Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 4(b)(i)

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                            Dated as of April 7, 2000

                                  by and among

                              ST ACQUISITION CORP.,
                                   as Issuer,

                                       and

                            CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.,
                              CHASE SECURITIES INC.
                                       and
                             BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.,
                              as Initial Purchasers

                        ------------------------------

                                  $275,000,000

                    10.25% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2010
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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                       Page
                                                                       ----

1. Definitions...........................................................2

2. Exchange Offer........................................................5

3. Shelf Registration....................................................9

4. Additional Interest..................................................10

5. Registration Procedures..............................................12

6. Registration Expenses................................................21

7. Indemnification......................................................22

8. Rules 144 and 144A...................................................25

9. Underwritten Registrations...........................................25

10. Miscellaneous.......................................................26

         (a) Remedies26
         (b) No Inconsistent Agreements.................................26
         (c) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes....................26
         (d) Amendments and Waivers.....................................26
         (e) Notices....................................................27
         (f) Successors and Assigns.....................................28
         (g) Counterparts...............................................28
         (h) Headings...................................................28
         (i) Governing Law..............................................29
         (j) Severability...............................................29
         (k) Notes Held by the Company or Its Affiliates................29
         (l) Third Party Beneficiaries..................................29
         (m) Entire Agreement...........................................29
         (n) Assumption Permitted.......................................29

                                      -i-
<PAGE>

                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of April 7, 2000, by and among ST Acquisition Corp., a Texas corporation
("Acquisition"), and CIBC World Markets Corp., Chase Securities Inc. and
Barclays Capital Inc., as initial purchasers (the "Initial Purchasers").

     This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Purchase Agreement,
dated March 31, 2000, by and among Acquisition and the Initial Purchasers (the
"Purchase Agreement") relating to, among other things, the sale by the Company
to the Initial Purchasers of $275,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
Acquisition's 10.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 (the "Notes"). In order
to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement,
Acquisition has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this
Agreement for the benefit of the holders of Registrable Notes (as defined),
including, without limitation, the Initial Purchasers. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the Initial Purchasers' obligation
to purchase the Notes under the Purchase Agreement.

     The Notes are being sold in connection with the merger (the "Merger") of
Acquisition with and into TNP Enterprises, Inc., a Texas corporation ("TNP"),
with TNP surviving the Merger pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated
as of May 24, 1999 by and among SW Acquisition L.P., Acquisition and TNP (as
amended through the date hereof and together with all ancillary agreements
entered into in connection therewith). The time of the consummation of the
Merger is referred to herein as the "Effective Time.

     Immediately after the Effective Time, (i) TNP will execute an assumption
agreement (the "Assumption Agreement"), substantially in the form attached to
the Purchase Agreement as Exhibit A, pursuant to which TNP, as the survivor of
the Merger, will assume all of the obligations of Acquisition under this
Agreement and the Purchase Agreement and (ii) TNP and the Trustee will enter
into a first supplemental indenture to the Indenture (the "First Supplemental
Indenture") providing for the express assumption by TNP, as survivor of the
Merger, of the covenants, agreements and undertakings of Acquisition in the
Indenture and under the Notes. References to this Agreement as of and after the
Effective Time will refer to this Registration Rights Agreement together with
the Assumption Agreement, references to the Purchase Agreement as of and after
the Effective Time will refer to the Purchase Agreement together with the
Assumption Agreement and references to the Indenture as of and after the
Effective Time will refer to the Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture.
As used herein, the "Company" shall mean Acquisition prior to the Effective Time
and, at and after the Effective Time, TNP.

     The parties hereby agree as follows:
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                                      -2-

1.   Definitions

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

          Acquisition: See the first introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

          Additional Interest: See Section 4(a).

          Advice: See the last paragraph of Section 5.

          Agreement: See the first and fourth introductory paragraphs to this
Agreement.

          Applicable Period: See Section 2(b).

          Assumption Agreement: See the third introductory paragraph to this
Agreement.

          Business Day: 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 Date: The Closing Date as defined in the Purchase Agreement.

          Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.

          Company: See the fourth introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

          DTC: See Section 5(i).

          Effective Time: See the third introductory paragraph to this
Agreement.

          Effectiveness Date: The 150th 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 Commission promulgated thereunder.

          Exchange Notes: See Section 2(a).
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                                      -3-

          Exchange Offer: See Section 2(a).

          Exchange Registration Statement: See Section 2(a).

          Filing Date: The 60th day after the Issue Date (regardless of whether
the actual filing precedes such date).

          First Supplemental Indenture: See the fourth introductory paragraph to
this Agreement.

          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 April 7, 2000, by and between
Acquisition and The Bank of New York, 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.

          Merger: See the third introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

          NASD: National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

          Notes: See the second introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

          Participant: See Section 7(a).

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

          Person: Any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization or government (including any agency or political subdivision
thereof).
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                                      -4-

          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 the 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 and fourth introductory paragraphs
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) covering such Note, Exchange Note
or Private Exchange Note, as the case may be, has been declared effective by the
Commission 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 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 Company,
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.
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                                      -5-

          Rule 144: Rule 144 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 Commission 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.

          Rule 144A: Rule 144A 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 Commission.

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

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

          Shelf Notice: See Section 2(c).

          Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b).

          Subsequent Shelf Registration: See Section 3(b).

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

          TNP: See the third introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

          Trustee: The trustee under the Indenture and the First Supplemental
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 the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the
public.

2.   Exchange Offer

          (a)  The Company agrees to file with the Commission 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 Acquisition and, at and after
the Effective Time, TNP, 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
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                                      -6-

(other than such changes to the Indenture or any such identical trust indenture
as are necessary to comply with any requirements of the Commission 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 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. The Company agrees to use its reasonable
best efforts to (x) cause the Exchange Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act on or before the Effectiveness Date; (y) keep
the Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days (or longer if required by
applicable law) after the date that notice of the Exchange Offer is first mailed
to Holders; and (z) consummate the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 30th 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 Commission, 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 Commission 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
consummation of the Exchange Offer such Holder does not and will not have any
arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution
of the Exchange Notes, that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company
within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act, and any additional
representations that in the written opinion of counsel to the Company are
necessary under then-existing interpretations of the Commission in order for the
Exchange Registration Statement to be declared effective. 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 Company 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 Company 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 Commission
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 (a
"Participating Broker-Dealer"), whether such positions or policies have been
publicly
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                                      -7-

disseminated by the Staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in
the judgment of the Initial Purchasers, represent the prevailing views of the
Staff of the Commission. Such "Plan of Distribution" section shall also allow,
to the extent permitted by applicable policies and regulations of the
Commission, 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.

          The Company shall use its reasonable 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 beginning when the Exchange Notes are first issued
in the Exchange Offer and ending upon the earlier of the expiration of the 180th
day after the Exchange Offer has been completed and such Persons are no longer
required to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements in connection with
offers and sales of the Exchange Notes (the "Applicable Period").

          If, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchaser
holds any Notes acquired by it and having the status of an unsold allotment in
the initial distribution, the Company upon the request of such 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 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). The Private Exchange Notes shall bear the same
CUSIP number as the Exchange Notes to the extent possible. Interest on the
Exchange Notes and Private Exchange Notes will accrue from the last interest
payment date on which interest was paid on the Notes surrendered in exchange
therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Notes, from the Issue Date.

          In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company 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;
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                                      -8-

          (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 Company shall:

          (5) accept for exchange all Registrable Notes validly tendered and not
     validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange;

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

          (7) 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 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 vote and
consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Exchange
Notes, the Private Exchange Notes or the Notes, if any, will have the right to
vote or consent as a separate class on any matter.

          (c) If, (i) because of any change in law or in currently prevailing
interpretations of the staff of the Commission, the Company is 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 Company or (iv) in the case of any Holder that participates in
the Exchange Offer (and tenders its Registrable Notes prior to the expiration
thereof), such Holder does not receive Exchange Notes on the date of the
exchange that may be sold without restriction under federal securities laws
(other than due solely to the status of such Holder as an affiliate of the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act) and so notifies the Company
within 30 days following the consummation of the Exchange Offer (and providing a
reasonable basis for its conclusions), in the case of each of clauses (i)-(iv),
then the Company shall as promptly as practicable deliver to the Holders and the
Trustee written notice thereof (the "Shelf Notice") and shall file a Shelf
Registration pursuant to Section 3.
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                                      -9-

3.   Shelf Registration

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

          (a) Shelf Registration. The Company shall as promptly as reasonably
practicable file with the Commission 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 Company shall not
have yet filed the Exchange Registration Statement, the Company shall file with
the Commission the Initial Shelf Registration on or prior to the Filing Date and
shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Initial Shelf Registration
to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the
Effectiveness Date. Otherwise, the Company shall file with the Commission the
Initial Shelf Registration within 45 days of the delivery of the Shelf Notice
and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration to be
declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the 90th day after
filing of the Initial Shelf Registration. The Initial Shelf Registration shall
be on Form S-1 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
Company shall not permit any securities other than the Registrable Notes to be
included in any Shelf Registration. The Company shall use its best efforts to
keep the Initial Shelf Registration continuously effective under the Securities
Act until the date which is 24 months from the Issue Date (or, if Rule 144(k)
under the Securities Act is amended to permit unlimited resales by non-
affiliates within a lesser period, such lesser period) (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 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), the Company shall use its reasonable
best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within 30 days of such cessation
of effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration in a manner to obtain the
withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or 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, the Company shall use its reasonable 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
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                                      -10-

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 Company 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, in each case, with the Company's consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.

4.   Additional Interest

          (a) The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that the Holders of
Registrable Notes will suffer damages if the Company fails to fulfill its
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 Company agrees to pay, as liquidated damages, additional interest on the
Registrable Notes ("Additional Interest") under the circumstances and to the
extent set forth below, each of which shall be given independent effect (each a
"Registration Default"):

               (i)   if (A) neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor the
     Initial Shelf Registration has been filed on or prior to the Filing Date or
     (B) notwithstanding that the Company has consummated or will consummate an
     Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration and
     such Shelf Registration is not filed on or prior to the 45th day after
     delivery of the Shelf Notice, then, in the case of subclause (A),
     commencing on the day after the Filing Date or, in the case of subclause
     (B), commencing on the 46th day following delivery of the Shelf Notice,
     Additional Interest shall accrue on the Registrable 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 or such 45th day, as the case may be,
     such Additional Interest rate increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum
     at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period;

               (ii)  if (A) neither the Exchange Registration Statement nor the
     Initial Shelf Registration is declared effective on or prior to the
     Effectiveness Date or (B) notwithstanding that the Company has consummated
     or will consummate an Exchange Offer, the Company is required to file a
     Shelf Registration and such Shelf Registration is not declared effective by
     the Commission on or prior to the 90th day after filing of the Initial
     Shelf Registration, then, commencing on the day after the Effectiveness
     Date or the 90th day, as the case may be, Additional Interest shall accrue
     on the Registrable
<PAGE>

                                      -11-

     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 or the 90th day, as the case may be, such Additional Interest rate
     increasing by an additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of each
     subsequent 90-day period; and

               (iii) if (A) the Company has not exchanged Exchange Notes for all
     Notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer
     on or prior to the 180th day after the Issue Date, (B) the Exchange
     Registration Statement ceases to be effective prior to consummation of the
     Exchange Offer 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 Registrable Notes over and above the stated interest at a rate of 0.50%
     per annum for the first 90 days commencing on the (x) 181st day after the
     Issue Date in the case of (A) above or (y) the day such Exchange
     Registration Statement or Shelf Registration ceases to be effective in the
     case of (B) and (C) above, such Additional Interest rate increasing by an
     additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of each such subsequent 90-day
     period;

provided, however, that the Additional Interest rate on the Registrable Notes
may not exceed in the aggregate 2.0% per annum; provided further that (1) upon
the filing of the Exchange Registration Statement or each Shelf Registration (in
the case of (i) above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Registration
Statement or each Shelf Registration, as the case may be (in the case of (ii)
above), or (3) upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for all Registrable Notes
tendered (in the case of (iii)(A) above) or upon the effectiveness of an
Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration which had ceased to remain
effective (in the case of (iii)(B) and (C) above), Additional Interest on any
Registrable Notes then accruing Additional Interest as a result of such clause
(or the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accrue.

          (b) The Company shall notify the Trustee within one Business Day after
each and every date on which a Registration Default occurs in respect of which
Additional Interest is required to be paid (an "Event Date"). Any amounts of
Additional Interest due pursuant to a Registration Default will be payable in
cash semi-annually on each regular interest payment date specified in the
Indenture (to the Holders of Registrable Notes of record on the regular record
date therefor (as 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 subject thereto, 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 the denominator of which is 360.
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                                      -12-

          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4, the
Company shall not be required to pay Additional Dividends to a Holder (i) if
such Holder failed to comply with its obligations to make the representations
set forth in Section 2(a) or failed to provide the information required to be
provided by it, if any, pursuant to Section 5 or (ii) if the Exchange Offer was
consummated within 180 days of the Issue Date and such Holder of Registrable
Notes was, at any time while the Exchange Offer was pending, eligible to
exchange, and did not validly tender, such Registrable Notes for freely
transferable corresponding Exchange Notes in such Exchange Offer.

          The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided for in
this Section 4 constitute a reasonable estimate of and are intended to
constitute the sole damages that will be suffered by Holders of Registrable
Notes by reason of the failure of (i) the Shelf Registration or the Exchange
Registration Statement to be filed, (ii) the Shelf Registration to remain
effective or (iii) the Exchange Registration Statement to be declared effective
and remain effective and the Exchange Offer to be consummated, in each case to
the extent required by this Agreement.

5.   Registration Procedures

          In connection with the filing of any Registration Statement pursuant
to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
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
Company hereunder, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to:

          (a) Prepare and file with the Commission prior to the Filing Date, the
Exchange Registration Statement or if the Exchange Registration Statement is not
filed or is unavailable, a Shelf Registration as prescribed by Section 2 or 3,
and use its reasonable 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 and
has advised the Company that it is a Participating Broker-Dealer, before filing
any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto, the Company 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
<PAGE>

                                      -13-

least five Business Days prior to such filing). The Company 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 Commission 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, and as so supplemented to
be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) 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 reasonable 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, rule or regulation or
unless the Company complies with this Agreement, including, without limitation,
the provisions of paragraph 5(k) hereof and the last paragraph of 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, notify the selling Holders of Registrable
Notes, and each such Participating Broker-Dealer, 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 post-effective 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 Commission of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or
suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any time when a
<PAGE>

                                      -14-

prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with
sales of the Registrable Notes the representations and warranties of the Company
contained in any agreement pursuant to this Agreement (including any
underwriting agreement contemplated by Section 5(n) hereof) cease to be true and
correct in any material respect, (iv) of the receipt by the Company 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 of material fact 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 to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the Company's 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 its reasonable 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 its reasonable 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) as 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, (ii) make all required filings of such
prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable
after the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in
such prospectus supplement or post-
<PAGE>

                                      -15-

effective amendment, and (iii) supplement or make amendments to such
Registration Statement.

          (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, 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 or Prospectuses (including each form of preliminary 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, the Company hereby consents to the use (in
accordance with law) of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto
by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and each Participating
Broker-Dealer, 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, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, and
cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Notes and each such
Participating Broker-Dealer, 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 pursuant to an underwritten
offering, counsel to the underwriters shall, at the cost and expense of the
Company, perform the Blue Sky investigations and file registrations and
qualifications required to be filed pursuant to this
<PAGE>

                                      -16-

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 by Participating Broker-Dealers or the Registrable Notes covered
by the applicable Registration Statement; provided that the Company shall not 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, any Participating Broker-Dealer
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 (the "DTC"); 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 at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Registrable
Notes.

          (j) Use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Notes
covered by the 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, in which case the Company will cooperate in all
reasonable respects with the filing of such Registration Statement and the
granting of such approvals; provided that the Company shall not 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.

          (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 Commission, at the Company's sole expense, 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
<PAGE>

                                      -17-

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 the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.

          (l) Use its reasonable 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 or the Exchange Notes, as the case may
be, in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and (ii)
provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Notes or the Exchange Notes, as the
case may be.

          (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 and warranties to the underwriters, with respect to the
business of the Company and its 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 Company 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 managing 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 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 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
<PAGE>

                                     -18-

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, and each Participating Broker-Dealer, 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,
each 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, 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
reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration
Statement. Records which the Company determines, in good faith, to be
confidential and any Records which 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 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 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 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 Company or any of its
subsidiaries unless and until such is made generally available to the public.
Each Inspector, each selling Holder of such Registrable Notes and each
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 pursuant to clauses (ii) or (iv) of the previous sentence or
otherwise, give notice to the Company and allow the Company to undertake
appropriate action to obtain a protective order or otherwise prevent disclosure
of the Records deemed confidential at its expense.
<PAGE>

                                      -19-

          (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 Commission to enable such
indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner.

          (q) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
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 Company, 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 the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their respective terms.

          (s) If the Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated,
upon delivery of the Registrable 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
caused to be marked, on such Registrable Notes that such Registrable Notes are
being cancelled 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
<PAGE>

                                      -20-

Registrable Notes and their respective counsel in connection with any filings
required to be made with the NASD.

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

          The Company may require each seller of Registrable Notes as to which
any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such information
regarding such seller and the distribution of such Registrable Notes as the
Company may, from time to time, reasonably request. The Company 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. No seller
shall be entitled to Additional Interest pursuant to Section 4 unless and until
such seller has provided all such information. Each seller as to which any Shelf
Registration Statement is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the
Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the
information previously furnished to the Company 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 Company 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 such Registration
Statement or Prospectus or Exchange Notes to be sold by such Holder or
Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, and, in each case,
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 Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has
received copies of any amendments or supplements thereto. In the event the
Company 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

          All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance
with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company, whether or not
the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes effective,
including, without limitation, (i) all
<PAGE>

                                      -21-

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 DTC and of printing
prospectuses if the printing of 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, 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 Company and reasonable fees and
disbursements of special counsel for the Initial Purchasers and the sellers of
Registrable Notes, (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 Company desires such insurance,
(viii) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company (ix)
internal expenses of the Company (including, without limitation, all salaries
and expenses of officers and employees of the Company, performing legal or
accounting duties), (x) the expense of any annual or special audit, (xi) the
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to
be registered on any securities exchange, (xii) the fees and disbursements of
underwriters, if any, customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities (but
not including any underwriting discounts or commissions or transfer taxes, if
any, attributable to the sale of the Registrable Notes which discounts,
commissions or taxes shall be paid by Holders of such Registrable Notes) and
(xiii) 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.

7.   Indemnification

          (a) Acquisition and, at and after the Effective Time, TNP, agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Registrable Notes and each
Participating Broker-Dealer, the officers, directors, employees and agents 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
<PAGE>

                                      -22-

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 any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented if the Company 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 the 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 Company in writing
by or on behalf of such Participant expressly for use therein; provided,
however, that the Company shall 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 will be required to agree, severally and not
jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless Acquisition and, at and after the
Effective Time, TNP, their respective directors and officers and each Person who
controls Acquisition and, at and after the Effective Time, TNP, 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 Company to each Participant,
but only with reference to information relating to such Participant furnished to
the Company 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
<PAGE>

                                     -23-

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. 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 the Indemnified Person shall
have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to it and/or other Indemnified Persons that are different from or additional to
those available to any such Indemnifying Person. 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 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 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 Company, its directors, officers and such control Persons of the Company
shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final non-appealable
judgment for the plaintiff, 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 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
<PAGE>

                                     -24-

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 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
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 Company, 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, 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.
<PAGE>

                                     -25-

          (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

          Acquisition and, at and after the Effective Time, TNP, covenants, for
so long as any Registrable Notes remain outstanding, 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 Commission 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. Acquisition and, at and after the Effective Time, TNP, 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 shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Company.

          No Holder of Registrable Notes may participate in any underwritten
registation 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 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) Remedies. In the event of a breach by Acquisition and, at and
after the Effective Time, TNP, of any of its obligations under this Agreement,
each Holder of Registrable Notes and each Participating Broker-Dealer holding
Exchange Notes, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided
herein, in the Indenture or, in the case of an Initial Purchaser, in the
Purchase Agreement, or granted by law, including recovery of
<PAGE>

                                     -26-

damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this
Agreement. Acquisition and, at and after the Effective Time, TNP, agrees that
monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by
reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby
further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in
respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be
adequate.

          (b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Acquisition has not entered, as of the
date hereof, and Acquisition and, at and after the Effective Time, TNP, shall
not 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. Acquisition has not entered and Acquisition and, at and after
the Effective Time, TNP, shall not 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.

          (c) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Notes. Acquisition and, at and
after the Effective Time, TNP, shall not 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.

          (d) 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(d) 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.
<PAGE>

                                      -27-

          (e) 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:

               CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
               CHASE SECURITIES INC.
               BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
               c/o CIBC World Markets Corp.
               424 Lexington Avenue
               3rd Floor
               New York, New York  10017
               Facsimile No.:  (212) 885-4998
               Attention: Corporate Finance
                          Department

          with a copy to:

               Cahill Gordon & Reindel
               80 Pine Street
               New York, New York  10005
               Facsimile No.:  (212) 269-5420
               Attention:  Roger Meltzer, Esq.

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

          3.   if to the Company, as follows:

               c/o Laurel Hill Capital Partners LLC
               2 Robbins Lane, Suite 201
               Jericho, New York  11753
               Facsimile No.:  (516) 933-3108
               Attention:  Kathleen Marion
<PAGE>

                                     -28-

          with copies to:

               Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
               1 Chase Manhattan Plaza
               New York, New York  10005
               Facsimile No.:  (212) 530-5219
               Attention:  M. Douglas Dunn, Esq.

          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.

          (f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties 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 and to
the extent such successor or assign holds Registrable Notes.

          (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, 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.
<PAGE>

                                     -29-

          (j) 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.

          (k) Notes Held by the Company or Its Affiliates. Whenever the consent
or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Notes is
required hereunder, Registrable Notes held by the Company or its 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.

          (l) 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.

          (m) 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 among the Initial Purchasers on the
one hand and the Company 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.

          (n) Assumption Permitted. The assumption by TNP pursuant to the
Assumption Agreement of the obligations of Acquisition hereunder shall be
permitted without the written consent of the parties hereto.
<PAGE>

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

                                            ST ACQUISITION CORP.

                                            By:
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

                                            CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.

                                            By:
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

                                            CHASE SECURITIES INC.

                                            By:
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

                                            BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

                                            By:
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT 4(b)(ii)

                              ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

     ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of April 7, 2000, is by
TNP Enterprises, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company").

                               W I T N E S S E T H

     WHEREAS, ST Acquisition Corp., a Texas corporation ("Acquisition"), has
heretofore executed and delivered to CIBC World Markets Corp., Chase Securities
Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc. (the "Initial Purchasers") a purchase agreement
(the "Purchase Agreement"), dated as of March 31, 2000, providing for the terms
pursuant to which the Initial Purchasers have purchased $275,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 10.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 (the "Notes") of
Acquisition;

     WHEREAS, Acquisition has heretofore executed and delivered to the Initial
Purchasers a registration rights agreement (the "Registration Rights
Agreement"), dated as of April 7, 2000, providing for the registration of the
Notes and the Exchange Notes (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement)
of Acquisition under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

     WHEREAS, Acquisition has been merged with and into the Company (the
"Merger"); and

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Company upon consummation of the Merger is required to assume all
of the obligations of Acquisition under the Purchase Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement and to execute and deliver this Agreement
concurrently with the Merger.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company
covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers as follows:

     1. ASSUMPTION. The Company hereby agrees to assume all of the obligations
of Acquisition and all of its own obligations under the Purchase Agreement and
the Registration Rights Agreement.

     2. NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN. THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF, SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED
TO CONSTRUE THIS AGREEMENT.
<PAGE>

                                      -2-

     3. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience only
and shall not affect the construction hereof.
<PAGE>

                                      -3-

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the date first above written, which is the date of
the Merger.

                                                     TNP ENTERPRISES, INC.

                                                     By:
                                                        ------------------------
                                                          Name:
                                                          Title:

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