).

     Indemnifying Person:  See Section 7(c).

     Indenture:  The Indenture, dated as of October 14, 1997, by and among the
Company, the Parent Guarantor and State Street Bank and Trust Company of
Connecticut, N.A., as trustee, pursuant to which the Notes are being issued, as
amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

     Initial Purchasers:  See the first introductory paragraph to this
Agreement.

     Initial Shelf Registration:  See Section 3(a).

     Inspectors:  See Section 5(o).

     Issue Date:  The date on which the Notes were sold to the Initial
Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

     Issuers:  See the second introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

     NASD:  National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

     Notes:  See the second introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

     Parent Guarantor:  See the first introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

     Participant:  See Section 7(a).

     Participating Broker-Dealer:  See Section 2(b).

     Person:  An individual, trustee, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association,
union, business association, firm or other legal entity.

     Pledge Agreement:  The Pledge Agreement, dated as of October 14, 1997,
between the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     Private Exchange:  See Section 2(b).

     Private Exchange Notes:  See Section 2(b).

     Prospectus:  The prospectus included in any Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to completion and a
prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus
filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A
promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion
of the Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement, and all other
amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

     Purchase Agreement:  See the second introductory paragraph to this
Agreement.

     Records:  See Section 5(o).

     Registrable Notes:  Each Note upon original issuance thereof and at all
times subsequent thereto, each Exchange Note as to which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof
is applicable upon original issuance thereof and at all times subsequent thereto
and each Private Exchange Note upon original issuance thereof and at all times
subsequent thereto, until, in the case of any such Note, Exchange Note or
Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, the earliest to occur of (i) a
Registration Statement (other than, with respect to any Exchange Note as to
which Section 2(c)(iv) hereof is applicable, the Exchange Registration
Statement) covering such Note, Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the
case may be, has been declared effective by the SEC and such Note, Exchange Note
or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been disposed of in accordance
with such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Note, Exchange Note or
Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, is sold in compliance with Rule 144,
(iii) in the case of any Note, such Note has been exchanged pursuant to the
Exchange Offer for an Exchange Note or Exchange Notes which may be resold
without restriction under state and federal securities laws, or (iv) such Note,
Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, ceases to be
outstanding for purposes of the Indenture.

     Registration Statement:  Any registration statement of the Issuers (and any
then existing Subsidiary Guarantor) filed with the SEC under the Securities Act,
including, but not limited to, the Exchange Registration Statement, that covers
any of the Registrable Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement,
including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and all material
incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
registration statement.

     Rule 144:  Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144A) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC providing for offers and sales of
securities made in compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by
subsequent holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities being
free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     Rule 144A:  Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule (other than Rule 144) or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.

     Rule 415:  Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as such Rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.

     SEC:  The Securities and Exchange Commission.

     Securities Act:  The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

     Shelf Notice:  See Section 2(c).

     Shelf Registration:  See Section 3(b).

     Subsequent Shelf Registration:  See Section 3(b).

     Subsidiary Guarantors: Each subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor that
guarantees the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture.

     TIA:  The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

     Trustee:  The trustee under the Indenture and, if existent, the trustee
under any indenture governing the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes (if
any).

     Underwritten registration or underwritten offering:  A registration in
which securities of one or more of the issuers are sold to an underwriter for
reoffering to the public.

 2.  Exchange Offer
     --------------

     (a) Each of the Issuers agrees to file (and to cause any then existing
Subsidiary Guarantor to file) with the SEC no later than the Filing Date, an
offer to exchange (the "Exchange Offer") any and all of the Registrable Notes
(other than Private Exchange Notes, if any) for a like aggregate principal
amount of debt securities of the Company, guaranteed by the Parent Guarantor and
secured by the same collateral as the Notes, which are identical in all material
respects to the Notes (the "Exchange Notes") (and which are entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture or a trust indenture which is identical in all
material respects to the Indenture (other than such changes to the Indenture or
any such identical trust indenture as are necessary to comply with any
requirements of the SEC to effect or maintain the qualification thereof under
the TIA) and which, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA), except
that the Exchange Notes shall have been registered pursuant to an effective
Registration Statement under the Securities Act, shall not provide for
Additional Interest and shall contain no restrictive legend thereon.  The
Exchange Offer shall be registered under the Securities Act on the appropriate
form (the "Exchange Registration Statement") and shall comply with all
applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act.  Each of
the Issuers agrees to use its best efforts to (x) cause the Exchange
Registration Statement to be declared effective under

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
the Securities Act on or before the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep the Exchange
Offer open for at least 30 calendar days (or longer if required by applicable
law) after the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to Holders; and
(z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 45th day following the date
on which the Exchange Registration Statement is declared effective.  If after
such Exchange Registration Statement is initially declared effective by the SEC,
the Exchange Offer or the issuance of the Exchange Notes thereunder is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Exchange Registration
Statement shall be deemed not to have become effective for purposes of this
Agreement. Each Holder who participates in the Exchange Offer will be required
to represent that any Exchange Notes received by it will be acquired in the
ordinary course of its business, that at the time of the commencement of the
Exchange Offer such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any
Person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes in violation of
the provisions of the Securities Act, and that such Holder is not an affiliate
of any of the Issuers within the meaning of the Securities Act, if such Holder
is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage
in, the distribution of the Notes and if such Holder is a Participating Broker-
Dealer, that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the
Exchange Notes.  Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this
Section 2, the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis
mutandis, solely with respect to Registrable Notes that are Private Exchange
Notes and Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers, and the Issuers
shall have no further obligation to register Registrable Notes (other than
Private Exchange Notes and other than in respect of any Exchange Notes as to
which clause 2(c)(iv) hereof applies) pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement.

     (b) The Issuers shall include within the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution,"
reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary
statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the SEC with
respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that is the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange
Notes received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer for its own account
in exchange for Notes that were acquired by it as a result of market-making or
other trading activity (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions
or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such
positions or policies, in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers, represent the
prevailing views of the staff of the SEC.  Such "Plan of Distribution" section
shall also allow, to the extent permitted by applicable policies and regulations
of the SEC, the use of the Prospectus by all Persons subject to the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including, to the extent so
permitted, all Participating Broker-Dealers, and include a statement describing
the manner in which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Notes.

     Each of the Issuers shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the Prospectus
contained therein, in order to permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by all Persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such Persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Notes (the "Applicable Period").

     If, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchasers holds
any Notes acquired by it and having the status of an unsold allotment in the
initial distribution, the Company

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
upon the request of such Initial Purchasers shall, simultaneously with the
delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to such
Initial Purchasers, in exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Notes held by
such Initial Purchasers, a like principal amount of debt securities of the
Company, guaranteed by the Parent Guarantor and any then existing Subsidiary
Guarantor and secured by the same collateral as the Exchange Notes, that are
identical in all material respects to the Exchange Notes except for the
existence of restrictions on transfer thereof under the Securities Act and
securities laws of the several states of the U.S. (the "Private Exchange Notes")
(and which are issued pursuant to the same indenture as the Exchange Notes);
provided, however, the Issuers shall not be required to effect such exchange if,
in the written opinion of counsel for the Issuers (a copy of which shall be
delivered to the Initial Purchasers and any Holder affected thereby), such
exchange cannot be effected without registration under the Securities Act.  The
Private Exchange Notes shall bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes.

     Interest on the Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes will accrue
from (A) the later of (i) the last interest payment date on which interest was
paid on the Notes surrendered in exchange therefor or (ii) if the Notes are
surrendered for exchange on a date in a period which includes the record date
for an interest payment date to occur on or after the date of such exchange and
as to which interest will be paid, the date of such interest payment date or (B)
if no interest has been paid on the Notes, from the date of the original
issuance of the Notes.

     In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Issuers shall:

          (1) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the
     Exchange Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of
     transmittal and related documents;

          (2) utilize the services of a depositary for the Exchange Offer with
     an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which may be
     the Trustee or an affiliate thereof;

          (3) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Registrable Notes at any time
     prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on
     which the Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

          (4) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable
     laws.

     As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange, as the case may be, the Issuers shall:

          (1) accept for exchange all Registrable Notes validly tendered and not
     validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange,
     as the case may be;

          (2) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Notes so
     accepted for exchange; and

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
          (3) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each
     Holder tendering such Registrable Notes, Exchange Notes or Private Exchange
     Notes, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Notes of such
     Holder so accepted for exchange.

     The Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall be subject to the
following conditions: (i) the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the
case may be, does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of
the staff of the SEC, (ii) no action or proceeding is instituted or threatened
in any court or by any governmental agency which might materially impair the
ability of the Issuers to proceed with the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange and no material adverse development has occurred in any existing action
or proceeding with respect to the Issuers and (iii) all governmental approvals
have been obtained, which approvals the Issuers deem necessary for the
consummation of the Exchange Offer or Private Exchange.

     The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes may be issued under (i)
the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects to the
Indenture, which in either event will provide that the Exchange Notes will not
be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that the
Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes, if any, will be deemed
one class of security (subject to the provisions of the Indenture) and entitled
to participate in all the security granted by the Parent Guarantor pursuant to
the Pledge Agreement, in the Parent Guarantee and in any Subsidiary Guarantee
(as such terms are defined in the Indenture) on an equal and ratable basis.

     (c) If, (i) because of any change in law or in currently prevailing
interpretations of the staff of the SEC, the Issuers (and any then existing
Subsidiary Guarantor) are not permitted to effect an Exchange Offer, (ii) the
Exchange Offer is not consummated within 180 days of the Issue Date, (iii) any
holder of Private Exchange Notes so requests in writing to the Issuers within
120 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer or (iv) in the case of any
Holder that participates in the Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive
Exchange Notes on the date of the exchange that may be sold without restriction
under state and federal securities laws (other than due solely to the status of
such Holder as an affiliate of any of the Issuers within the meaning of the
Securities Act) and so notifies the Company within 60 days after such Holder
first becomes aware of such restrictions and providing a reasonable basis for
its conclusions, in the case of each of clauses (i)-(iv), then the Issuers (and
any then existing Subsidiary Guarantor) shall promptly deliver to the Holders
and the Trustee written notice thereof (the "Shelf Notice") and shall file a
Shelf Registration pursuant to Section 3.

 3.  Shelf Registration
     ------------------

     If a Shelf Notice is delivered as contemplated by Section 2(c), then:

     (a) Shelf Registration.  The Issuers shall as promptly as reasonably
practicable file (and shall cause any then existing Subsidiary Guarantor to
file) with the SEC a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Notes (the
"Initial Shelf Registration").  If the Issuers (and any then existing Subsidiary
Guarantor) shall not have yet filed the Exchange Registration Statement, each of
the Issuers shall use its best efforts to file (and shall cause any then
existing Subsidiary Guarantor to file) with the SEC the Initial

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
Shelf Registration on or prior to the Filing Date and shall use its best efforts
to cause such Initial Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the
Securities Act on or prior to the Effectiveness Date.  If the Exchange Offer is
not consummated within 180 days of the Issue Date, the Issuers shall use their
best efforts to file (and shall cause any then existing Subsidiary Guarantor to
file) with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration on or prior to the 181st day
after the Issue Date and shall use their best efforts to cause such Initial
Shelf Registration to be declared effective under the Securities Act within 60
days after such filing.  Otherwise, each of the Issuers shall use their best
efforts to file (and shall cause any then existing Subsidiary Guarantor to file)
with the SEC the Initial Shelf Registration within 30 days of the delivery of
the Shelf Notice and shall use its best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration
to be declared effective under the Securities Act within 90 days of the delivery
of the Shelf Notice.  The Initial Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-l or
another appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Notes for
resale by Holders in the manner or manners designated by them (including,
without limitation, one or more underwritten offerings).  The Issuers shall not
permit any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be included in any
Shelf Registration (as defined below).  The Issuers shall use their best efforts
to keep the Initial Shelf Registration continuously effective under the
Securities Act until the date which is 24 months from the effective date of such
Initial Shelf Registration (subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph
of Section 5 hereof) (the "Effectiveness Period"), or such shorter period ending
when (i) all Registrable Notes covered by the Initial Shelf Registration have
been sold in the manner set forth and as contemplated in the Initial Shelf
Registration or (ii) a Subsequent Shelf Registration (as defined below) covering
all of the Registrable Notes has been declared effective under the Securities
Act.

     (b) Subsequent Shelf Registrations.  If the Initial Shelf Registration or
any Subsequent Shelf Registration ceases to be effective for any reason at any
time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because of the sale of all of
the securities registered thereunder), each of the Issuers shall use its best
efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within 45 days of such cessation
of effectiveness amend such Shelf Registration in a manner to obtain the
withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file (and cause
any then existing Subsidiary Guarantor to file) an additional "shelf"
Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable
Notes (a "Subsequent Shelf Registration").  If a Subsequent Shelf Registration
is filed, each of the Issuers shall use its best efforts to cause the Subsequent
Shelf Registration to be declared effective as soon as practicable after such
filing and to keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration continuously effective for
a period equal to the number of days in the Effectiveness Period less the
aggregate number of days during which the Initial Shelf Registration or any
Subsequent Shelf Registrations was previously continuously effective.  As used
herein the term "Shelf Registration" means the Initial Shelf Registration and
any Subsequent Shelf Registration.

     (c) Supplements and Amendments.  The Issuers shall promptly supplement and
amend any Shelf Registration if required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used for such Shelf
Registration, if required by the Securities Act, or if reasonably requested by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes
covered by such Shelf Registration or by any underwriter of such Registrable
Notes.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
 4.  Additional Interest
     -------------------

     (a) The Issuers and the Initial Purchasers agree that the Holders of
Registrable Notes will suffer damages if the Issuers fail to fulfill their
obligations under Section 2 or Section 3 hereof and that it would not be
feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision.  Accordingly,
the Issuers, jointly and severally, agree to pay, as liquidated damages,
additional interest on the Notes ("Additional Interest") under the circumstances
and to the extent set forth below (each of which shall be given independent
effect):

          (i) if the Exchange Registration Statement has not been filed on or
     prior to the Filing Date, then commencing on the day after the Filing Date,
     Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes over and above the stated
     interest at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90 days immediately
     following the Filing Date, such Additional Interest rate increasing by an
     additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day
     period;

          (ii) if the Exchange Registration Statement is not declared effective
     on or prior to the Effectiveness Date, then commencing on the day after the
     Effectiveness Date, Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes over and
     above the stated interest at a rate of 0.50% per annum for the first 90
     days immediately following the day after the Effectiveness Date, such
     Additional Interest rate increasing by an additional 0.50% per annum at the
     beginning of each subsequent 90-day period; and

          (iii)  if (A) the Issuers (and any then existing Subsidiary Guarantor)
     have not exchanged Exchange Notes for all Notes validly tendered in
     accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 30th day
     after the date on which the Exchange Registration Statement is declared
     effective or (B) the Initial Shelf Registration, if required to be filed
     hereunder, is not declared effective on or prior to the 120th day after the
     Issue Date or (C) if applicable, a Shelf Registration has been declared
     effective and such Shelf Registration ceases to be effective at any time
     during the Effectiveness Period, then Additional Interest shall accrue on
     the Notes over and above the stated interest at a rate of 0.50% per annum
     for the first 90 days commencing on the (x) 30th day after the date on
     which the Exchange Registration Statement is declared effective, in the
     case of (A) or (B) above, or (y) the day such Shelf Registration ceases to
     be effective in the case of (C) above, such Additional Interest rate
     increasing by an additional 0.50% per annum at the beginning of each such
     subsequent 90-day period;

provided, however, that the Additional Interest rate on the Notes may not exceed
at any one time in the aggregate 1.5% per annum; and provided further, that (1)
upon the filing of the Exchange Registration Statement (in the case of (i)
above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Registration Statement (in
the case of (ii) above), or (3) upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for all
Notes tendered (in the case of (iii)(A) above), upon the effectiveness of the
Initial Shelf Registration (in the case of (iii)(B) above) or upon the
effectiveness of a Shelf Registration which had ceased to remain effective (in
the case of (iii)(C) above), Additional Interest on the Notes as a result of
such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease
to accrue.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     (b) The Issuers shall notify the Trustee within one business day after each
and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest
is required to be paid (an "Event Date").  Any amounts of Additional Interest
due pursuant to (a)(i), (a)(ii) or (a)(iii) of this Section 4 will be payable
semi-annually by wire transfer of immediately available funds or by federal
funds check on each regular interest payment date specified in the Indenture (to
the Holders of record on the regular record date therefor (specified in the
Indenture) immediately preceding such dates), commencing with the first such
regular interest payment date occurring after any such Additional Interest
commences to accrue.  The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by
multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the principal amount of
the Notes, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
days such Additional Interest rate was applicable during such period (determined
on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months and, in the
case of a partial month, the actual number of days elapsed), and the denominator
of which is 360.

 5.  Registration Procedures
     -----------------------

     In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 2 or 3 hereof, the Issuers shall effect such registrations to permit the
sale of such securities covered thereby in accordance with the intended method
or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto and in connection with
any Registration Statement filed by the Issuers hereunder, the Issuers shall:

          (a) Prepare and file with the SEC prior to the Filing Date, the
     Exchange Registration Statement or if the Exchange Registration Statement
     is not filed because of the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(c)(i),
     a Shelf Registration as prescribed by Section 2 or 3, and use their best
     efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become effective and
     remain effective as provided herein; provided that, if (1) a Shelf
     Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2) a Prospectus contained
     in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2 is
     required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating
     Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the Applicable
     Period, before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
     amendments or supplements thereto, the Issuers shall, if requested, furnish
     to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Notes to be registered
     pursuant to such Shelf Registration or each such Participating Broker-
     Dealer, as the case may be, covered by such Registration Statement, their
     counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, a reasonable opportunity to
     review copies of all such documents (including copies of any documents to
     be incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to
     be filed (in each case at least five business days prior to such filing).
     The Issuers shall not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or
     any amendments or supplements thereto if the Holders of a majority in
     aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes covered by such
     Registration Statement, or any such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the
     case may be, their counsel, or the managing underwriters, if any, shall
     reasonably object.

          (b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
     amendments to each Shelf Registration or Exchange Registration Statement,
     as the case may be, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement
     continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period or the Applicable
     Period, as the case may be; cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented
     by any Prospectus supplement required by applicable law,

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
     and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar
     provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act; and comply
     with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable
     to it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
     Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so
     supplemented and with respect to the subsequent resale of any securities
     being sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer covered by any such Prospectus.
     The Company shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts to keep a
     Registration Statement effective during the Applicable Period if it
     voluntarily takes any action that would result in selling Holders of the
     Registrable Notes covered thereby or Participating Broker-Dealers seeking
     to sell Exchange Notes not being able to sell such Registrable Notes or
     such Exchange Notes during that period unless such action is required by
     applicable law or unless the Company complies with this Agreement,
     including, without limitation, the provisions of paragraph 5(k) hereof and
     the last paragraph of this Section 5.

          (c) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
     a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
     to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
     Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
     Applicable Period from whom the Company has received written notice that it
     will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Exchange Offer, notify the
     selling Holders of Registrable Notes, or each such Participating Broker-
     Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if
     any, promptly (but in any event within two business days), and confirm such
     notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
     post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a
     Registration Statement or any posteffective amendment, when the same has
     become effective (including in such notice a written statement that any
     Holder may, upon request, obtain, without charge, one conformed copy of
     such Registration Statement or post-effective amendment including financial
     statements and schedules, documents incorporated or deemed to be
     incorporated by reference and exhibits), (ii) of the issuance by the SEC of
     any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or
     of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Prospectus or the
     initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when a
     prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection
     with sales of the Registrable Notes the representations and warranties of
     the Issuers contained in any agreement (including any underwriting
     agreement) contemplated by Section 5(n) hereof cease to be true and
     correct, (iv) of the receipt by the Issuers of any notification with
     respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from
     qualification of a Registration Statement or any of the Registrable Notes
     or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer for
     offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any
     proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event, the
     existence of any condition or any information becoming known that makes any
     statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any
     document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference
     untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes
     in, or amendments or supplements to, such Registration Statement,
     Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement,
     it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
     state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
     the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the
     Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
     omit

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
     to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
     make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
     were made, not misleading, and (vi) of any of the Issuers' reasonable
     determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement
     would be appropriate.

          (d) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
     a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
     to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
     Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
     Applicable Period, use their best efforts to prevent the issuance of any
     order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any
     order preventing or suspending the use of a Prospectus or suspending the
     qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable
     Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer,
     for sale in any jurisdiction, and, if any such order is issued, to use
     their best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the
     earliest possible date.

          (e) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3 and if
     requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a
     majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Notes being sold
     in connection with an underwritten offering, (i) promptly as practicable
     incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
     information or revisions to information therein relating to such
     underwriters or selling Holders as the managing underwriters, if any, or
     such Holders or their counsel reasonably request to be included or made
     therein and (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or
     such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Issuers have
     received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus
     supplement or post-effective amendment.

          (f) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
     a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
     to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
     Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
     Applicable Period, furnish to each selling Holder of Registrable Notes and
     to each such Participating Broker-Dealer who so requests and to counsel and
     each managing underwriter, if any, without charge, one conformed copy of
     the Registration Statement or Registration Statements and each post-
     effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules,
     and, if requested, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
     therein by reference and all exhibits.

          (g) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
     a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
     to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
     Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
     Applicable Period, deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable Notes or
     each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their respective
     counsel, and the underwriters, if any, without charge, as many copies of
     the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto and any documents
     incorporated by reference therein as such Persons may reasonably request;
     and, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, each Issuer hereby
     consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
     supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or
     each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and the
     underwriters or agents, if any, and dealers (if any), in connection with
     the offering and sale of the Registrable Notes covered by, or the sale by
     Participating Broker-Dealers of the Exchange Notes pursuant to, such
     Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

          (h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Notes or any delivery
     of a Prospectus contained in the Exchange Registration Statement by any
     Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
     Applicable Period, to use their best efforts to register or qualify, and to
     cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes or each such
     Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, the underwriters, if any,
     and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or
     qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of
     such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, for offer and
     sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the
     United States as any selling Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, or the
     managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, reasonably request in
     writing; provided that where Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-
     Dealers or Registrable Notes are offered other than through an underwritten
     offering, the Issuers agree to cause their counsel to perform Blue Sky
     investigations and file registrations and qualifications required to be
     filed pursuant to this Section 5(h); keep each such registration or
     qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such
     Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all
     other acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the
     disposition in such jurisdictions of the Exchange Notes held by
     Participating Broker-Dealers or the Registrable Notes covered by the
     applicable Registration Statement; provided that none of the Issuers shall
     be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
     where it is not then so qualified, (B) take any action that would subject
     it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not
     then so subject or (C) subject itself to taxation in excess of a nominal
     dollar amount in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

          (i) If a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, cooperate
     with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and the managing underwriter
     or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
     of certificates representing Registrable Notes to be sold, which
     certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends and shall be in a form
     eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company; and enable such
     Registrable Notes to be in such denominations and registered in such names
     as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or Holders may
     reasonably request.

          (j) Use their best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes covered by
     any Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such
     governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the
     seller or sellers thereof or the underwriters, if any, to consummate the
     disposition of such Registrable Notes, except as may be required solely as
     a consequence of the nature of such selling Holder's business, in which
     case each of the Issuers will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the
     filing of such Registration Statement and the granting of such approvals.

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
          (k) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
     a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
     to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
     Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
     Applicable Period, upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
     paragraph 5(c)(v) or 5(c)(vi) hereof, as promptly as practicable prepare
     and (subject to Section 5(a) hereof) file with the SEC, at the joint and
     several expense of each of the Issuers, a supplement or post-effective
     amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related
     Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
     therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as
     thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Notes being sold
     thereunder or to the purchasers of the Exchange Notes to whom such
     Prospectus will be delivered by a Participating Broker-Dealer, any such
     Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
     to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
     the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading.

          (1) Use their best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes covered by a
     Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if
     so requested by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
     Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or the managing
     underwriter or underwriters, if any.

          (m) Prior to the effective date of the first Registration Statement
     relating to the Registrable Notes, (i) provide the Trustee with printed
     certificates for the Registrable Notes in a form eligible for deposit with
     The Depository Trust Company and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for the
     Registrable Notes.

          (n) In connection with an underwritten offering of Registrable Notes
     pursuant to a Shelf Registration, enter into an underwriting agreement as
     is customary in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the
     Notes and take all such other actions as are reasonably requested by the
     managing underwriter or underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the
     registration or the disposition of such Registrable Notes and, in such
     connection, (i) make such representations, warranties to, and covenants
     with, the underwriters, with respect to the business of the Issuers and
     their respective subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus
     and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
     reference therein, in each case, as are customarily made by issuers to
     underwriters in underwritten offerings of debt securities similar to the
     Notes, and confirm the same in writing if and when requested; (ii) obtain
     the opinion of counsel to the Issuers and updates thereof in form and
     substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter or
     underwriters, addressed to the underwriters covering the matters
     customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings of debt
     securities similar to the Notes and such other matters as may be reasonably
     requested by underwriters; (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates
     thereof in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing
     underwriter or underwriters from the independent certified public
     accountants of the Issuers (and, if necessary, any other independent
     certified public accountants of any subsidiary of any of the Issuers or of
     any business acquired by any of the Issuers for which financial statements
     and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
     Statement), addressed to each of the underwriters, such letters to be in
     customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
     "cold comfort" letters in connection with underwritten offerings of debt
     securities similar to the Notes and such other matters as reasonably
     requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters; and (iv) if an
     underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain
     indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set
     forth in Section 7 hereof (or such other provisions and procedures
     acceptable to Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
     Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement and the managing
     underwriter or underwriters or agents) with respect to all parties to be
     indemnified pursuant to said Section.  The above shall be done at each
     closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required
     thereunder.

          (o) If (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 3, or (2)
     a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Registration Statement filed pursuant
     to Section 2 is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any
     Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Notes during the
     Applicable Period, make available for inspection by any selling Holder of
     such Registrable Notes being sold, or each such Participating Broker-
     Dealer, as the case may be, any underwriter participating in any such
     disposition of Registrable Notes, if any, and any attorney, accountant or
     other agent retained by any such selling Holder or each such Participating
     Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or underwriter (collectively, the
     "Inspectors"), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable
     business hours, all financial and other records and pertinent corporate
     documents of the Issuers and their respective subsidiaries (collectively,
     the "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise
     any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and cause the officers,
     directors and employees of the Issuers and their respective subsidiaries to
     supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in
     connection with such Registration Statement.  Such Records shall be kept
     confidential by each Inspector and shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors
     unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct
     a misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement, (ii) the release
     of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a
     court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) the information in such Records is
     public or has been made generally available to the public other than as a
     result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Inspector or (iv)
     disclosure of such information is, in the opinion of counsel for any
     Inspector, necessary or advisable in connection with any action, claim,
     suit or proceeding, directly or indirectly, involving or potentially
     involving such Inspector and arising out of, based upon, related to, or
     involving this Agreement, or any transactions contemplated hereby or
     arising hereunder.  Each selling Holder of such Registrable Notes and each
     such Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to agree that information
     obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential
     and shall not be used by it as the basis for any market transactions in the
     securities of the Issuers unless and until such is made generally available
     to the public.  Each selling Holder of such Registrable Notes and each such
     Participating Broker-Dealer will be required to further agree that it will,
     upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of
     competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Issuers and allow the Issuers to
     undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed
     confidential at their expense.

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
          (p) Provide an indenture trustee for the Registrable Notes or the
     Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and cause the Indenture or the trust
     indenture provided for in Section 2(a), as the case may be, to be qualified
     under the TIA not later than the effective date of the Exchange Offer or
     the first Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Notes; and in
     connection therewith, cooperate with the trustee under any such indenture
     and the Holders of the Registrable Notes, to effect such changes to such
     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 such trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to
     effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed
     with the SEC to enable such indenture to be so qualified in a timely
     manner.

          (q) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and
     make generally available to its securityholders earnings statements
     satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule
     158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act)
     no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days
     after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i)
     commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Notes are
     sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten
     offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering,
     commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company
     after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements
     shall cover said 12-month periods.

          (r) Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange,
     obtain an opinion of counsel to the Issuers, in a form customary for
     underwritten transactions, addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all
     Holders of Registrable Notes participating in the Exchange Offer or the
     Private Exchange, as the case may be, that the Exchange Notes or the
     Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, and the related indenture
     constitute legally valid and binding obligations of each of the Issuers,
     enforceable against each of the Issuers in accordance with their respective
     terms subject to customary exceptions and qualifications.

          (s) If the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
     upon delivery of the Registrable Notes by Holders to the Issuers (or to
     such other Person as directed by the Issuers) in exchange for the Exchange
     Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, the Issuers shall
     mark, or caused to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such
     Registrable Notes are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Notes or
     the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be; in no event shall such
     Registrable Notes be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

          (t) Cooperate with each seller of Registrable Notes covered by any
     Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any, participating in the
     disposition of such Registrable Notes and their respective counsel in
     connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD.

          (u) Use their best efforts to take all other steps reasonably
     necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Notes covered by a
     Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
     The Issuers may require each seller of Registrable Notes as to which any
registration is being effected to furnish to the Issuers such information
regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Notes as the
Issuers may, from time to time, reasonably request.  The Issuers may exclude
from such registration the Registrable Notes of any seller who fails to furnish
such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.  Each
seller as to which any Shelf Registration Statement is being effected agrees to
furnish promptly to the Issuers all information required to be disclosed in
order to make the information previously furnished to the Issuers by such seller
not materially misleading.

     Each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer
agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes to be sold by
such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, that, upon receipt of any
notice from the Issuers of the happening of any event of the kind described in
Section 5(c)(ii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), or 5(c)(vi), such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of such Registrable Notes covered by a Registration
Statement and such Participating Broker Dealer will forthwith discontinue
disposition of such Exchange Notes pursuant to any Prospectus and, in each case,
forthwith discontinue dissemination of such Prospectus until such Holder's or
Participating Broker-Dealer's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k), or until it is advised in
writing (the "Advice") by the Issuers that the use of the applicable Prospectus
may be resumed, and has received copies of any amendments or supplements thereto
and, if so directed by the Issuers, such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer,
as the case may be, will deliver to the Issuers all copies, other than permanent
file copies, then in such Holder's or Participating Broker-Dealer's possession,
of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of
the receipt of such notice.  In the event the Issuers shall give any such
notice, each of the Effectiveness Period and the Applicable Period shall be
extended by the number of days during such periods from and including the date
of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of
Registrable Notes covered by such Registration Statement or Exchange Notes to be
sold by such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, shall have
received (x) the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated
by Section 5(k) or (y) the Advice.

 6.  Registration Expenses
     ---------------------

     (a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with
this Agreement by the Issuers shall be borne by the Issuers, jointly and
severally, whether or not the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or
becomes effective, including, without limitation, (i) all registration and
filing fees (including, without limitation, (A) fees with respect to filings
required to be made with the NASD in connection with an underwritten offering
and (B) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws
(including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in
connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions (x) where the holders
of Registrable Notes are located, in the case of the Exchange Notes, or (y) as
provided in Section 5(h) hereof, in the case of Registrable Notes or Exchange
Notes to be sold by a Participating Broker-Dealer during the Applicable
Period)), (ii) printing expenses, including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes in a form eligible
for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if
the printing of

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any,
or by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Notes included in any Registration Statement or by any Participating Broker-
Dealer during the Applicable Period, as the case may be, (iii) reasonable
messenger, telephone and delivery expenses incurred in connection with the
Exchange Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration, (iv) fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Issuers and reasonable fees and disbursements
of special counsel for the sellers of Registrable Notes (subject to the
provisions of Section 6(b)), (v) fees and disbursements of all independent
certified public accountants referred to in Section 5(n)(iii) (including,
without limitation, the expenses of any special audit and "cold comfort" letters
required by or incident to such performance), (vi) rating agency fees, (vii)
Securities Act liability insurance, if the Issuers desire such insurance, (viii)
fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Issuers, (ix) internal
expenses of the Issuers (including, without limitation, all salaries and
expenses of officers and employees of the Issuers performing legal or accounting
duties), (x) the expense of any annual audit, (xi) the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on
any securities exchange and (xii) the expenses relating to printing, word
processing and distributing all Registration Statements, underwriting
agreements, securities sales agreements, indentures and any other documents
necessary in order to comply with this Agreement.

     (b) In connection with any Shelf Registration hereunder, the Issuers,
jointly and severally, shall reimburse the Holders of the Registrable Notes
being registered in such registration for the fees and disbursements, not to
exceed $25,000, of not more than one counsel (in addition to appropriate local
counsel) chosen by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Registrable Notes to be included in such Shelf Registration and other out-
of-pocket expenses of Holders of Registrable Notes incurred in connection with
the registration and sale of Registrable Notes.

 7.  Indemnification
     ---------------

     (a) Each of the Issuers, jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-
Dealer selling Exchange Notes during the Applicable Period, the officers and
directors of each such Person, and each Person, if any, who controls any such
Person within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act (each, a "Participant"), from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, the
reasonable legal fees and other reasonable expenses actually incurred in
connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted) caused by,
arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (as amended
or supplemented if the Issuers shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto) or caused by, arising out of or based upon 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, or (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Issuers shall have furnished any
amendments or supplements thereto) or caused by, arising out of or based upon
any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information relating to any Participant furnished to the Issuers
in writing by or on

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
behalf of such Participant expressly for use therein; provided, however, that
the Company will not be liable if such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was contained or made in any preliminary prospectus
and corrected in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto and the
Prospectus does not contain any other untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission of a material fact that was the subject matter of
the related proceeding and any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense
suffered or incurred by the Participants resulted from any action, claim or suit
by any Person who purchased Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes which are the
subject thereof from such Participant and it is established in the related
proceeding that such Participant failed to deliver or provide a copy of the
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) to such Person with or prior to the
confirmation of the sale of such Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes sold to
such Person if required by applicable law, unless such failure to deliver or
provide a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) was a result of
noncompliance by the Company with Section 5 of this Agreement.

     (b) Each Participant agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Issuers, their respective directors and officers and each
Person who controls any of the Issuers within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Issuers to each Participant, but only with
reference to information relating to such Participant furnished to the Issuers
in writing by such Participant expressly for use in any Registration Statement
or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary
prospectus.  The liability of any Participant under this paragraph shall in no
event exceed the proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable
Notes or Exchange Notes giving rise to such obligations.

     (c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or
regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against
any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the
two preceding paragraphs, such Person (the "Indemnified Person") shall promptly
notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "Indemnifying
Person") in writing, and the Indemnifying Person, upon request of the
Indemnified Person, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others the
Indemnifying Person may reasonably designate in such proceeding and shall pay
the reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred by such counsel related to
such proceeding; provided, however, that the failure to so notify the
Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it of any obligation or liability which it
may have hereunder or otherwise (unless and only to the extent that such failure
directly results in the loss or compromise of any material rights or defenses by
the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnifying Person was not otherwise aware of
such action or claim).  In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall
have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the
Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed in
writing to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a
reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified
Person or (iii) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified
Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.  It
is understood that, unless there is a conflict among Indemnified Persons, the
Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all
Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed
promptly after receipt of the invoice therefor as they are incurred.  Any such
separate firm for the Participants and such control Persons of Participants
shall be designated in writing by Participants who sold a majority in interest
of Registrable Notes sold by all such Participants and any such separate firm
for the Issuers, their directors, their officers and such control Persons of the
Issuers shall be designated in writing by the Company.  The Indemnifying Person
shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its
prior written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final
non-appealable judgment for the plaintiff for which the Indemnified Person is
entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnifying Person
agrees to indemnify any Indemnified Person from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested an
Indemnifying Person to reimburse the Indemnified Person for reasonable fees and
expenses actually incurred by counsel as contemplated by the third sentence of
this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person agrees that it shall be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its prior written consent if (i)
such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such
Indemnifying Person of the aforesaid request and (ii) such Indemnifying Person
shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request
prior to the date of such settlement; provided, however, that the Indemnifying
Person shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its consent
pursuant to this sentence if the Indemnifying Person is contesting, in good
faith, the request for reimbursement.  No Indemnifying Person shall, without the
prior written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is
or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by
such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional
release of such indemnified Person, in form and substance satisfactory to such
Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of
such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to an admission of
fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of an Indemnified Person.

     (d) If the indemnification provided for in the first and second paragraphs
of this Section 7 is unavailable (other than by reason of the exceptions
specifically provided therein) to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an
Indemnified Person in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraphs, in
lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder and in order to provide
for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative
benefits received by the Indemnifying Person or Persons on the one hand and the
Indemnified Person or Persons on the other from the offering of the Registrable
Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be or (ii) if the allocation provided
by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Indemnifying Person or
Persons on the one hand and the Indemnified Person or Persons on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions (or alleged statements or omissions)
that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The
relative fault of the parties 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 information
supplied by the Issuers on the one hand or by the Participants or such other
Indemnified Person, as the case may be, on the other, the parties' relative
intent,

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission and any other equitable considerations appropriate under
the circumstances.

     (e) The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation
(even if the Participants were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.  The amount
paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims,
damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall
be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable
legal or other expenses actually incurred by such Indemnified Person in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall a
Participant be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which proceeds received by such Participant from sales of Registrable Notes or
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Participant has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No Person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

     (f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 7
will be in addition to any liability which the Indemnifying Persons may
otherwise have to the Indemnified Persons referred to above.

 8.  Rules 144 and 144A
     ------------------

     Each of the Issuers covenants that it will file the reports required to be
filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder in a timely manner and, if at any time
it is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder
of Registrable Notes, make publicly available other information so long as
necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 and Rule 144A.  Each of the
Issuers further covenants, for so long as any Registrable Notes remain
outstanding, to make available to any Holder or beneficial owner of Registrable
Notes in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such
Registrable Notes from such Holder or beneficial owner, the information required
by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such
Registrable Notes pursuant to Rule 144A.

 9.  Underwritten Registrations
     --------------------------

     If any of the Registrable Notes covered by any Shelf Registration are to be
sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers
and manager or managers that will manage the offering will be selected by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Registrable Notes
included in such offering and reasonably acceptable to the Issuers.

     No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's
Registrable Notes on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney,
indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the
terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 10. Miscellaneous
     -------------

      (a) No Inconsistent Agreements.  None of the Issuers has entered, as of
the date hereof, and none of the Issuers shall enter, after the date of this
Agreement, into any agreement with respect to any of its securities that is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Notes in this
Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.  None of the
Issuers has entered and none of the Issuers will enter into any agreement with
respect to any of its securities which will grant to any Person piggy-back
rights with respect to a Registration Statement.

      (b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes.  Neither the Company nor the
Parent Guarantor shall, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to
the Registrable Notes as a class that would adversely affect the ability of the
Holders of Registrable Notes to include such Registrable Notes in a registration
undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.

      (c) Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the prior written
consent of (A) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the then outstanding Registrable Notes and (B) in circumstances that
would adversely affect Participating Broker-Dealers, the Participating Broker-
Dealers holding not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Exchange Notes held by all Participating Broker-Dealers; provided, however, that
Section 7 and this Section 10(c) may not be amended, modified or supplemented
without the prior written consent of each Holder and each Participating Broker-
Dealer (including any Person who was a Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer of
Registrable Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, disposed of pursuant to
any Registration Statement).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates
exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Notes whose securities are
being tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer or sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect, impair, limit or
compromise the rights of other Holders of Registrable Notes may be given by
Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable
Notes being tendered or being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration
Statement.

      (d) Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-
class mail, next-day air courier or telecopier:

          1.  if to a Holder of Registrable Notes or any Participating Broker-
     Dealer, at the most current address of such Holder or Participating Broker-
     Dealer, as the case may be, set forth on the records of the registrar under
     the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to the Initial Purchasers as
     follows:

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
               JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
               909 Fannin Street, Suite 3100
               Houston, TX  77010
               Facsimile No.:  (713) 650-8730
               Attention: Corporate Finance Department

          with a copy to:

               Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
               2300 First City Tower
               1001 Fannin
               Houston, Texas  77002-6760
               Facsimile No.:  (713) 615-5531
               Attention:  T. Mark Kelly

           2.  if to the Initial Purchasers, at the address specified in Section
     10(d)(1);

           3.  if to an Issuer, as follows:

               Southwest Royalties, Inc.
               Southwest Royalties Building
               407 N. Big Spring
               Midland, TX  79701
               Attention: President

           with copies to:

               Baker, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell, P.C.
               633 Chestnut St., Suite 1800
               Chattanooga, TN  37450
               Facsimile No.: (423) 756-3447
               Attention:  J. Porter Durham

     All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given:  when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days
after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed, one business day
after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery; and when receipt is acknowledged by the addressee, if telecopied.

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

      (e) Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto and
the Holders; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not inure to the
benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a Holder unless such
successor or assign holds Registrable Notes.

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
      (f) 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.

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

      (H) GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO CONTRACTS MADE
AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICTS OF LAW.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

      (i) Severability.  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal,
void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in
no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use
their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same
or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision,
covenant or restriction.  It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the
intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

      (j) Notes Held by the Issuers or Their Affiliates.  Whenever the consent
or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is
required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by the Issuers or their affiliates
(as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.

      (k) Third Party Beneficiaries.  Holders of Registrable Notes and
Participating Broker-Dealers are intended third party beneficiaries of this
Agreement and this Agreement may be enforced by such Persons.

      (1) Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with the Purchase
Agreement and the Indenture, is intended by the parties as a final and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the subject matter contained herein and therein and any and all prior oral or
written agreements, representations, or warranties, contracts, understandings,
correspondence, conversations and memoranda between the Initial Purchasers on
the one hand and the Issuers on the other, or between or among any agents,
representatives, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors in interest or
successors in interest with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof are
merged herein and replaced hereby.

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.

                              SOUTHWEST ROYALTIES, INC.


                              By: __________________________________
                                    Name:  Bill E. Coggin
                                    Title: Vice President

                              SOUTHWEST ROYALTIES HOLDINGS, INC.


                              By: __________________________________
                                    Name:  Bill E. Coggin
                                    Title: Vice President

                              JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.


                              By: __________________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

                              BANC ONE CAPITAL CORPORATION


                              By: __________________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

                              PARIBAS CORPORATION



                              By: __________________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

                                       25