Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

                                 $2,500,000,000

                             NISOURCE FINANCE CORP.

                              7 1/2% NOTES DUE 2003

                              7 5/8% NOTES DUE 2005

                              7 7/8% NOTES DUE 2010

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                                                November 9, 2000

Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Barclays Capital Inc.
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.
BMO Nesbitt Burns Corp.
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
TD Securities (USA) Inc.
Tokyo-Mitsubishi International plc
   c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
      Eleven Madison Avenue
      New York, New York 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

         NiSource Finance Corp., an Indiana corporation (the "COMPANY"),
proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and the
several initial purchasers named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the
"INITIAL PURCHASERS"), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement of even
date herewith (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), $750,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of its 7 1/2% Notes due 2003, $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
its 7 5/8% Notes due 2005 and $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7
7/8% Notes due 2010 (collectively, the "INITIAL SECURITIES") to be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed (the "GUARANTEES") by NiSource, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "GUARANTOR" and, collectively with the Company, the "ISSUERS").
The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture and a
supplemental indenture, each dated as of November 14, 2000 (collectively, the
"INDENTURE"), among the Company, the Guarantor and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter
into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuers agree with the Initial Purchasers, for
the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and the holders of the Securities (as
defined below) (collectively, the "HOLDERS"), as follows:

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         1. Registered Exchange Offer. Unless not permitted by applicable law
(after the Issuers have complied with the ultimate paragraph of this Section 1),
the Issuers shall prepare and, not later than 90 days (such 90th day being a
"FILING DEADLINE") after the date on which the Initial Purchasers purchase the
Initial Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the "CLOSING DATE"), file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") a registration
statement (the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an appropriate form
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), with
respect to a proposed offer (the "REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER") to the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof), who are not
prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the
Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for
the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of
the Issuers issued under the Indenture, identical in all material respects to
the Initial Securities and registered under the Securities Act (the "EXCHANGE
SECURITIES"). The Issuers shall use their best efforts to (i) cause such
Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities
Act within 180 days after the Closing Date (such 180th day being an
"EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE") and (ii) keep the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by
applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed
to the Holders (such period being called the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION
PERIOD").

         If the Issuers commence the Registered Exchange Offer, the Issuers (i)
will be entitled to consummate the Registered Exchange Offer 30 days after such
commencement (provided that the Issuers have accepted all the Initial Securities
theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Registered
Exchange Offer) and (ii) will be required to consummate the Registered Exchange
Offer no later than 40 days after the date on which the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement is declared effective (such 40th day being the
"CONSUMMATION DEADLINE").

         Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the Issuers shall promptly commence the Registered
Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to
enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities electing to exchange the
Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an
affiliate of the Issuers within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the
Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange
Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from
participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange
Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions
under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities
laws of the several states of the United States.

         The Issuers acknowledge that, pursuant to current interpretations by
the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an
applicable

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exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer electing to
exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of market
making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities (an
"EXCHANGING DEALER"), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the
information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in
the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer"
section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of such
prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by
such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an
Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Securities (as defined below) acquired in
exchange for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment,
is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items
507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in
connection with such sale.

         The Issuers shall use their best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the prospectus
contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered
by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements
in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that (i) in the
case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be
delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be
the lesser of 180 days and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the
Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such
period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Issuers shall
make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities
for a period of not less than 180 days after the consummation of the Registered
Exchange Offer.

         If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial
Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
distribution, the Issuers, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange
Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to
such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in
exchange (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE") for the Initial Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Issuers
issued under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the Initial
Securities (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES"). The Initial Securities, the
Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively
called the "SECURITIES".

         In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Issuers shall:

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

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                  (b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than
         30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date
         notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;

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

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

                  (e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.

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

                  (x) accept for exchange all the Securities validly tendered
         and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the
         Private Exchange;

                  (y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial
         Securities so accepted for exchange; and

                  (z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to
         each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private
         Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to
         the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

         The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be
subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that except
as otherwise provided in the Indenture, all the Securities will vote and consent
together on all matters as one class and that none of the Securities will have
the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.

         Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will
accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the
Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been
paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial
Securities.

         Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be
required to represent to the Issuers that at the time of the consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder
will be acquired in the ordinary course of business, (ii) such Holder will have
no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of the Securities or the Exchange

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Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an
"affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Issuers or if
it is an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if
such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not
intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such
Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own
account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be
required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any
resale of such Exchange Securities.

         Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Issuers will ensure
that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and
any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes effective, 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 not misleading and (iii) any prospectus
forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to
such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.

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

         2. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or in
applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Issuers
are not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated by the
220th day after the Closing Date, (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with
respect to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not
eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the

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Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following consummation of the
Registered Exchange Offer or (iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer)
is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case
of any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the
Registered Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive freely tradeable
Exchange Securities on the date of the exchange and any such Holder so requests,
the Issuers shall take the following actions (the date on which any of the
conditions described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) occur, including
in the case of clauses (iii) or (iv) the receipt of the required notice, being a
"TRIGGER DATE"):

                  (a) The Issuers shall promptly (but in no event more than 30
         days after the Trigger Date (such 30th day being a "FILING DEADLINE"))
         file with the Commission and thereafter use its best efforts to cause
         to be declared effective no later than 150 days after the Trigger Date
         (such 150th day being an "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE") a registration
         statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" and, together with the
         Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on
         an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and
         sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders thereof from
         time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth
         in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities
         Act (hereinafter, the "SHELF REGISTRATION"); provided, however, that no
         Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the
         Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement
         unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions
         of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

                  (b) The Issuers shall use their best efforts to keep the Shelf
         Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the
         prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of
         the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer
         period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its
         effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the
         Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been
         sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted securities (as
         defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule
         thereof). The Issuers shall be deemed not to have used their best
         efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the
         requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result
         in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and
         sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is required
         by applicable law.

                  (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to
         the contrary, the Issuers shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement
         and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as
         of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or
         supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable
         requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
         Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material
         fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated

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         therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
         of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         3. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration
contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered
Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall
apply:

                  (a) The Issuers shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser,
         prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the
         Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement,
         if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an
         Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment
         from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange
         Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuers shall use their
         best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the
         Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may
         propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on
         the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section
         and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto
         in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the prospectus forming a part
         of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the
         information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal
         delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested
         by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Items 507
         or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in
         the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange
         Offer 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
         "EXCHANGE ACT")) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer
         in the Registered Exchange Offer (a "PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER"),
         whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by
         the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the
         reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of
         counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views
         of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf
         Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders who propose to
         sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling
         securityholders.

                  (b) The Issuers shall give written notice to the Initial
         Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any Participating
         Broker-Dealer from whom the Issuers have received prior written notice
         that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered
         Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall
         be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus
         until the requisite changes have been made):

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                           (i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment
                  thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the
                  Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto
                  has become effective;

                           (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments
                  or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus
                  included therein or for additional information;

                           (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
                  order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
                  Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
                  purpose;

                           (iv) of the receipt by the Issuers or their legal
                  counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of
                  the qualification of the Securities for sale in any
                  jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any
                  proceeding for such purpose; and

                           (v) of the happening of any event that requires the
                  Issuers to make changes in the Registration Statement or the
                  prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the
                  prospectus do not contain an untrue statement of a material
                  fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated
                  therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the
                  case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under
                  which they were made) not misleading.

                  (c) The Issuers shall make every reasonable effort to obtain
         the withdrawal, at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending
         the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

                  (d) The Issuers shall furnish to each Holder of Securities
         included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge,
         at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any
         post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
         schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits
         thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).

                  (e) The Issuers shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, and
         to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at least one copy
         of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective
         amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and,
         if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits
         thereto (including those incorporated by reference).

                  (f) The Issuers shall, during the Shelf Registration Period,
         deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of
         the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the
         prospectus (including each preliminary

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         prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any
         amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request.
         The Issuers consent, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to
         the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by
         each of the selling Holders of the Securities in connection with the
         offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any
         amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration
         Statement.

                  (g) The Issuers shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any
         Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other
         persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered
         Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus
         included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment
         or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The
         Issuers consent, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the
         use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any
         Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and
         such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the
         Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of
         the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or
         supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement.

                  (h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to
         any Registration Statement, the Issuers shall register or qualify or
         cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their
         respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
         of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky"
         laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the
         Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts
         or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such
         jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
         provided, however, that the Issuers shall not be required to (i)
         qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not
         then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to
         general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it
         is not then so subject.

                  (i) The Issuers shall cooperate with the Holders of the
         Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
         certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any
         Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such
         denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a
         reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to
         such Registration Statement.

                  (j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
         paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for
         which the Issuers are required to maintain an effective Registration
         Statement, the Issuers shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective
         amendment to the Registration

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         Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other
         required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the
         Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain
         an 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
         misleading. If the Issuers notify the Initial Purchasers, the Holders
         of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in
         accordance with paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above to
         suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the
         prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of
         the Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend
         use of such prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf
         Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the
         Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above
         shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the
         date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the
         Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known
         Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or
         supplemented prospectus pursuant to this Section 3(j).

                  (k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable
         Registration Statement, the Issuers will provide a CUSIP number for the
         Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
         Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with
         printed certificates for the Initial Securities, the Exchange
         Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a
         form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

                  (l) The Issuers will comply with all rules and regulations of
         the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the
         Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make
         generally available to its security holders (or otherwise provide in
         accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) an earnings
         statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
         Act, no later than 45 days after the end of a 12-month period (or 90
         days, if such period is a fiscal year) beginning with the first month
         of the Issuers' first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective
         date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover such
         12-month period.

                  (m) The Issuers shall cause the Indenture to be qualified
         under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner
         and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such
         qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the
         appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Issuers shall
         appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions
         of the Indenture.

                  (n) The Issuers may require each Holder of Securities to be
         sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the
         Issuers such information

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         regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the
         Issuers may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in the
         Shelf Registration Statement, and the Issuers may exclude from such
         registration the Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to
         furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such
         request.

                  (o) The Issuers shall enter into such customary agreements
         (including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form)
         and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities
         shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
         Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

                  (p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Issuers shall
         (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the
         Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant
         to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or
         other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such
         underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
         corporate documents and properties of the Issuers and (ii) cause the
         Issuers' officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to
         supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of
         the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent
         in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as
         shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a
         reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the
         Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and
         information gathering shall be coordinated on behalf of the Initial
         Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel
         designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in
         Section 4 hereof.

                  (q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Issuers, if
         requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i)
         their counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the
         Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing
         underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial
         opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it
         being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall
         include, without limitation, the due incorporation and good standing of
         the Issuers and their subsidiaries; the qualification of the Issuers
         and their subsidiaries to transact business as foreign corporations;
         the due authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement
         of the type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the due authorization,
         execution, authentication and issuance, and the validity and
         enforceability, of the applicable Securities; the absence of material
         legal or governmental proceedings involving the Issuers and their
         subsidiaries; the absence of governmental approvals required to be
         obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the
         offering and sale of the applicable Securities, or any agreement of the
         type referred to in Section 3(o) hereof; the compliance as to form of
         such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by
         reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the
         Securities Act

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<PAGE>   12

         and the Trust Indenture Act, respectively; and, as of the date of the
         opinion and as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration
         Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto, as the case
         may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement and the
         prospectus included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from
         any documents incorporated by reference therein of an untrue statement
         of a material fact or the omission to state therein a material fact
         required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
         therein not misleading (in the case of any such documents, in the light
         of the circumstances existing at the time that such documents were
         filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act); (ii) its officers to
         execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and
         updates thereof requested by any underwriters of the applicable
         Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants and the
         independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for
         which financial information is provided in the Shelf Registration
         Statement to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable
         Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary
         form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort
         letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to
         receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if
         permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.

                  (r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested
         by any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the
         Issuers shall cause (i) their counsel to deliver to such Initial
         Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion in the
         form set forth in Section 6(d) of the Purchase Agreement with such
         changes as are customary in connection with the preparation of a
         Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants and
         the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for
         which financial information is provided in the Registration Statement
         to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating
         Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the
         requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Sections 6(a)
         and (b) of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes.

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

                  (t) The Issuers will use their best efforts to (a) if the
         Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such
         Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities
         covered by a Registration Statement, or (b) if the

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

         Initial Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities
         covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate
         rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate
         principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement,
         or by the managing underwriters, if any.

                  (u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the
         Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member
         of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the
         distribution" (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "RULES") of
         the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof,
         whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a
         placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or
         otherwise, the Issuers will assist such broker-dealer in complying with
         the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i)
         if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, engaging a
         "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in Rule 2720) to
         participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating
         to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in
         respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by
         such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made
         through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such
         Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent
         underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters
         provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to
         such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer
         to comply with the requirements of the Rules.

                  (v) The Issuers shall use their best efforts to take all other
         steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by
         a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

         4. Registration Expenses. (a) All expenses incident to the Issuers'
performance of and compliance with this Agreement will be borne by the Issuers,
regardless of whether a Registration Statement is ever filed or becomes
effective, including without limitation;

                  (i)  all registration and filing fees and expenses;

                  (ii) all fees and expenses of compliance with federal
         securities and state "blue sky" or securities laws;

                  (iii) all expenses of printing (including printing
         certificates for the Securities to be issued in the Registered Exchange
         Offer and the Private Exchange and printing of Prospectuses), messenger
         and delivery services and telephone;

                  (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuers;
         and

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

                  (v) all fees and disbursements of independent certified public
         accountants of the Issuers (including the expenses of any special audit
         and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance).

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

         (b) In connection with any Registration Statement required by this
Agreement, the Issuers will reimburse the Initial Purchasers and the Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities who are tendering Initial Securities in the
Registered Exchange Offer and/or selling or reselling Securities pursuant to the
"Plan of Distribution" contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or
the Shelf Registration Statement, as applicable, for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of not more than one counsel, who shall be Dewey Ballantine LLP
unless another firm shall be chosen by the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities for whose benefit such Registration
Statement is being prepared.

         5. Indemnification. (a) Each of the Issuers, jointly and severally,
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of the Securities, any
Participating Broker-Dealer and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or
such Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (each Holder, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling
persons are referred to collectively as the "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") from and
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any
actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the
Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified
Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action in respect thereof; provided, however, that (i) the Issuers
shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage
or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a Registration
Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any
preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to
the Issuers by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein
and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf

                                       14
<PAGE>   15

Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a)
shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer from
whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to
such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any
such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or Participating
Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not sent or given to such
person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities
to such person, a copy of the final prospectus if the Issuers had previously
furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer; provided
further, however, that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which the Issuers may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The
Issuers shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each
person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act
or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the
indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

         (b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers and each person, if any, who controls
the Issuers within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act from
and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect
thereof, to which the Issuers or any such controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in
each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Issuers by or
on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the
limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as
incurred, the Issuers for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Issuers or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may
otherwise have to the Issuers or any of their controlling persons.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a
governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party will not, in any event, relieve the
indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the
indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case

                                       15
<PAGE>   16

any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of
investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter
of such action, and does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

         (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Securities,
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by
the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in
clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuers on the one hand or
such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by
an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is
the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such
Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement
exceeds the amount of damages which

                                       16
<PAGE>   17

such Holders have 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. For purposes of this paragraph (d),
each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the
Issuers within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as the Issuers.

         (e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale
of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

         6. Additional Interest Under Certain Circumstances. (a) Additional
interest (the "ADDITIONAL Interest") with respect to the Securities shall be
assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in
clauses (i) through (iv) below being herein called a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"):

         (i)      any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
                  filed with the Commission on or prior to the applicable Filing
                  Deadline;

         (ii)     any Registration Statement required by this Agreement is not
                  declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the
                  applicable Effectiveness Deadline;

         (iii)    the Registered Exchange Offer has not been consummated on or
                  prior to the Consummation Deadline; or

         (iv)     any Registration Statement required by this Agreement has been
                  declared effective by the Commission but (A) such Registration
                  Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or (B) such
                  Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be
                  usable in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted
                  Securities during the periods specified herein because either
                  (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related
                  prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would
                  include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
                  state any material fact necessary to make the statements
                  therein in the light of the circumstances under which they
                  were made not misleading, or (2) it shall be necessary to
                  amend such Registration Statement or supplement the related
                  prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange
                  Act or the respective rules thereunder.

                                       17
<PAGE>   18

Each of the foregoing will constitute a Registration Default whatever the reason
for any such event and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is beyond the
control of the Issuers or pursuant to operation of law or as a result of any
action or inaction by the Commission.

         Additional Interest shall accrue on the Securities over and above the
interest set forth in the title of the Securities from and including the date on
which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on
which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.25% per
annum (the "ADDITIONAL INTEREST RATE") for the first 90-day period immediately
following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest
Rate shall increase by an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each
subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to
a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 1.0% per annum.

         (b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iv) hereof shall
be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf
Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration
Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective
amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited
financial information with respect to the Issuers where such post-effective
amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit
Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect
to the Issuers that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration
Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the
Issuers are proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such
Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events;
provided, however, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a
continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in
accordance with the above paragraph from the day such Registration Default
occurs until such Registration Default is cured.

         (c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to Section 6(a)
will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to
the Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by
multiplying the applicable Additional Interest Rate by the principal amount of
the Securities and further 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.

         (d) "TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES" means each Security until (i) the
date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a
broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered
Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered
Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date on which
such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer
on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has
been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed

                                       18
<PAGE>   19

of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which
such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

         7. Rules 144 and 144A. Each of the Issuers shall use its best efforts
to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Issuers are not required
to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Securities,
make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales
of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. Each of the Issuers
covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of Securities may
reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such
Holder to sell Securities without registration under the Securities Act within
the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the
requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Issuers will provide a copy of this
Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the
Issuers by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder
of Initial Securities, the Issuers shall deliver to such Holder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Issuers
to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.

         8. Underwritten Registrations. If any of the Transfer Restricted
Securities 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 administer the offering ("MANAGING UNDERWRITERS") will be selected by
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer
Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.

         No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted
Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements.

                                       19
<PAGE>   20

         9.  Miscellaneous.

         (a) Remedies. The Issuers acknowledge and agree that any failure by the
Issuers to comply with their obligations under Section 1 and 2 hereof may result
in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for
which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to
measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such
failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be
required to specifically enforce the Issuers' obligations under Sections 1 and 2
hereof. The Issuers further agree to waive the defense in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

         (b) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Issuers will not on or after the
date of this Agreement enter into any agreement with respect to its securities
that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the
Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with
the rights granted to the holders of the Issuers' securities under any agreement
in effect on the date hereof.

         (c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from
the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Issuers and the written
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities
affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.

         (d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail,
facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

                  (1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current
address given by such Holder to the Issuers.

                  (2)  if to the Initial Purchasers:

                           c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
                           Eleven Madison Avenue
                           New York, NY 10010-3629
                           Fax No.:  (212) 325-8278
                           Attention:  Transactions Advisory Group

         with a copy to:

                           Dewey Ballantine LLP
                           1301 Avenue of the Americas
                           New York, NY 10019
                           Attention:  Morton A. Pierce

                                       20
<PAGE>   21

                  (3) if to the Issuers, at their address as follows:

                           801 East 86th Avenue
                           Merrillville, IN 46410
                           Attention: Francis P. Girot

         with a copy to:

                           Schiff Hardin & Waite
                           6600 Sears Tower
                           233 South Wacker Drive
                           Chicago, IL 60606-6473
                           Attention:  Peter V. Fazio, Jr.

         All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt
is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile
transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier
guaranteeing next day delivery.

         (e) Third Party Beneficiaries. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Issuers, on the one
hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to
enforce such agreements directly to the extent they may deem such enforcement
necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders
hereunder.

         (f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Issuers and their respective successors and assigns.

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

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

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

         (j) Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal
or unenforceable, the

                                       21
<PAGE>   22

validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected
or impaired thereby.

         (k) Securities Held by the Issuers. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required
hereunder, Securities held by the Issuers or their affiliates (other than
subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be
affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be
counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders
of such required percentage.

         (l) Submission to Jurisdiction. By the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Issuers hereby submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the
Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in
any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.

                                       22
<PAGE>   23

         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Issuers a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the several Initial Purchasers and the Issuers in accordance with its
terms.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            NISOURCE INC.

                                            By /s/ STEPHEN P. ADIK
                                               --------------------------
                                               Name: Stephen P. Adik
                                               Title: Vice Chairman

                                            NISOURCE FINANCE CORP.

                                            By /s/ STEPHEN P. ADIK
                                               --------------------------
                                               Name: Stephen P. Adik
                                               Title: Vice President

The foregoing Registration Rights
Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted as of the date first above
written.

Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Barclays Capital Inc.
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.
BMO Nesbitt Burns Corp.
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
TD Securities (USA) Inc.
Tokyo-Mitsubishi International plc

By: Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation

By /s/ JAMIE WELCH
   ------------------------------------
   Name: Jamie Welch
   Title: Director

                                       23
<PAGE>   24

                                   SCHEDULE A

                                   PURCHASERS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PURCHASERS                                                NOTES                   NOTES                  NOTES
                                                         DUE 2003                DUE 2005               DUE 2010
                                                       ------------            ------------          --------------
<S>                                                    <C>                     <C>                   <C>
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation                 $337,500,000            $337,500,000          $  450,000,000
Barclays Capital Inc.                                  $322,500,000            $322,500,000          $  430,000,000
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.                         $ 15,000,000            $ 15,000,000          $   20,000,000
BMO Nesbitt Burns Corp.                                $ 15,000,000            $ 15,000,000          $   20,000,000
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.                           $ 15,000,000            $ 15,000,000          $   20,000,000
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.                              $ 15,000,000            $ 15,000,000          $   20,000,000
TD Securities (USA) Inc.                               $ 15,000,000            $ 15,000,000          $   20,000,000
Tokyo-Mitsubishi International plc                     $ 15,000,000            $ 15,000,000          $   20,000,000
                                                       ------------            ------------          --------------
                          Total.....................   $750,000,000            $750,000,000          $1,000,000,000
                                                       ============            ============          ==============
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   25
                                     ANNEX A

       Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter
of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities
where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. The Issuers have agreed
that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it
will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."

<PAGE>   26

                                     ANNEX B

       Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired
by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."

<PAGE>   27

                                     ANNEX C

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

       Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in
exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Issuers have
agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, it will make
this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for
use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until [_________], 2000,
all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to
deliver a prospectus.(1)

       The Issuers will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange
Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker
or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or
concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.

       For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date the Issuers will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Issuers have agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.

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

(1) In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
    appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.
<PAGE>   28

                                     ANNEX D

[ ] CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL
COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

           Name:
                ----------------------------------------------
           Address:
                   -------------------------------------------

If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.<PAGE>   1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4

                                                               December 14, 2000

Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
      Eleven Madison Avenue
      New York, New York 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

         Reference is made to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated November
9, 2000, among NiSource Finance Corp., an Indiana corporation (the "Company"),
NiSource, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with the Company, the
"Issuers"), and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation ("Credit Suisse First
Boston") and the several initial purchasers named in Schedule A thereto (the
"Registration Rights Agreement"). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this
letter amendment shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration
Rights Agreement.

         Credit Suisse First Boston and the Issuers hereby agree that the
$150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 7 5/8% Notes due 2005,
which are being purchased by Credit Suisse First Boston pursuant to a Terms
Agreement dated the date hereof (the "Additional Securities"), shall be subject
to all the terms and provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement as though
the Additional Securities were Initial Securities thereunder, and that the
holders of the Additional Securities shall be entitled to all rights and
benefits to which the holders of the Initial Securities are entitled under the
Registration Rights Agreement, as though the Additional Securities had been sold
by the Company on the same date as the Initial Securities were sold by the
Company.

<PAGE>   2

         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Issuers a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the Credit Suisse First Boston and the Issuers in accordance with its
terms.

                                                  Very truly yours,

                                                  NISOURCE INC.

                                                  By /s/ STEPHEN P. ADIK
                                                     --------------------------
                                                     Name: Stephen P. Adik
                                                     Title: Vice Chairman

                                                  NISOURCE FINANCE CORP.

                                                  By /s/ STEPHEN P. ADIK
                                                     --------------------------
                                                     Name: Stephen P. Adik
                                                     Title: Vice President
The foregoing agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written.

Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation

By /s/ JOSEPH D. FASHANO
   ------------------------------------
   Name: Joseph D. Fashano
   Title: Director

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