<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.14

================================================================================


                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                           Dated as of April 6, 1999

                                 by and among

                       CALIFORNIA STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                      and

                             MERRILL LYNCH & CO.,
                     MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                                 INCORPORATED,

                      BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.

                                      and

                    NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES LLC,
                             as Initial Purchasers


================================================================================
<PAGE>

                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

          THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
                                                   ---------
entered into as of April 6, 1999 by and among CALIFORNIA STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and MERRILL LYNCH & CO., MERRILL LYNCH,
                             -------
PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED ("Merrill Lynch"), BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON
                                      -------------
STEPHENS INC. ("BancBoston") and NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES LLC
                ----------
("NationsBanc" and, together with Merrill Lynch and BancBoston, the "Initial
  -----------                                                        -------
Purchasers").
----------

          This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated March
30, 1999 by and among the Company and the Initial Purchasers (the "Purchase
                                                                   --------
Agreement") that provides for, among other things, the sale by the Company to
---------
the Initial Purchasers of an aggregate of $150,000,000 principal amount of the
Company's 8 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009 (the "Notes").  In order to induce the
                                             -----
Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed
to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees
the registration rights set forth in this Agreement.  The execution and delivery
of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.

          In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

          1.   Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following
               -----------
capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:

          "Additional Interest" see Section 2(e) hereof.
           -------------------

          "Advice" see the last paragraph Section 3 hereof.
           ------

          "Applicable Period" see Section 3(s) hereof.
           -----------------

          "Business Day" shall mean a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a
           ------------
     day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are required to be
     closed.

          "Closing Time" shall mean the Closing Time as defined in the Purchase
           ------------
     Agreement.

          "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
           -------
     Agreement and also includes the Company's successors and permitted assigns.
<PAGE>

                                      -2-

          "Depositary" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other
           ----------
     depositary appointed by the Company; provided, however, that such
                                          --------  -------
     depositary must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of
     New York.

          "Effectiveness Period" see Section 2(b) hereof.
           --------------------

          "Effectiveness Target Date" see Section 2(e) hereof.
           -------------------------

          "Event Date" see Section 2(e) hereof.
           ----------

          "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
           ------------
     amended.

          "Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of
           --------------
     Exchange Notes for Notes pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

          "Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the
           ---------------------------
     Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

          "Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer
           -------------------------------------
     registration statement on Form S-1, S-3 or S-4 (or, if applicable, on
     another appropriate form), and all amendments and supplements to such
     registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained
     therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
     therein.

          "Exchange Period" see Section 2(a) hereof.
           ---------------

          "Exchange Notes" shall mean the 8 1/2% Senior Notes due 2009, issued
           --------------
     by the Company under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Notes
     (except that (i) interest thereon shall accrue from the last date on which
     interest was paid on the Notes or, if no such interest has been paid, from
     the Issue Date, (ii) the transfer restrictions with respect to the Notes
     and all registration rights in respect thereof shall be eliminated and
     (iii) the provisions relating to Additional Interest shall be eliminated)
     to be offered to Holders of Notes in exchange for Notes pursuant to the
     Exchange Offer.

          "Holders" shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own
           -------
     any Transfer Restricted Notes, each of their direct and indirect
     successors, assigns and transferees who become registered owners of
     Transfer Restricted
<PAGE>

                                      -3-

     Notes under the Indenture and each Participating Broker-Dealer that holds
     Exchange Notes for so long as such Participating Broker-Dealer is required
     to deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in
     connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes.

          "Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Notes dated as of
           ---------
     April 6, 1999 between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company
     of California, N.A., as trustee, as the same may be amended from time to
     time in accordance with the terms thereof.

          "Initial Purchasers" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
           ------------------
     to this Agreement.

          "Inspectors" see Section 3(m) hereof.
           ----------

          "Issue Date" shall mean the date on which the Notes are originally
           ----------
     issued.

          "Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
           ----------------
     aggregate principal amount of outstanding Transfer Restricted Notes.

          "Merrill Lynch" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to
           -------------
     this agreement.

          "Notes" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
           -----
     Agreement.

          "Participating Broker-Dealer" shall have the meaning set forth in
           ---------------------------
     Section 3(s) hereof.

          "Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, trust or
           ------
     unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political
     subdivision thereof.

          "Private Exchange" see Section 2(a) hereof.
           ----------------

          "Private Exchange Notes" see Section 2(a) hereof.
           ----------------------

          "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
           ----------
     Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
     amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a
     prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any
     portion of the Transfer Restricted Notes covered by a Shelf Registration
     Statement, and by all other amendments and
<PAGE>

                                      -4-

     supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and in
     each case including all material incorporated by reference therein.

          "Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
           ------------------
     to this Agreement.

          "Records" see Section 3(m) hereof.
           -------

          "Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
           ---------------------
     performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including
     without limitation:  (i) all applicable SEC, stock exchange or National
     Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") registration and
                                                   ----
     filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
     compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable
     fees and disbursements of one counsel for Holders that are Initial
     Purchasers in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange
     Notes or Transfer Restricted Notes) and compliance with the rules of the
     NASD, (iii) all applicable expenses incurred by the Company in preparing or
     assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any
     Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
     thereto, and in preparing or assisting in preparing any other documents
     relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all
     rating agency fees, if any, (v) the fees and disbursements of counsel for
     the Company, (vii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
     listing, if any, of any of the Transfer Restricted Notes on any securities
     exchange or exchanges, if the Company, in its discretion, elects to make
     any such listing; but excluding fees of counsel to the Holders and
     underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating
     to the sale or disposition of Transfer Restricted Notes by a Holder.

          "Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement
           ----------------------
     (including, without limitation, the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
     and the Shelf Registration Statement) of the Company which covers any of
     the Exchange Notes or Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to the provisions
     of this Agreement, and all amendments and supplements to any such
     Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case
     including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
     material incorporated by reference therein.
<PAGE>

                                      -5-

          "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
           ---

          "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
           --------------

          "Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
           ------------------
     Section 2(b) hereof.

          "Shelf Registration Event Date" see Section 2(b).
           -----------------------------

          "Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration
           ----------------------------
     statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) hereof
     which covers all of the Transfer Restricted Notes or all of the Private
     Exchange Notes, as the case may be, on an appropriate form under Rule 415
     under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the
     SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
     including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus
     contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
     reference therein.

          "Target Consummation Date" see Section 2(a).
           ------------------------

          "Target Effectiveness Date" see Section 2(a).
           -------------------------

          "TIA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(k) hereof.
           ---

          "Transfer Restricted Notes" means each Note until (i) the date on
           -------------------------
     which such has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer for an
     Exchange Note in the Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a
     broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer of a Note for an Exchange Note, the
     date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from
     such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the
     prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii)
     the date on which such Note has been effectively registered under the
     Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration
     Statement, (iv) the date on which such Note is distributed to the public
     pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (or any similar provision
     then in force, but not Rule 144A under the Securities Act), (v) such Note
     shall have been otherwise transferred by the holder thereof and a new Note
     not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have
<PAGE>

                                      -6-

     been delivered by the Company and subsequent disposition of such Note shall
     not require registration or qualification under the Securities Act or any
     similar state law then in force or (vi) such Note ceases to be outstanding.

          "Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Notes under the
           -------
     Indenture.

          2.   Registration Under the Securities Act.
               -------------------------------------

          (a)  Exchange Offer.  The Company shall, for the benefit of the
               --------------
Holders, at the Company's cost, (i) unless the Exchange Offer would not be
permitted by applicable law or SEC policy, file with the SEC within 90 days
after the Closing Time an Exchange Offer Registration Statement on an
appropriate form under the Securities Act covering the offer by the Company to
the Holders to exchange all of the Transfer Restricted Notes (other than Private
Exchange Notes (as defined below)) for a like principal amount of Exchange
Notes, (ii) unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable law
or SEC policy, use its best efforts to have such Exchange Offer Registration
Statement declared effective under the Securities Act by the SEC not later than
180 days after the Closing Time (the "Target Effectiveness Date"), (iii) have
                                      -------------------------
such Registration Statement remain effective until the closing of the Exchange
Offer and (iv) unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by applicable
law or SEC policy, commence the Exchange Offer and use its best efforts to
issue, on or prior to the 30th Business Day after the date on which the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC (the "Target
                                                                     ------
Consummation Date"), Exchange Notes in exchange for all Notes tendered prior
-----------------
thereto in the Exchange Offer.  Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Exchange Offer,
it being the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder eligible and
electing to exchange Transfer Restricted Notes for Exchange Notes (assuming that
such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405
under the Securities Act and is not a broker-dealer tendering Transfer
Restricted Notes acquired directly from the Company for its own account,
acquires the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and
has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in the
Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing (within the meaning of the
Securities Act) the Exchange Notes) and to transfer such Exchange Notes from and
after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities
Act and under state securities or blue sky laws.
<PAGE>

                                      -7-

          In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

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

          (ii)   keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period of not
     less than 20 Business Days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the
     Holders (or longer if required by applicable law) (such period referred to
     herein as the "Exchange Period");
                    ---------------

          (iii)  utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer;

          (iv)   permit Holders to withdraw tendered Notes at any time prior to
     the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day of the
     Exchange Period, by sending to the institution specified in the notice, a
     telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of
     such Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for exchange, and a
     statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Notes
     exchanged; and

          (v)    otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable
     laws relating to the Exchange Offer.

          If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer the Initial Purchasers
hold any Notes acquired by them and having the status of an unsold allotment in
the initial distribution, the Company upon the request of any Initial Purchaser
shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Notes in the Exchange
Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser in exchange (the "Private
                                                                     -------
Exchange") for the Notes held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount
--------
of debt securities of the Company that are identical (except that such
securities shall bear appropriate transfer restrictions) to the Exchange Notes
(the "Private Exchange Notes").
      ----------------------

          The Exchange Notes and the Private Exchange Notes shall be issued
under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects
to the Indenture and that, in either case, has been qualified under the TIA or
is exempt from such qualification and shall provide that the Exchange Notes
shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture or such indenture shall
<PAGE>

                                      -8-

provide that the Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes and the Notes shall
vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the
Exchange Notes, the Private Exchange Notes or the Notes will have the right to
vote or consent as a separate class on any matter. The Private Exchange Notes
shall be of the same series as and the Company shall use all commercially
reasonable efforts to have the Private Exchange Notes bear the same CUSIP number
as the Exchange Notes. The Company shall not have any liability under this
Agreement solely as a result of such Private Exchange Notes not bearing the same
CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes.

          The Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be subject to
any conditions, other than that (i) the Exchange Offer or 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 shall have
been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency that
might materially impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange
Offer or the Private Exchange, and no material adverse development shall have
occurred in any existing action or proceeding with respect to the Company and
(iii) all governmental approvals shall have been obtained, which approvals the
Company deems necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer or Private
Exchange.  As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and/or
the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:

          (i)    accept for exchange all Transfer Restricted Notes or portions
     thereof properly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the
     Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer
     Registration Statement and the letter of transmittal that is an exhibit
     thereto;

          (ii)   accept for exchange all Notes properly tendered pursuant to the
     Private Exchange; and

          (iii)  deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
     cancellation all Transfer Restricted Notes or portions thereof so accepted
     for exchange by the Company, and issue, and cause the Trustee under the
     Indenture to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, a new
     Exchange Note or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, equal in
     principal amount to the principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Notes
     surrendered by such Holder and accepted for exchange.
<PAGE>

                                     -9-

          To the extent not prohibited by any law or applicable interpretation
of the staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its best efforts to complete the
Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws
in connection with the Exchange Offer.  Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes
who wishes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Notes for Exchange Notes in the
Exchange Offer will be required to make certain customary representations in
connection therewith, including representations that such Holder is not an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act, that any Exchange Notes to be received by it will be acquired in the
ordinary course of business and that at the time of the commencement of the
Exchange Offer it has no arrangement with any Person to participate in the
distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Notes.
The Company shall inform the Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of
the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchasers shall
have the right to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of
Transfer Restricted Notes in the Exchange Offer.

          Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with this
Section 2(a), the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply, mutatis
                                                                        -------
mutandis, solely with respect to Transfer Restricted Notes that are Private
--------
Exchange Notes and Exchange Notes held by Participating Broker-Dealers, and the
Company shall have no further obligation to register Transfer Restricted Notes
(other than Private Exchange Notes) pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.

          (b)  Shelf Registration.  If (i) the Company is not permitted to file
               ------------------
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or to consummate the Exchange Offer
because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or SEC policy,
(ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason consummated by the Target
Consummation Date, (iii) any holder of Notes notifies the Company within a
specified time period that (a) due to a change in law or policy, in the opinion
of counsel, it is not entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer, (b) due to
a change in law or policy, in the opinion of counsel, it may not resell the
Exchange Notes acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the public without
delivering a prospectus and (x) the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such resales by such
holder and (y) such prospectus is not promptly amended or modified in order to
be suitable for use in connection with such resales for such holder and all
similarly situated holders, or (c) it
<PAGE>

                                     -10-

is a broker-dealer and owns Notes acquired directly from the Company or an
affiliate of the Company, (iv) the holders of a majority of the Notes may not
resell the Exchange Notes acquired by them in the Exchange Offer to the public
without restriction under the Securities Act and without restriction under
applicable blue sky or state securities laws or (v) the Exchange Offer shall not
have been consummated within 210 days after the Issue Date (the date of any of
(i)-(v), the "Shelf Registration Event Date"), then the Company shall, at its
              -----------------------------
cost, use its best efforts to cause to be filed a Shelf Registration Statement
prior to the later of (A) 60 days after the Shelf Registration Event Date and
(B) 270 days after the Issue Date and use its best efforts to cause the Shelf
Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC on or prior to 150
days after such obligation arises. Each Holder as to which any Shelf
Registration is being effected agrees to furnish to the Company all information
with respect to such Holder necessary to make any information previously
furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.

          The Company agrees to use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective for a  period of two years from
the Issue Date (subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 3
hereof) (or such shorter period that will terminate when all of the Transfer
Restricted Notes covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold
pursuant thereto, cease to be outstanding or are eligible for resale pursuant to
the provisions of Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act) (the "Effectiveness
                                                              -------------
Period"); provided, however, that the Effectiveness Period in respect of the
------    --------  -------
Shelf Registration Statement shall be extended to the extent required to permit
dealers to comply with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of Rule
174 under the Securities Act and as otherwise provided herein.  The Company
shall not permit any securities other than Transfer Restricted Notes to be
included in the Shelf Registration.  The Company further agrees, if necessary,
to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by the
rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by
the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by
any other rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registrations, and the
Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes copies of
any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the
SEC.

          (c)  Expenses.  The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in
               --------
connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof and the
reasonable fees and ex-
<PAGE>

                                     -11-

penses of one counsel, if any, designated in writing by the Majority Holders to
act as counsel for the Holders of the Transfer Restricted Notes in connection
with a Shelf Registration Statement. Except as provided in the preceding
sentence, each Holder shall pay all expenses of its own counsel, underwriting
discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or
disposition of such Holder's Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement.

          (d)  Effective Registration Statement.  An Exchange Offer Registration
               --------------------------------
Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective
unless it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided, however, that if,
                                                  --------  -------
after it has been declared effective, the offering of Transfer Restricted Notes
pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental
agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to have been
effective during the period of such interference, until the offering of Transfer
Restricted Notes may legally resume.  The Company will be deemed not to have
used its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the
Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, to become, or to remain,
effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that
would result in any such Registration Statement not being declared effective or
in the Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes covered thereby not being able to
exchange or offer and sell such Transfer Restricted Notes during that period,
unless such action is required by applicable law and except as otherwise
provided in the second paragraph of Section 2(e) below.

          (e)  Additional Interest.  In the event that (i) the applicable
               -------------------
Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the date
specified herein for such filing, (ii) the applicable Registration Statement is
not declared effective on or prior to the date specified herein for such
effectiveness after such obligation arises (the "Effectiveness Target Date"),
                                                 -------------------------
(iii) if the Exchange Offer is required to be consummated hereunder, the Company
fails to consummate the Exchange Offer within 30 Business Days of the
Effectiveness Target Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or (iv) the applicable Registration Statement is filed and declared
effective during the period effectiveness is required by Section 2(e) and 3(a)
but shall thereafter cease to be effective or usable without being succeeded
immediately by an additional Registration Statement covering the Transfer
Restricted
<PAGE>

                                     -12-

Notes that has been filed and declared effective (each such event referred to in
clauses (i) through (iv), a "Registration Default"), then the interest rate on
                             --------------------
the Transfer Restricted Notes as to which such Registration Default relates will
increase ("Additional Interest"), with respect to the first 90-day period (or
           -------------------
portion thereof) while a Registration Default is continuing immediately
following the occurrence of such Registration Default in an amount equal to
0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes. The rate of additional
Interest will increase by an additional 0.25% per annum of the principal amount
of the Notes for each subsequent 90-day period (or portion thereof) while a
Registration Default is continuing until all Registration Defaults have been
cured, up to a maximum amount of 1.0% of the principal amount of the Notes.
Additional Interest shall be computed based on the actual number of days elapsed
during which any such Registration Defaults exists. Following the cure of a
Registration Default, the accrual of Additional Interest with respect to such
Registration Default will cease.

          If the Company issues a notice that the Shelf Registration Statement
is unusable due to the pendency of an announcement of a material corporate
transaction, or such notice is required under applicable securities laws to be
issued by the Company, and the aggregate number of days in any consecutive
twelve-month period for which the Shelf Registration Statement shall not be
usable due to all such notices issued or required to be issued exceeds 60 days
in the aggregate, then the interest rate borne by the Notes will be increased by
0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes for the first 90-day period
(or portion thereof) beginning on the 31st such date that such Shelf
Registration Statement ceases to be usable, which rate shall be increased by an
additional 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes at the beginning
of each subsequent 90-day period, up to a maximum amount of 1.00% of the
principal amount of the Notes.  Upon the Shelf Registration Statement once again
becoming usable, the interest rate borne by the Notes will be reduced to the
original interest rate if the Company is otherwise in compliance with this
Agreement at such time.  Additional Interest shall be computed based on the
actual number of days elapsed in each 90-day period in which the Shelf
Registration Statement is unusable.

          The Company shall notify the Trustee within five Business Days after
each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional
Interest is required to be paid (an "Event Date").  Additional Interest shall be
                                     ----------
paid by depositing with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the
<PAGE>

                                     -13-

Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes, on or before the applicable semiannual
interest payment date, immediately available funds in sums sufficient to pay the
Additional Interest then due. The Additional Interest due shall be payable on
each interest payment date to the record Holder of Notes entitled to receive the
interest payment to be paid on such date as set forth in the Indenture. Each
obligation to pay Additional Interest shall be deemed to accrue from and
including the day following the applicable Event Date.

          3.   Registration Procedures.  In connection with the obligations of
               -----------------------
the Company with respect to the Registration Statements pursuant to Sections
2(a) and 2(b) hereof, the Company shall:

          (a)  prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or
     Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof
     within the relevant time period specified in Section 2 hereof on the
     appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (i) shall be selected
     by the Company, (ii) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be
     available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Notes by the selling
     Holders thereof and (iii) shall comply as to form in all material respects
     with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial
     statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use their best
     efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain
     effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof.  The Company shall not file
     any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
     thereto in respect of which the Holders must provide information for
     inclusion therein without the Holders being afforded an opportunity to
     review such documentation a reasonable time prior to the filing of such
     document if the Majority Holders or 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 Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
     Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period or the
     Applicable Period, as the case may be; and cause each Prospectus to be
     supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and as so supplemented
     to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provision then in force)
     under the Securities Act, and comply with the provisions of the Secu-
<PAGE>

                                     -14-

     rities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
     thereunder applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all
     securities covered by each Registration Statement during the Effectiveness
     Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be, in accordance with the
     intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof
     described in this Agreement (including sales by any Participating Broker-
     Dealer);

          (c)  in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of
     Transfer Restricted Notes, at least three Business Days prior to filing,
     that a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the Transfer Restricted
     Notes is being filed and advising such Holder that the distribution of
     Transfer Restricted Notes will be made in accordance with the method
     selected by the Majority Holders; and (ii) furnish to each Holder of
     Transfer Restricted Notes, without charge, as many copies of each
     Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other
     documents as such Holder may reasonably request, in order to facilitate the
     disposition of the Transfer Restricted Notes; and (iii) subject to the last
     paragraph of Section 3 hereof, hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus
     or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of
     Transfer Restricted Notes in connection with the offering and sale of the
     Transfer Restricted Notes covered by such Prospectus or any amendment or
     supplement thereto subject to the limitations on the use thereof provided
     in Sections 2(b) and 2(c);

          (d)  in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to
     register or qualify, as may be required by applicable law, the Transfer
     Restricted Notes under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws
     of such jurisdictions by the time the applicable Registration Statement is
     declared effective by the SEC as any Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes
     covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in advance of
     such date of effectiveness, and do any and all other acts and things that
     may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to
     consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Transfer
     Restricted Notes owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company
                                            --------  -------
     shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a
     broker or dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not
     otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any
     general consent to service of
<PAGE>

                                     -15-

     process or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it
     is not so subject;

          (e)  in the case of (1) a Shelf Registration or (2) Participating
     Broker-Dealers who have notified the Company that they will be utilizing
     the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as
     provided in Section 3(s) hereof, notify each Holder of Transfer Restricted
     Notes, or such Participating Broker-Dealers, as the case may be, their
     counsel, if any, promptly and confirm such notice in writing (i) when a
     Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective
     amendments and supplements thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by
     the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to
     a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information after
     the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by
     the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the
     effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any
     proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if the Company receives any notification
     with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Transfer
     Restricted Notes or the Exchange Notes to be sold by any Participating
     Broker-Dealer for offer or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of
     any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event or the
     failure of any event to occur or the discovery of any facts or otherwise,
     during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective that makes
     any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus
     untrue in any material respect or that causes such Registration Statement
     or Prospectus to omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
     statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading and (vi) the Company's reasonable determination that a
     post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement would be
     appropriate;

          (f)  make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any
     order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement as soon as
     practicable;

          (g)  in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
     Transfer Restricted Notes, without charge, at least one conformed copy of
     each Registration Statement relating to such Shelf Registration and any
     post-effective
<PAGE>

                                     -16-

     amendment thereto (without documents incorporated therein by
     reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);

             (h)  in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the
     selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes to facilitate the timely
     preparation and delivery of certificates not bearing any restrictive
     legends representing Notes covered by such Shelf Registration to be sold
     and relating to the subsequent transfer of such Notes; and cause such
     Transfer Restricted Notes to be in such denominations (consistent with the
     provisions of the Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling
     Holders may reasonably request at least two Business Days prior to the
     closing of any sale of Transfer Restricted Notes;

             (i)  in the case of a Shelf Registration or an Exchange Offer
     Registration, upon the occurrence of any circumstance contemplated by
     Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(iv), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, use its
     best efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to a
     Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document
     incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so
     that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Transfer Restricted
     Notes, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material
     fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
     therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
     misleading; and to notify each Holder to suspend use of the Prospectus as
     promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and each
     Holder hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has
     amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or
     omission;

             (j)  obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Notes or Private
     Exchange Notes, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a
     Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with certificates for the
     Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case may be, in a form
     eligible for deposit with the Depositary;

             (k)  cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture
     Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), in connection with the registration of
                                   ---
     the Exchange Notes or Transfer Restricted Notes, as the case may be,
     cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the
     Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in
     accordance with the terms of the TIA and
<PAGE>

                                     -17-

     execute, and use its best efforts to cause the 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 the Indenture to
     be so qualified in a timely manner;

             (l)  in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such
     agreements (including underwriting agreements) and take all such other
     appropriate actions as are reasonably requested in order to expedite or
     facilitate the registration or the disposition of such Transfer Restricted
     Notes, and in such connection, (i) make such representations and warranties
     to Holders of such Transfer Restricted Notes with respect to the business
     of the Company and its subsidiaries as then conducted 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, and confirm the same if
     and when requested; (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and
     updates thereof in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
     Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Notes
     being sold, addressed to each selling Holder covering the matters
     customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and
     such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders; (iii)
     obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof from the independent
     certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other
     independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company
     or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements
     and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
     Statement), addressed to the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes
     that satisfy the applicable requirements of Statement of Accounting
     Standards No. 72, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters
     of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection
     with underwritten offerings and such other matters as reasonably requested
     by such selling Holders; 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 4 hereof (or such other
     provisions and procedures acceptable to the Company and the Holders of a
     majority in aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes covered
     by such Registration with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant
     to said Section including, without limitation,
<PAGE>

                                     -18-

     such selling Holders). The above shall be done at each closing in respect
     of the sale of Transfer Restricted Notes, or as and to the extent required
     thereunder;

             (m)  if (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section 2(b)
     or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement
     filed pursuant to Section  2(a) 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 each such person who would be an "underwriter" as a result of either (i)
     the sale by such person of Notes covered by such Shelf Registration
     Statement or (ii) the sale during the Applicable Period by a Participating
     Broker-Dealer of Exchange Notes (provided that a Participating Broker-
     Dealer shall not be deemed to be an underwriter solely as a result of it
     being required to deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
     Exchange Notes) and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any
     such person (collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where normally
                                     ----------
     kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records,
     pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
     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 Company and its
     subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by
     any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement.  Records
     that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and any
     Records that it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be
     disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is
     necessary to avoid or correct a material 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 or (iii) the information in such Records has been made
     generally available to the public (other than by breach of this
     confidentiality obligation).  Each selling Holder of such Transfer
     Restricted Notes and each such Participating
<PAGE>

                                     -19-

     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 Company unless and until such is made generally available to the
     public. Each selling Holder of such Transfer Restricted 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 Company and allow the Company at
     its expense to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the
     Records deemed confidential;

             (n)  comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC
     and make generally available to its securityholders earning 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 60 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 135 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 Transfer Restricted
     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;

             (o)  upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange,
     obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company addressed to the Trustee for
     the benefit of all Holders of Transfer Restricted Notes participating in
     the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, and which
     includes an opinion that (i) the Company has duly authorized, executed and
     delivered the Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes, as the case may
     be, and (ii) each of the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as
     the case may be, constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
     Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective
     terms (in each case, with customary exceptions);

             (p)  if an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
     consummated, upon proper delivery of the Transfer Restricted Notes by
     Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company)
     in exchange for the Exchange Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the
     case may be, the Company shall mark, or cause to be marked, on such
     Transfer Restricted Notes and on the books of the Trustee, the Transfer
     Agent, the Registrar and the Depositary delivered by such Holders that such
     Transfer Restricted Notes are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange
     Notes or the Private Exchange Notes, as the case
<PAGE>

                                     -20-

     may be; but in no event shall such Transfer Restricted Notes be marked as
     paid or otherwise satisfied solely as a result of being exchanged for
     Exchange Notes or Private Exchange Notes in the Exchange Offer or the
     Private Exchange, as the case may be;

             (q)  cooperate with each seller of Transfer Restricted Notes
     covered by any Registration Statement participating in the disposition of
     such Transfer Restricted Notes and one counsel acting on behalf of all such
     sellers in connection with the filings, if any, required to be made with
     the NASD;

             (r)  use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to
     effect the registration of the Transfer Restricted Notes covered by a
     Registration Statement contemplated hereby; and

             (s)  (A)  in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement
     (i) include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled
     "Plan of Distribution," which section shall be reasonably acceptable to
     Merrill Lynch, as representative of the Initial Purchasers, and 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 (a "Participating Broker-Dealer") that holds Transfer
                       ---------------------------
     Restricted Notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-making
     activities or other trading activities and that will be the beneficial
     owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Exchange Notes
     to be received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer, whether such
     positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the
     SEC or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of Merrill
     Lynch, as representative of the Initial Purchasers or such other
     representative, represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC,
     including a statement that any such broker-dealer who receives Exchange
     Notes for Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be
     deemed a statutory underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting the
     requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such
     Exchange Notes, (ii) furnish to each Participating Broker-Dealer who has
     delivered to the Company the notice referred to in Section 3(e), without
     charge, as many copies of each Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer
     Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such
     Participating
<PAGE>

                                     -21-

     Broker-Dealer may reasonably request; (iii) hereby consent to the use of
     the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
     any amendment or supplement thereto, by any Person subject to the
     prospectus delivery requirements of the SEC, including all Participating
     Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or transfer of the Exchange
     Notes covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto,
     (iv) use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer 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; provided, however, that such period
                                         --------  -------
     shall not be required to exceed 90 days (or such longer period if extended
     pursuant to the last sentence of Section 3 hereof) (the "Applicable
                                                              ----------
     Period"), and (iv) include in the transmittal letter or similar
     ------
     documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to participate
     in the Exchange Offer (x) the following provision:

          "If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding Transfer
          Restricted Notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-
          making activities or other trading activities, it will deliver a
          prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in
          connection with any resale of Exchange Notes received in respect of
          such Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer;"

     and (y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the
     acknowledgment described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus in
     connection with the exchange of Transfer Restricted Notes, such broker-
     dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the
     meaning of the Securities Act; and

          (B)  in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
     Company agrees to deliver, upon request, to the Trustee or to Participating
     Broker-Dealers upon consummation of the Exchange Offer (i) an opinion of
     counsel substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, and (ii) an
     officers' certificate containing certifications substantially similar to
     those set forth in Section 5(c) of the Purchase Agreement.
<PAGE>

                                     -22-

          The Company may require each seller of Transfer Restricted Notes as to
which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such
information regarding such seller and the proposed distribution of such Transfer
Restricted Notes, as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in
writing.  The Company may exclude from such registration the Transfer Restricted
Notes of any seller who fails to furnish such information within a reasonable
time (not to exceed 10 Business Days) after receiving such request and shall be
under no obligation to compensate any such seller for any lost income, interest
or other opportunity forgone, or any liability incurred, as a result of the
Company's decision to exclude such seller.

          In the case of (1) a Shelf Registration Statement or (2) Participating
Broker-Dealers who have notified the Company that they will be utilizing the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as provided in
Section 3(s) hereof, that are seeking to sell Exchange Notes and are required to
deliver Prospectuses, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from
the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section
3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(iv), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, such Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to a
Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof or until
it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the
                               ------
applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Company, such
Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies in such
Holder's possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's
possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Notes or
Exchange Notes, as the case may be, current at the time of receipt of such
notice.  If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of
Transfer Restricted Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, pursuant to a
Registration Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to file and have
declared effective (if an amendment) as soon as practicable an amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement and, in the case of an amendment, have
such amendment declared effective as soon as practicable and shall extend the
period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective
pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days in the period from and
including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when
the Company shall have made available to the Holders (x) copies of the
supplemented or amended Pro-
<PAGE>

                                     -23-

spectus necessary to resume such dispositions or (y) the Advice.

          4.    Indemnification and Contribution.  (a)  In connection with the
                --------------------------------
Registration Statement, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each
Initial Purchaser, each Holder, each Participating Broker-Dealer, each
underwriter who participates in an offering of Transfer Restricted Notes, their
respective affiliates, each Person, if any, who controls any of such parties
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, as follows:

          (i)    against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, arising out of any untrue
     statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
     Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto), covering
     Transfer Restricted Notes or Exchange Notes, including all documents
     incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission
     therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
     make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue
     statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
     Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or
     alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make
     the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
     were made, not misleading;

          (ii)   against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate
     amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or
     proceeding by any court or governmental agency or body, commenced or
     threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement
     or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided
                                                                    --------
     that (subject to Sections 4(c) and 4(d) below) any such settlement is
     effected with the prior written consent of the Company; and

          (iii)  against any and all expenses whatsoever, as incurred
     (including reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel (in addition to
     any local counsel) chosen by Merrill Lynch, such Holder, such Participating
     Broker-Dealer or any underwriter (except to the extent otherwise expressly
     provided in Section 4(c) hereof)), reasonably incurred in investigating,
     preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or
     proceeding by any
<PAGE>

                                     -24-

     court or governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
     whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
     alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense
     is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) of this Section 4(a);

provided, however, that this indemnity does not apply to any loss, liability,
--------  -------
claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of an untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission (i) made in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished in writing to the Company by or
on behalf of such Initial Purchaser, such Holder, such Participating Broker-
Dealer or any underwriter with respect to such Initial Purchaser, Holder,
Participating Broker-Dealer or underwriter, as the case may be, expressly for
use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or
any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (ii) contained in any
preliminary prospectus if such Initial Purchaser, such Holder, such
Participating Broker-Dealer or such underwriter failed to send or deliver a copy
of the Prospectus (in the form it was first provided to such parties for
confirmation of sales) to the Person asserting such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities on or prior to the delivery of written confirmation of any sale of
securities covered thereby to such Person in any case where the Company shall
have previously furnished copies thereof to such Initial Purchaser, such Holder,
such Participating Broker-Dealer or such underwriter, as the case may be, in
accordance with this Agreement, at or prior to the written confirmation of the
sale of such Notes to such Person and the untrue statement contained in or the
omission from the preliminary prospectus was corrected in the final prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto).  Any amounts advanced by the Company
to an indemnified party pursuant to this Section 4 as a result of such losses
shall be returned to the Company if it shall be finally determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction in a judgment not subject to appeal or final review that
such indemnified party was not entitled to indemnification by the Company.

          (b)  Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, each Initial Purchaser, each underwriter who
participates in an offering of Transfer Restricted Notes and the other selling
Holders and each of their respective directors and each Person, if any, who
controls any of the Company, any Initial Purchaser, any underwriter or any other
selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, against
<PAGE>

                                     -25-

any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever described in
the indemnity contained in Section 4(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with
respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or
omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of such selling Holder with respect to such Holder expressly for use
in the Registration Statement (or any supplement thereto), or any such
Prospectus (or any amendment thereto); provided, however, that, in the case of
                                       --------  -------
the Shelf Registration Statement, no such Holder shall be liable for any claims
hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by such Holder from
the sale of Transfer Restricted Notes pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liability that
any such Holders shall have.

          (c)   Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as
reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced
against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to
so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from
any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a
result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability that it
may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement.  In the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 4(a) above, one counsel to all the
indemnified parties shall be selected by Merrill Lynch, and, in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 4(b) above, counsel to all the
indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company.  An indemnifying party may
participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided,
                                                                  --------
however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the
-------
consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it so elects within a reasonable time after
receipt of such notice, an indemnifying party, jointly with any other
indemnifying parties receiving such notice, may assume the defense of such
action with counsel chosen by it (including local counsel) and approved by the
indemnified parties defendant in such action (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld), unless such indemnified parties reasonably object to
such assumption on the ground that there may be legal defenses available to them
which are different from or in addition to those available to such indemnifying
party.  If an indemnifying party assumes the defense of such action, the
indemnifying parties shall not be liable for any fees and expenses of counsel
<PAGE>

                                     -26-

for the indemnified parties incurred thereafter in connection with such action.
In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of
more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own
counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or
separate but similar or related actions arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation
or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could
be sought under this Section 4 (whether or not the indemnified parties are
actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or
consent (i) includes a full and unconditional release of each indemnified party
from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or
claim and the offer and sale of any Notes 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 any indemnified party.

          (d)  If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel pursuant to Section 4(a)(iii) above, then such indemnifying
party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature
contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i)
such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall
have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to
such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not
have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to
the date of such settlement.  Notwithstanding the immediately preceding
sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel, an indemnifying party shall not be liable for a settlement of the
nature contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected without its consent if such
indemnifying party (i) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with such
request to the extent it considers such request to be reasonable and (ii)
provides written notice to the indemnified party substantiating the unpaid
balance as unreasonable, in each case prior to the date of such settlement.
<PAGE>

                                     -27-

          (e)  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances under which any of the indemnity provisions set forth in this
Section 4 is for any reason held to be unavailable to the indemnified parties
although applicable in accordance with its terms, the Company, the Initial
Purchasers and the Holders, as applicable, shall contribute to the aggregate
losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by
such indemnity agreement incurred by the Company, the Initial Purchasers and the
Holders; provided, however, that 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 that was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.  As between the Company and the Initial Purchasers
and the Holders, such parties shall contribute to such aggregate losses,
liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by such
indemnity agreement in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Holder of Transfer
Restricted Notes, the Participating Broker-Dealer or Initial Purchaser, as the
case may be, on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.

          The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holder of
Transfer Restricted Notes, the Participating Broker-Dealer or the Initial
Purchasers, as the case may be, 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 information supplied by the Company, or by the Holder of Transfer
Restricted Notes, the Participating  Broker-Dealer or the Initial Purchasers, as
the case may be, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

          The Company and the Holders of the Transfer Restricted Notes and the
Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to above in this Section 4.

          For purposes of this Section 4, each affiliate of any Person, if any,
who controls a Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes, an Initial Purchaser or a
Participating Broker-Dealer
<PAGE>

                                     -28-

within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such other Person,
and each director of the Company, each affiliate of the Company, each executive
officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each Person,
if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of such
persons, other than the Company or the Holders, shall be deemed to have
indemnification obligations under this Section 4.

          5.  Miscellaneous.
              -------------

          (a)   Rule 144 and Rule 144A.  The Company shall provide to each
                ----------------------
Holder such reports as are required under Section 4.08 of the Indenture and,
upon the request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes (a) make publicly
available such information as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act, (b) deliver such information to a prospective
purchaser as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act and take such further action as any Holder of Transfer Restricted
Notes may reasonably request, and (c) take such further action, if any, that is
reasonable in the circumstances, in each case, to the extent required from time
to time to enable such Holder to sell its Transfer Restricted Notes without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions
provided by (i) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended
from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such rule may be
amended from time to time, or (iii) any similar rules or regulations hereafter
adopted by the SEC. Upon the reasonable request of any Holder of Transfer
Restricted Notes, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as
to whether they have complied with such requirements.

          (b)   No Inconsistent Agreements.  The rights granted to the Holders
                --------------------------
hereunder do not, and will not for the term of this Agreement in any way
conflict with and are not, and will not during the term of this Agreement be
inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's other
issued and outstanding securities under any other agreements entered into by the
Company.

          (c)   Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement,
                ----------------------
including provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to
<PAGE>

                                     -29-

departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, otherwise than with the
prior written consent of the Company and the Majority Holders; provided,
                                                               --------
however, that no amendment, modification, or supplement or waiver or consent to
-------
the departure with respect to the provisions of Section 4 hereof shall be
effective as against any Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes or the Company
unless consented to in writing by such Holder of Transfer Restricted Notes or
the Company, as the case may be.

          (d)   Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or
                -------
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-
class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery
(i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the
Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 5(d), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial
Purchasers, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to the
Company, initially at the Company's address set forth in the Purchase Agreement
and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 5(d).

          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
answered back, if telexed; when receipt is 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.

          (e)   Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the
                ----------------------
benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of the
Initial Purchasers, including, without limitation and without the need for an
express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided, however, that nothing herein
                                        --------  -------
shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of
Transfer Restricted Notes in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or
the Indenture.  If any  transferee of any Holder shall acquire Transfer
Restricted Notes, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such
Transfer Restricted Notes shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such Transfer Restricted Notes, such Person
shall be conclusively
<PAGE>

                                     -30-

deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and
provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the
benefits hereof.

          (f)  Third Party Beneficiary.  Each of the Initial Purchasers and each
               -----------------------
Holder shall be a third party beneficiary of 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
it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the
rights of Holders hereunder.

          (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 LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO
ANY PROVISIONS RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS. Specified times of day refer to
New York City time.

          (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)  Notes Held by the Company or Any of Its Affiliates.  Whenever the
               --------------------------------------------------
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Transfer Restricted
Notes is required hereunder, Transfer Restricted Notes held by the Company or
any of 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.

                            [Signature Page Follows]
<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.

                                 CALIFORNIA STEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                 By: /s/ Celo Lourenco Goncalves
                                     ----------------------------
                                     Name:   Celo Lourenco Goncalves
                                     Title:  President and Chief
                                             Executive Officer

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
  as of the date first above written:

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
     INCORPORATED
BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.
NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES LLC

By: Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated


By: /s/ Michael F. Senft
    ------------------------
    Name: Michael F. Senft
    Title: Managing Director
<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit A
                                                                       ---------

                          Form of Opinion of Counsel
                          --------------------------

          1.  Each of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the
Prospectus (other than the financial statements, notes or schedules thereto and
other financial and statistical information and supplemental schedules included
or referred to therein or omitted therefrom and the Form T-1, as to which such
counsel need express no opinion), complies as to form in all material respects
with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules
and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act.

          2.  In the course of such counsel's review and discussion of the
contents of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the Prospectus with
certain officers and other representatives of the Company and representatives of
the independent certified public accountants of the Company, although such
counsel has not verified and does not pass upon or assume any responsibility for
the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained therein, on
the basis of the foregoing participation (relying as to materiality to a large
extent upon representations and opinions of officers and other representatives
of the Company), no facts have come to such counsel's attention that lead such
counsel to believe that the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (other than
the financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and other financial and
statistical information contained or referred to therein and the Form T-1, as to
which such counsel need express no belief), at the time the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement became effective and at the time of the 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 contained therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus (other than
the financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and other financial and
statistical information contained or referred to therein, as to which such
counsel need express no belief) contains any untrue statement of a material fact
or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.