FOUR M CORP
S-4, 1996-07-12
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<PAGE>
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 12, 1996
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
                                    FORM S-4
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
                               FOUR M CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          MARYLAND                         2653                        52-0822639
<S>                            <C>                            <C>
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION   (PRIMARY STANDARD INDUSTRIAL         (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     OF INCORPORATION OR        CLASSIFICATION CODE NUMBER)        IDENTIFICATION NO.)
        ORGANIZATION)
</TABLE>
 
                               115 STEVENS AVENUE
                            VALHALLA, NEW YORK 10595
                                 (914) 749-3200
              (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
                 See Table of Additional Subsidiary Registrants
                               MICHAEL S. NELSON
                       KRAMER, LEVIN, NAFTALIS & FRANKEL
                                919 THIRD AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
                                 (212) 715-9100
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                         ------------------------------
 
    APPROXIMATE  DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after the  registration statement  becomes effective  and all  other
conditions  to  the  exchange  offer  (the  "Exchange  Offer")  pursuant  to the
registration rights agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement") described in
the enclosed Prospectus have been satisfied or waived.
 
    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered  in
connection  with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box. / /
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   PROPOSED
                                                    MAXIMUM
                                    AMOUNT         OFFERING      PROPOSED MAXIMUM
   TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF           TO BE            PRICE           AGGREGATE          AMOUNT OF
 SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED      REGISTERED       PER NOTE       OFFERING PRICE     REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                            <C>               <C>            <C>                  <C>
12% Series B Senior Secured
 Notes Due 2006..............    $170,000,000           100%(1)   $170,000,000(1)       $58,620.69
Guarantees of the 12% Series
 B Senior Secured Notes
 due 2006....................    $170,000,000         --                --                --(2)
</TABLE>
 
(1) Estimated solely  for  the  purposes of  calculating  the  registration  fee
    pursuant to Rule 457(f)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933.
(2) Pursuant  to  Rule 457(n)  under  the Securities  Act  of 1933,  no separate
    consideration is payable for the Guarantees.
 
    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY  AMENDS THIS  REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON  SUCH DATE  OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE  A  FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE  IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A)  OF
THE  SECURITIES ACT  OF 1933  OR UNTIL  THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION  8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                       ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY REGISTRANTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              PRIMARY
                                                             STANDARD         I.R.S.       ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE
                                                            INDUSTRIAL       EMPLOYER         AND TELEPHONE NUMBER
                                        JURISDICTION OF   CLASSIFICATION   IDENTIFICATION    INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
         NAME OF CORPORATION             INCORPORATION      CODE NUMBER       NUMBER       PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
- -------------------------------------  -----------------  ---------------  -------------  -----------------------------
 
<S>                                    <C>                <C>              <C>            <C>
Box USA Group, Inc...................             NY              2653       13-2994891   115 Stevens Avenue
                                                                                          Valhalla, New York 10595
                                                                                          (914) 749-3200
 
Four M Paper Corporation.............             DE              2631       13-3739406   115 Stevens Avenue
                                                                                          Valhalla, New York 10595
                                                                                          (914) 749-3200
 
Page Packaging Corporation...........             CA              2653       93-0936895   115 Stevens Avenue
                                                                                          Valhalla, New York 10595
                                                                                          (914) 749-3200
 
Box USA, Inc. .......................             DE              2653       13-3813536   115 Stevens Avenue
                                                                                          Valhalla, New York 10595
                                                                                          (914) 749-3200
Four M Manufacturing Group of
 Georgia, Inc. ......................             PA              2653       23-1986917   115 Stevens Avenue
                                                                                          Valhalla, New York 10595
                                                                                          (914) 749-3200
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
                               FOUR M CORPORATION
                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
           PURSUANT TO ITEM 501(B) OF REGULATION S-K AND RULE 404(A)
                       SHOWING LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS OF
                      INFORMATION REQUIRED BY ITEMS IN S-4
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT ITEM AND
                         HEADING                                          PROSPECTUS CAPTION
           ------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>        <S>                                   <C>
       1.  Forepart of Registration Statement
            and Outside Front Cover Page of
            Prospectus.........................  Forepart of Registration Statement; Outside Front Cover Page of
                                                  Prospectus
       2.  Inside Front and Outside Back Cover
            Pages of Prospectus................  Table of Contents; Available Information; Inside Front and Outside
                                                  Back Cover pages of Prospectus
       3.  Risk Factors, Ratio of Earnings to
            Fixed Charges and Other
            Information........................  Prospectus Summary; Risk Factors; The Exchange Offer; The
                                                  Acquisition; Selected Historical Financial Data; Unaudited Pro Forma
                                                  Combined Condensed Financial Data
       4.  Terms of the Transaction............  Prospectus Summary; The Exchange Offer; Description of New Notes
       5.  Pro Forma Financial
            Information........................  Prospectus Summary; Selected Historical Financial Data; Unaudited Pro
                                                  Forma Combined Condensed Financial Data; Management's Discussion and
                                                  Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
       6.  Material Contacts with Company Being
            Acquired...........................  Prospectus Summary; Risk Factors; The Acquisition; Business -- the
                                                  Acquisition
       7.  Additional Information Required for
            Reoffering by Persons and Parties
            Deemed to be Underwriters..........  Not Applicable
       8.  Interests of Named Experts and
            Counsel............................  Legal Matters; Experts
       9.  Disclosure of Commission Position on
            Indemnification for Securities Act
            Liabilities........................  Not Applicable
      10.  Information With Respect to S-3
            Registrants........................  Not Applicable
      11.  Incorporation of Certain Information
            by Reference.......................  Not Applicable
      12.  Information with Respect to S-2 or
            S-3 Registrants....................  Not Applicable
      13.  Incorporation of Certain Information
            by Reference.......................  Not Applicable
      14.  Information with Respect to
            Registrants Other than S-2 or S-3
            Registrants........................  Outside Front Cover Page of Prospectus; Prospectus Summary; Selected
                                                  Historical Financial Data; Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed
                                                  Financial Data; Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                                                  Condition and Results of Operations; Business; Index to Financial
                                                  Statements
      15.  Information with Respect to S-3
            Companies..........................  Not Applicable
      16.  Information with Respect to S-2 or
            S-3 Companies......................  Not Applicable
      17.  Information with Respect to
            Companies Other than S-2 or S-3
            Companies..........................  Not Applicable
      18.  Information if Proxies, Consents or
            Authorizations are to be
            Solicited..........................  Not Applicable
      19.  Information if Proxies, Consents or
            Authorizations are not to be
            Solicited or in an Exchange
            Offer..............................  Management; Security Ownership; Related Party Transactions
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR  TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT  BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
THE SOLICITATION  OF AN  OFFER TO  BUY  NOR SHALL  THERE BE  ANY SALE  OF  THESE
SECURITIES  IN ANY  STATE IN  WHICH SUCH  OFFER, SOLICITATION  OR SALE  WOULD BE
UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY
SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
       PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 12, 1996
 
                               FOUR M CORPORATION
 
                             OFFER TO EXCHANGE ITS
                   12% SERIES B SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2006
              WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
                       FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING
                   12% SERIES A SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2006
                  ($170,000,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OUTSTANDING)
            GUARANTEED BY CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF FOUR M CORPORATION
 
    THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW  YORK
CITY  TIME, ON             , 1996, AS SUCH DATE MAY BE EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION
DATE").
 
    Four M  Corporation, a  Maryland corporation  (the "Company"  or "Four  M"),
hereby  offers  (the  "Exchange  Offer"),  upon the  terms  and  subject  to the
conditions  set  forth  in  this  Prospectus  and  the  accompanying  letter  of
transmittal  (the "Letter  of Transmittal"), to  exchange an aggregate  of up to
$170,000,000 principal amount  of 12% Series  B Senior Secured  Notes due  2006,
including  the Guarantees thereof (the "New Notes") for an identical face amount
of the outstanding  12% Series A  Senior Secured Notes  due 2006, including  the
Guarantees  thereof (the "Old Notes" and, with  the New Notes, the "Notes"). The
terms of the New Notes  are identical in all material  respects to the terms  of
the  Old Notes  except that  the registration and  other rights  relating to the
exchange of Old Notes for New Notes  and the restrictions on transfer set  forth
on the Old Notes will not appear on the New Notes. See "The Exchange Offer." The
New Notes are being offered hereunder in order to satisfy certain obligations of
the  Company under a Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 30, 1996 (the
"Registration Rights Agreement") among the  Company, the Guarantors (as  defined
herein)  and Bear,  Stearns &  Co. Inc. (the  "Initial Purchaser").  Based on an
interpretation by  the staff  of  the Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission")  set forth in no-action letters  issued to third parties unrelated
to the Company, New Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange  for
Old  Notes may  be offered  for resale, resold,  and otherwise  transferred by a
holder thereof  (other than  a holder  which is  an "affiliate"  of the  Company
within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities  Act")), without compliance with the registration and the prospectus
delivery provisions of  the Securities  Act, provided  that such  New Notes  are
acquired in the ordinary course of such holder's business and such holder has no
arrangement with any person to participate in or is engaged in or is planning to
be engaged in the distribution of such New Notes.
 
    The  New Notes  will bear  interest at  the rate  of 12%  per annum, payable
semi-annually in  arrears on  June 1  and December  1 of  each year,  commencing
December  1, 1996. The New Notes are guaranteed on a senior secured basis by the
Guarantors (as defined  herein). The Company  will not be  required to make  any
mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment with respect to the New Notes prior
to maturity. The New Notes are redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole
or  in part, at any time  on or after June 1,  2001 at the redemption prices set
forth herein. In addition, at the option of the Company, up to one-third of  the
New  Notes may  be redeemed prior  to June 1,  1999 at the  redemption price set
forth herein with the net proceeds of  a public offering of common stock of  the
Company;  PROVIDED that at least two-thirds of the aggregate principal amount of
the New Notes remain  outstanding following each  such redemption. In  addition,
upon  the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined herein) prior to June 1,
2001, the Company, at its option, may redeem all, but not less than all, of  the
outstanding  New Notes  at a  redemption price  equal to  100% of  the principal
amount thereof plus the applicable Make-Whole Premium (as defined herein).  Upon
the  occurrence of a Change  of Control at any time,  the Company is required to
make an offer to repurchase each holder of the Notes ("Holder") at a price equal
to 101%  of the  aggregate  principal amount  thereof  plus accrued  and  unpaid
interest,  if any, to the  date of purchase. There can  be no assurance that the
Company will have the financial resources necessary to repurchase the New  Notes
upon  a Change of Control.  The New Notes are  senior secured obligations of the
Company, are senior in right of payment to all subordinated indebtedness of  the
Company  and are  PARI PASSU  in right  of payment  with all  other existing and
future senior indebtedness of  the Company. As of  April 30, 1996, after  giving
pro  forma  effect to  the Acquisition  (as defined  herein) and  the financings
therefor, the Company would  have had total  outstanding indebtedness of  $210.8
million,  including  the  New  Notes and  indebtedness  pursuant  to  the Credit
Facility (as defined  herein). The  New Notes are  secured by  a first  priority
security  interest in substantially all of the  equipment of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries  (as  defined  herein) and  certain  other  assets  (but
excluding,  among other things,  land and improvements  thereon, inventories and
accounts receivable, and the proceeds thereof),  and by a pledge of the  capital
stock  of the Subsidiaries of the  Company (collectively, the "Collateral"). See
"Description of New Notes."
 
    The Company will accept for exchange from an Eligible Holder any and all Old
Notes that are validly tendered prior to  5:00 p.m., New York City time, on  the
Expiration  Date. For  purposes of the  Exchange Offer,  "Eligible Holder" shall
mean the  registered owner  of any  Old Notes  that remain  Transfer  Restricted
Securities,  as reflected  on the  records of  Norwest Bank  Minnesota, National
Association, as registrar for the Old Notes (in such capacity, the "Registrar"),
or any person whose Old  Notes are held of record  by the depository of the  Old
Notes. Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New
York  City time,  on the  Expiration Date. For  purposes of  the Exchange Offer,
"Transfer Restricted Securities" means each Old Note until the earliest to occur
of (i) the date on which such Old Note is exchanged in the Exchange Offer and is
entitled to be resold to the public by the holder thereof without complying with
the prospectus delivery  requirements of the  Securities Act, (ii)  the date  on
which such Old Note is registered under the Securities Act and is disposed of in
a shelf registration statement or (iii) the date on which such Old Note has been
distributed  to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or by a
broker-dealer pursuant to the plan  of distribution described herein. See  "Plan
of Distribution."
 
    Each  broker-dealer that receives New Notes  for its own account pursuant to
the Exchange  Offer  must acknowledge  that  it  will deliver  a  prospectus  in
connection  with any resale of such New  Notes. 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 New Notes
received in exchange for Old  Notes where such Old  Notes were acquired by  such
broker-dealer   as  a  result  of  market-making  activities  or  other  trading
activities. The Company  has agreed that,  for a  period of 270  days after  the
effective date of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (as defined herein),
it  will  make  this  Prospectus  available  to  any  broker-dealer  for  use in
connection with  any  such  resale.  See  "The  Exchange  Offer"  and  "Plan  of
Distribution."
 
    Prior  to this Exchange Offer,  there has been no  public market for the Old
Notes or the New Notes. To the  extent that Old Notes are tendered and  accepted
in  the Exchange Offer, a holder's ability to sell untendered Old Notes could be
adversely affected. If a market for the New Notes should develop, the New  Notes
could  trade at  a discount  from their principal  amount. The  Company does not
currently intend to list  the New Notes  on any securities  exchange or to  seek
approval  for quotation through any automated  quotation system. There can be no
assurance that an active public market for the New Notes will develop.
 
    The Exchange  Agent  for  the  Exchange Offer  is  Norwest  Bank  Minnesota,
National Association.
                         ------------------------------
 
       SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 10 HEREIN FOR A DISCUSSION OF
          CERTAIN RISKS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY ELIGIBLE HOLDERS
                       IN EVALUATING THE EXCHANGE OFFER.
                            ------------------------
 
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
  EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE
    SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR  ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
     PASSED UPON  THE  ACCURACY  OR  ADEQUACY  OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS.  ANY
                 REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                            ------------------------
 
                  THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS      , 1996.
<PAGE>
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
    The  Company has filed  with the Commission  a Registration Statement (which
term shall include any amendments thereto) on Form S-4 under the Securities  Act
with  respect to  the securities  offered by  this Prospectus.  This Prospectus,
which constitutes a part of the Registration Statement, does not contain all the
information set  forth  in  the  Registration Statement  and  the  exhibits  and
schedules  thereto, to  which reference is  hereby made. Each  statement made in
this Prospectus referring to a document filed  as an exhibit or schedule to  the
Registration  Statement  is not  necessarily complete  and  is qualified  in its
entirety by reference to the exhibit or schedule for a complete statement of its
terms and  conditions, although  all  of the  material  terms of  the  Company's
contracts  and  agreements  that would  be  material  to an  investor  have been
summarized in  the  Prospectus.  In  addition, upon  the  effectiveness  of  the
Registration Statement filed with the Commission, the Company will be subject to
the  informational  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange Act  of  1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith the Company will  file
periodic  reports  and other  information with  the  Commission relating  to its
business, financial statements  and other  matters. Any  interested parties  may
inspect  and/or copy the Registration Statement, its schedules and exhibits, and
the periodic reports and other information filed in connection therewith, at the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary
Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,  N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549  and at the  Commission's
regional  offices located at Citicorp Center, 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1400,
Chicago, Illinois 60661,  and 7 World  Trade Center, Suite  1300, New York,  New
York  10048. Copies  of such  materials can be  obtained at  prescribed rates by
addressing written requests for such copies  to the Public Reference Section  of
the  Commission at  its principal office  at Judiciary Plaza,  450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Room 1024, Washington,  D.C. 20549. The obligations  of the Company  under
the  Exchange  Act  to file  periodic  reports  and other  information  with the
Commission may be suspended, under certain  circumstances, if the New Notes  are
held of record by fewer than 300 holders at the beginning of any fiscal year and
are  not listed on a national securities  exchange. The Company has agreed that,
whether or not  it is  required to do  so by  the rules and  regulations of  the
Commission,  for so long as any of  the Notes remain outstanding it will furnish
to the holders of the Notes and if  required by the Exchange Act, file with  the
Commission  (unless the  Commission will not  accept such a  filing) all annual,
quarterly and current reports that the Company  is or would be required to  file
with  the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a)  or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. In
addition, for so long as  any of the Old  Notes remain outstanding, the  Company
has  agreed to make available  to any prospective purchaser  of the Old Notes or
beneficial owner  of the  Old Notes  in  connection with  any sale  thereof  the
information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
 
    This  Prospectus incorporates documents  by reference which  are not present
herein or delivered herewith. Copies of any such documents filed by the Company,
including exhibits to such documents, are available to any registered holder  or
beneficial  owner of  the Old  Notes upon  written or  oral request  and without
charge from Four M Corporation, 115 Stevens Ave., Valhalla, NY 10595. Attention:
Chief Financial Officer. Telephone  requests may be directed  to the Company  at
914-749-3200.  In order  to ensure  timely delivery  of the  documents, any such
request should be made by            , 1996.
 
    NO PERSON  HAS  BEEN AUTHORIZED  TO  GIVE ANY  INFORMATION  OR TO  MAKE  ANY
REPRESENTATIONS,  OTHER THAN  THOSE CONTAINED  IN THIS  PROSPECTUS. IF  GIVEN OR
MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MAY NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING  BEEN
AUTHORIZED  BY  THE COMPANY.  THIS PROSPECTUS  DOES NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER OR
SOLICITATION WITH  RESPECT TO  ANY SECURITY  OTHER THAN  THE SECURITIES  OFFERED
HEREBY OR AN OFFER TO OR SOLICITATION OF ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH
SUCH  AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION  WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. NEITHER  THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS  NOR  ANY  DISTRIBUTION  OF  SECURITIES  HEREUNDER  SHALL  UNDER  ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES  CREATE ANY IMPLICATION  THAT THE INFORMATION  CONTAINED HEREIN IS
CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE  DATE HEREOF OR THAT THERE HAS BEEN  NO
CHANGE  IN THE  INFORMATION SET FORTH  HEREIN OR  IN THE AFFAIRS  OF THE COMPANY
SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                                       i
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY  IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY  THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION AND  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS,  INCLUDING THE  NOTES THERETO,  APPEARING
ELSEWHERE  IN  THIS  PROSPECTUS.  UNLESS  THE  CONTEXT  OTHERWISE  REQUIRES, ALL
REFERENCES HEREIN TO THE  "COMPANY" OR "FOUR M"  INCLUDE FOUR M CORPORATION  AND
ITS  CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES. REFERENCES  TO "FISCAL 1995,"  "FISCAL 1994" AND
THE LIKE SHALL MEAN THE 12 MONTHS ENDED ON JULY 31 OF SUCH YEAR. ALL CAPITALIZED
TERMS USED IN  THIS PROSPECTUS  WITHOUT A DEFINITION  ARE DEFINED  AS SET  FORTH
BELOW UNDER THE CAPTION "DESCRIPTION OF NEW NOTES--CERTAIN DEFINITIONS."
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    Four  M Corporation, which operates under the  trade name Box USA, is one of
the  largest  independent  full-service   converters  of  corrugated   packaging
materials  in  North  America.  The Company  operates  28  strategically located
converting facilities, which sold 9.6 billion square feet of finished corrugated
containers, partitions and sheets during the twelve months ended April 30, 1996.
The Company has developed and maintains longstanding customer relationships with
leading consumer products and packaging companies including Anchor Glass,  Avon,
Clorox,  Owens Illinois and Procter & Gamble. The Company also owns and operates
a paper  mill  located in  Ft.  Madison, Iowa  (the  "Ft. Madison  Mill")  which
produced  77,710 tons of corrugating medium during the twelve months ended April
30, 1996, most of which was sold  to third parties. For the twelve months  ended
April 30, 1996, the Company generated net sales of $223.0 million and EBITDA (as
defined herein) of $19.3 million.
 
    On May 30, 1996, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of St.
Joe Container, which primarily consisted of 16 converting facilities and related
working  capital (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition more than doubled the size
of the Company to 28 converting  facilities which sold 10.0 billion square  feet
of  corrugated packaging  materials in 1995.  The Company and  St. Joe Container
utilized similar manufacturing equipment and  production processes, and the  two
businesses  operated with minimal geographic redundancy and no material customer
overlap.  Accordingly,  the  Company  believes  that  the  Acquisition   creates
opportunities to pursue continued growth in its business, utilize its purchasing
power  to achieve  reductions in  raw material  costs, improve  productivity and
reduce operating expenses.  For the twelve  months ended April  30, 1996,  after
giving pro forma effect to the Acquisition, the Company would have generated net
sales  of $524.6 million and  EBITDA of $46.0 million.  See "Unaudited Pro Forma
Combined Condensed Financial Data."
 
    The Company was founded in 1966 as a manufacturer of corrugated  partitions.
From  a single partition plant, the  Company expanded initially through internal
growth and later  through 11  separate acquisitions  involving 17  manufacturing
facilities.  The  Company has  historically  targeted distressed  properties and
undermanaged  assets   which   could   significantly   improve   the   Company's
profitability.  The  Company's  ability  to  target  and  integrate acquisitions
successfully is reflected in an increase in average revenue per plant from  $9.0
million  in 1991 to $15.1  million in 1995, while  average annual production per
plant has grown from 201.7 million square feet to 291.8 million square feet over
the same period.
 
    The Company's strategy  is to  enhance its position  as one  of the  largest
independent  full-service converters of corrugated  packaging materials in North
America. Fundamental elements of the Company's strategy include:
 
    -providing a full line of high-quality products
 
    -capitalizing on the Company's significant raw materials purchasing power
 
    -implementing  cost-reduction   manufacturing   techniques   and   operating
     efficiency programs
 
    -responding  quickly to customer needs and  offering high levels of customer
     service
 
    -expanding the Company's penetration of national accounts and increasing the
     Company's share of existing customers' business
 
    One of the Company's competitive  advantages is its long-term  relationships
with  many customers, some  of which have  been maintained for  over 25 years. A
second feature which distinguishes the Company from its
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
competitors is  the  significant  relationships  it  has  established  with  its
containerboard  suppliers. The Company believes that  it is the largest customer
of its three primary raw material suppliers. As one of the largest purchasers of
linerboard and corrugating medium in the industry, the Company believes that  it
has  been able  to purchase  raw materials  at prices  substantially below those
reported in PULP & PAPER WEEK, an industry trade publication.
 
                                THE ACQUISITION
 
    On November 1, 1995,  the Company entered into  an Asset Purchase  Agreement
(the  "Acquisition Agreement") pursuant to which on May 30, 1996 (i) the Company
acquired substantially all of the assets of  St. Joe Container and (ii) a  joint
venture  (the  "Mill Joint  Venture") between  the  Company and  Stone Container
Corporation ("Stone Container") acquired a 500,000 tons per year linerboard mill
(the "St. Joe Mill"). In 1995, St. Joe Container sold 6.5 billion square feet of
corrugated packaging materials  and generated  $326.7 million in  net sales  and
$11.5 million in EBITDA. The purchase price for the St. Joe Container facilities
was  $87.8 million  for the fixed  assets, plus approximately  $69.7 million for
working capital,  for a  total  purchase price  of  $157.5 million,  subject  to
adjustment  for changes  in working  capital as  described herein.  The purchase
price for  the St.  Joe  Mill was  $185.0 million  for  the fixed  assets,  plus
approximately  $17.4 million for working capital,  for a total purchase price of
$202.4 million,  subject  to  adjustment  for  changes  in  working  capital  as
described  herein. The Company also acquired a 50.0% equity interest in the Mill
Joint Venture for $5.0 million.
 
    Historically, the  St. Joe  Container  facilities have  been operated  as  a
captive  outlet  for linerboard  produced  by the  St.  Joe Mill.  Because these
facilities represented only a small portion  of the operations of St. Joe  Paper
Company  ("St. Joe Paper"),  the Company believes  that maximization of revenues
and profitability of  St. Joe  Paper's container  operations was  not a  primary
priority   of  prior  management.   Based  on  its   experience  in  integrating
acquisitions, the Company believes  that it can  successfully integrate the  St.
Joe  Container facilities and improve  overall productivity and profitability by
(i)  increasing  revenues  through  utilization  of  available  capacity,   (ii)
capitalizing  on  the  Company's  raw materials  purchasing  leverage  and (iii)
enhancing productivity and reducing operating expenses.
 
    INCREASING REVENUES.  The Acquisition increased the Company's presence  from
nine  to  17  states  and  enables  it to  serve  new  markets  in  the Midwest,
Mid-Atlantic and the  faster growing  Southeast. The Company  believes that  the
Acquisition,  by expanding the Company's  geographic coverage, will particularly
benefit its national  account sales  program by  enabling it  to serve  national
accounts  from St. Joe Container facilities in markets not previously covered by
the Company. In addition, the Company  strives to operate its corrugator  plants
at  three shifts  per day,  five days  per week.  The Company  believes that the
addition of a  third shift at  the St. Joe  Container facilities would  increase
aggregate  production at  these facilities  by approximately  50.0%. The Company
intends to  utilize  available capacity  to  increase production  of  corrugated
sheets  to supply sheet plants owned by third parties in the vicinity of the St.
Joe Container facilities.
 
    CAPITALIZING ON RAW  MATERIALS PURCHASING LEVERAGE.   Historically, the  St.
Joe  Container  facilities purchased  linerboard from  the St.  Joe Mill  at the
prices reported  in PULP  & PAPER  WEEK. As  one of  the largest  purchasers  of
linerboard  and corrugating medium in the industry, the Company believes that it
has been able  to purchase  raw materials  at prices  substantially below  those
reported  in PULP  & PAPER  WEEK. Based  on the  Company's average  raw material
prices paid, St. Joe  Container's EBITDA for the  twelve months ended March  31,
1996,  after giving pro forma effect to the Acquisition, would have increased by
approximately  $17.3  million.  See  "Unaudited  Pro  Forma  Combined  Condensed
Financial Data."
 
    ENHANCING  PRODUCTIVITY AND  REDUCING OPERATING  EXPENSES.   The Company has
improved  profitability  by  focusing   on  maximum  utilization  of   available
production   capacity,   minimization   of  waste   and   the   development  and
implementation of financial  controls and management  systems. In addition,  the
Company believes that it can eliminate certain duplicative functions and achieve
efficiencies   in  manufacturing,   administration  and   sales  and  marketing.
Furthermore, the  Company believes  that it  can reduce  manufacturing costs  by
reducing waste at the St. Joe Container facilities.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
                           ISSUANCE OF THE OLD NOTES
 
    The  outstanding  $170.0 million  principal amount  of  12% Series  A Senior
Secured Notes due  2006 (the  "Old Notes")  were sold  by the  Company to  Bear,
Stearns  & Co.  Inc. (the  "Initial Purchaser"), on  May 30,  1996 (the "Closing
Date") pursuant  to a  Purchase Agreement,  dated May  30, 1996  (the  "Purchase
Agreement"),  among the Company, Box USA  Group, Inc., Four M Paper Corporation,
Page Packaging Corporation,  Box USA,  Inc. and  Four M  Manufacturing Group  of
Georgia,  Inc. (collectively  the "Guarantors")  and the  Initial Purchaser. The
Initial Purchaser subsequently  resold the Old  Notes in reliance  on Rule  144A
under the Securities Act and other available exemptions under the Securities Act
(the  "Offering"). The  Company and  the Initial  Purchaser also  entered into a
registration rights  agreement, dated  as  of May  30, 1996  (the  "Registration
Rights Agreement"), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchaser,
pursuant  to  which  the Company  granted  certain registration  rights  for the
benefit of the  holders of  the Old  Notes. The  Exchange Offer  is intended  to
satisfy  certain  of the  Company's  obligations under  the  Registration Rights
Agreement with respect to the Old Notes. See "The Exchange Offer -- Purposes and
Effects."
 
    The Old Notes were issued under the Indenture, dated as of May 30, 1996 (the
"Indenture"), among  the Company,  the Guarantors  and Norwest  Bank  Minnesota,
National  Association, as  trustee (in  such capacity,  the "Trustee").  The New
Notes are also being issued under the Indenture and are entitled to the benefits
of the Indenture. The form and terms of  the New Notes will be identical in  all
material  respects to the form  and terms of the Old  Notes, except that (i) the
New Notes have been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore will  not
bear  legends restricting the  transfer thereof, (ii) holders  of New Notes will
not be entitled to the Liquidated  Damages otherwise payable under the terms  of
the  Registration Rights Agreement in respect of Old Notes constituting Transfer
Restricted Securities  held  by  such  holders during  any  period  in  which  a
Registration   Default  (as  defined  herein)  is  continuing  (the  "Liquidated
Damages") and  (iii) holders  of  New Notes  will no  longer  be, and  upon  the
consummation of the Exchange Offer, Eligible Holders of Old Notes will no longer
be,  entitled to certain rights under the Registration Rights Agreement intended
for the holders of unregistered securities.  The Exchange Offer shall be  deemed
consummated  upon  the  delivery  by  the Company  to  the  Registrar  under the
Indenture of New Notes in the  same aggregate principal amount as the  aggregate
principal  amount  of Old  Notes that  are validly  tendered by  holders thereof
pursuant to  the Exchange  Offer.  See "The  Exchange  Offer --  Termination  of
Certain  Rights"  and  "-- Procedures  for  Tendering" and  "Description  of New
Notes -- Registration Rights; Liquidated Damages."
 
    The proceeds received by the Company from the issuance of the Old Notes were
used to fund a portion of the cash required to consummate the Acquisition. There
will be no proceeds to  the Company from any  exchange pursuant to the  Exchange
Offer.
 
                               RECENT PERFORMANCE
 
    Since  April 1996, the Company and St. Joe Container experienced a continued
decline in prices for their products as  a result of a decline in  industry-wide
demand  during this  period. This  decline in prices  and demand  had a negative
effect on certain financial  results of the Company  and St. Joe Container.  See
"Management's  Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results of
Operations."
 
    The Company  is  incorporated under  the  laws of  Maryland.  The  principal
executive  office of the Company is located at 115 Stevens Avenue, Valhalla, New
York 10595 and its telephone number is (914) 749-3200.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
THE EXCHANGE OFFER................  The Company is offering, upon  the terms and subject  to
                                    the  conditions set forth herein and in the accompanying
                                    Letter of  Transmittal, to  exchange  its 12%  Series  B
                                    Senior  Secured Notes due 2006, including the Guarantees
                                    thereof, for an identical face amount of the outstanding
                                    Old Notes, including the  Guarantees thereof. As of  the
                                    date  of  this Prospectus,  $170.0 million  in aggregate
                                    principal amount of  the Old Notes  is outstanding,  the
                                    maximum  amount  authorized  by  the  Indenture  for all
                                    Notes. As  of                      ,  1996,  there  were
                                    registered  holders of  the Old Notes,  including Cede &
                                    Co. ("Cede"), which held $       of aggregate amount  of
                                    the  Old  Notes for      of  its participants.  See "The
                                    Exchange Offer -- Terms of the Exchange Offer."
 
EXPIRATION DATE...................  5:00 p.m., New York City time, on             , 1996, as
                                    the same may  be extended.  See "The  Exchange Offer  --
                                    Expiration Date; Extension; Termination; Amendments."
 
CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE
 OFFER............................  The  Exchange Offer is not  conditioned upon any minimum
                                    principal  amount  of  Old  Notes  being  tendered   for
                                    exchange.  However,  the  Exchange Offer  is  subject to
                                    certain customary conditions, which may be waived by the
                                    Company. See "The  Exchange Offer --  Conditions of  the
                                    Exchange Offer."
 
ACCRUED INTEREST ON THE OLD
 NOTES............................  The  New Notes will bear interest at a rate equal to 12%
                                    per annum  from and  including their  date of  issuance.
                                    Eligible  Holders  whose  Old  Notes  are  accepted  for
                                    exchange will have the right to receive interest accrued
                                    thereon from the  date of original  issuance of the  Old
                                    Notes  or the last Interest Payment Date, as applicable,
                                    to, but not including, the  date of issuance of the  New
                                    Notes,  such  interest  to  be  payable  with  the first
                                    interest payment on the New  Notes. Interest on the  Old
                                    Notes  accepted for exchange, which  accrues at the rate
                                    of 12% per annum, will cease to accrue on the day  prior
                                    to the issuance of the New Notes.
 
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING OLD
 NOTES............................  Each  holder of Old Notes wishing to accept the Exchange
                                    Offer  must  complete,  sign  and  date  the  Letter  of
                                    Transmittal,  or a facsimile thereof, in accordance with
                                    the instructions contained herein and therein, and  mail
                                    or otherwise deliver such Letter of Transmittal, or such
                                    facsimile,  together with  the Old  Notes and  any other
                                    required  documentation  to  the  exchange  agent   (the
                                    "Exchange  Agent") at the address  set forth herein. Old
                                    Notes may be physically delivered, but physical delivery
                                    is not required  if a  confirmation of  a book-entry  of
                                    such  Old Notes to  the Exchange Agent's  account at The
                                    Depositary Trust Company ("DTC" or the "Depositary")  is
                                    delivered  in a timely fashion.  By executing the Letter
                                    of  Transmittal,  each  holder  will  represent  to  the
                                    Company that, among other things, the New Notes acquired
                                    pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the
                                    ordinary course of business of the person receiving such
                                    New  Notes, whether  or not  such person  is the holder,
                                    that neither the  holder nor  any such  other person  is
                                    engaged   in,  or  intends  to  engage  in,  or  has  an
                                    arrangement  or   understanding  with   any  person   to
                                    participate  in, the distribution of  such New Notes and
</TABLE>
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
                                    that neither the holder nor any such other person is  an
                                    "affiliate," as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities
                                    Act,  of the  Company or  any Guarantor.  Each broker or
                                    dealer that receives  New Notes for  its own account  in
                                    exchange  for  Old  Notes,  where  such  Old  Notes were
                                    acquired by  such  broker  or  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 New Notes. See "The
                                    Exchange Offer -- Procedures for Tendering" and "Plan of
                                    Distribution."
 
GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES....  Eligible Holders of Old Notes  who wish to tender  their
                                    Old  Notes and (i)  whose Old Notes  are not immediately
                                    available or (ii) who cannot deliver their Old Notes  or
                                    any   other   documents  required   by  the   Letter  of
                                    Transmittal  to  the   Exchange  Agent   prior  to   the
                                    Expiration   Date   (or  complete   the   procedure  for
                                    book-entry transfer on a timely basis), may tender their
                                    Old  Notes   according   to  the   guaranteed   delivery
                                    procedures  set forth in the  Letter of Transmittal. See
                                    "The Exchange Offer -- Guaranteed Delivery Procedures."
 
ACCEPTANCE OF OLD NOTES AND
 DELIVERY OF NEW NOTES............  Upon satisfaction  or waiver  of all  conditions of  the
                                    Exchange  Offer, the Company will accept any and all Old
                                    Notes that are properly  tendered in the Exchange  Offer
                                    prior   to  5:00  p.m.,  New  York  City  time,  on  the
                                    Expiration Date. The  New Notes issued  pursuant to  the
                                    Exchange   Offer  will   be  delivered   promptly  after
                                    acceptance  of  the   Old  Notes.   See  "The   Exchange
                                    Offer -- Terms of the Exchange Offer."
 
WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS.................  Tenders  of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior
                                    to 5:00  p.m., New  York City  time, on  the  Expiration
                                    Date. See "The Exchange Offer -- Withdrawal of Tenders."
 
THE EXCHANGE AGENT................  Norwest  Bank  Minnesota,  National  Association  is the
                                    exchange agent (in such capacity, the "Exchange Agent").
                                    The address and telephone  number of the Exchange  Agent
                                    are set forth in "The Exchange Offer -- Exchange Agent."
 
FEES AND EXPENSES.................  All  expenses incident to  the Company's consummation of
                                    the Exchange Offer and compliance with the  Registration
                                    Rights  Agreement  will  be borne  by  the  Company. The
                                    Company will also pay certain transfer taxes  applicable
                                    to  the Exchange Offer. See  "The Exchange Offer -- Fees
                                    and Expenses."
 
RESALES OF THE NEW NOTES..........  Based on interpretations by the staff of the  Commission
                                    set  forth in no-action letters issued to third parties,
                                    the Company believes that  New Notes issued pursuant  to
                                    the Exchange Offer to an Eligible Holder in exchange for
                                    Old   Notes  may  be  offered  for  resale,  resold  and
                                    otherwise transferred  by  such Eligible  Holder  (other
                                    than  (i) a  broker-dealer who  purchased the  Old Notes
                                    directly from the  Company for resale  pursuant to  Rule
                                    144A  under the  Securities Act  or any  other available
                                    exemption under  the Securities  Act, or  (ii) a  person
                                    that  is an affiliate of  the Company within the meaning
                                    of  Rule  405   under  the   Securities  Act),   without
                                    compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
                                    provisions  of  the  Securities Act,  provided  that the
</TABLE>
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
                                    Eligible Holder  is  acquiring  the  New  Notes  in  the
                                    ordinary  course of  business and  is not participating,
                                    and has no arrangement or understanding with any  person
                                    to participate, in a distribution of the New Notes. Each
                                    broker-dealer  that  receives  New  Notes  for  its  own
                                    account in exchange for Old Notes, where such Old  Notes
                                    were   acquired   by  such   broker   as  a   result  of
                                    market-making  or   other   trading   activities,   must
                                    acknowledge   that  it  will  deliver  a  prospectus  in
                                    connection with any resale of such New Notes. See  "Plan
                                    of Distribution."
</TABLE>
 
                            DESCRIPTION OF NEW NOTES
 
    The  Exchange Offer applies to $170.0  million aggregate principal amount of
Old Notes. The terms of the New Notes are identical in all material respects  to
the  Old Notes,  except for certain  transfer restrictions  and registration and
other rights relating to the  exchange of the Old Notes  for New Notes. The  New
Notes  will evidence the same debt as the  Old Notes and will be entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture under which both the Old Notes were, and the New Notes
will be, issued. See "Description of New Notes."
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
ISSUER............................  Four M Corporation.
 
SECURITIES OFFERED................  $170.0 million  in  aggregate principal  amount  of  12%
                                    Series B Senior Secured Notes due 2006.
 
MATURITY DATE.....................  June 1, 2006
 
INTEREST AND INTEREST PAYMENT
 DATES............................  12%  per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on June
                                    1 and December 1, commencing on December 1, 1996.
 
GUARANTEES........................  The New Notes  will be  guaranteed on  a senior  secured
                                    basis by all current Subsidiaries (as defined herein) of
                                    the Company other than Box USA Paper Corporation and Box
                                    USA  of Florida, L.P. As of  the date hereof, all of the
                                    Company's  Subsidiaries   other  than   Box  USA   Paper
                                    Corporation  will be Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined
                                    herein).  Box   USA  Paper   Corporation  will   be   an
                                    Unrestricted  Subsidiary  (as defined  herein),  and the
                                    Company will  be  able  to designate  other  current  or
                                    future  Subsidiaries  to  be  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries
                                    under certain  circumstances. Unrestricted  Subsidiaries
                                    will not be subject to many of the restrictive covenants
                                    set  forth  in the  Indenture.  See "Description  of New
                                    Notes--Certain   Covenants--Restricted   Payments"   and
                                    "--Certain Definitions--Unrestricted Subsidiaries."
 
RANKING...........................  The  New Notes will be senior secured obligations of the
                                    Company that will rank senior in right of payment to all
                                    subordinated indebtedness of the Company. The New  Notes
                                    will  rank PARI PASSU in right of payment with all other
                                    existing and future senior indebtedness of the  Company.
                                    As  of April 30, 1996, after  giving pro forma effect to
                                    the Acquisition and the financings therefor, the Company
                                    would have had total outstanding indebtedness of  $210.8
                                    million,   including  the  New  Notes  and  indebtedness
                                    pursuant to the Credit Facility.
 
SECURITY..........................  The New  Notes  will  be secured  by  a  first  priority
                                    security  interest in substantially all of the equipment
                                    of the  Company  and  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  and
                                    certain other assets (but excluding, among other things,
                                    land and improvements thereon, inventories
</TABLE>
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
                                    and  accounts receivable, and the proceeds thereof), and
                                    by a pledge of the capital stock of the Subsidiaries  of
                                    the Company. See "Description of New Notes--Security."
 
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION...............  The  New Notes will  not be redeemable  at the Company's
                                    option prior to June 1, 2001. Thereafter, the New  Notes
                                    will  be  subject to  redemption, at  the option  of the
                                    Company, in whole or in  part, at the redemption  prices
                                    set  forth herein  plus accrued and  unpaid interest, if
                                    any, to the applicable redemption date.  Notwithstanding
                                    the  foregoing, at any  time prior to  June 1, 1999, the
                                    Company  may  redeem  up   to  one-third  in   aggregate
                                    principal  amount of the New Notes at a redemption price
                                    of 112% of  the principal amount  thereof, in each  case
                                    plus  accrued  and  unpaid  interest,  if  any,  to  the
                                    redemption date,  with  the  net proceeds  of  a  public
                                    offering  of common stock of  the Company; PROVIDED that
                                    at least two-thirds in aggregate principal amount of the
                                    New Notes originally issued hereunder remain outstanding
                                    immediately  after   the   occurrence   of   each   such
                                    redemption;  and  PROVIDED  that  such  redemption shall
                                    occur within 60 days following  the date of the  closing
                                    of  such public offering of common stock of the Company.
                                    In addition, upon the occurrence of a Change of  Control
                                    prior  to June 1, 2001, the  Company, at its option, may
                                    redeem all, but  not less than  all, of the  outstanding
                                    New  Notes at  a redemption price  equal to  100% of the
                                    principal amount thereof plus the applicable  Make-Whole
                                    Premium.   See  "Description  of  New  Notes--  Optional
                                    Redemption."
 
CHANGE OF CONTROL.................  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control at any  time,
                                    the  Company  will  be  required  to  make  an  offer to
                                    repurchase each Holder's New Notes  at a price equal  to
                                    101%  of  the  aggregate principal  amount  thereof plus
                                    accrued and  unpaid interest,  if any,  to the  date  of
                                    purchase.  There can  be no  assurance that  the Company
                                    will have the financial resources to repurchase the  New
                                    Notes  upon a Change of Control. See "Description of New
                                    Notes--Repurchase at the Option of Holders."
 
COVENANTS.........................  The indenture pursuant  to which the  New Notes will  be
                                    issued  (the "Indenture") will contain certain covenants
                                    that, among  other  things,  limit the  ability  of  the
                                    Company   and  its  Restricted   Subsidiaries  to  incur
                                    additional  indebtedness,  issue  preferred  stock,  pay
                                    dividends or make other distributions, repurchase Equity
                                    Interests  (as  defined  herein)  or  repay subordinated
                                    indebtedness or make  certain other Restricted  Payments
                                    (as  defined herein),  create certain  liens, enter into
                                    certain transactions with affiliates, sell assets, issue
                                    or sell Equity Interests  of the Company's  Subsidiaries
                                    or  enter into  certain mergers  and consolidations. See
                                    "Description of New Notes-- Certain Covenants."
 
USE OF PROCEEDS...................  There will  be  no  proceeds to  the  Company  from  any
                                    exchange   pursuant  to  the  Exchange  Offer.  The  net
                                    proceeds from the issuance of the Old Notes were used to
                                    fund a portion  of the cash  required to consummate  the
                                    Acquisition by the Company.
</TABLE>
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
ABSENCE OF A PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE
 NEW NOTES........................  The  New Notes  are a  new issue  of securities  with no
                                    established  market.  Accordingly,   there  can  be   no
                                    assurance  as  to the  development  or liquidity  of any
                                    market for  the New  Notes.  The Initial  Purchaser  has
                                    advised  the Company that it currently makes a market in
                                    the Notes.  The Company  does  not currently  intend  to
                                    apply  for listing  of the  New Notes  on any securities
                                    exchange.
</TABLE>
 
    FOR A DISCUSSION OF  CERTAIN FACTORS THAT SHOULD  BE CONSIDERED BY  ELIGIBLE
HOLDERS EVALUATING THE EXCHANGE OFFER, SEE "RISK FACTORS."
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
                             SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       PRO FORMA (1)
                                                                                                   ----------------------
                                                                 NINE MONTHS ENDED      TWELVE
                                 FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31,          APRIL 30,          MONTHS                NINE MONTHS
                               -------------------------------  --------------------  ENDED APRIL   FISCAL    ENDED APRIL
                                 1993       1994       1995       1995       1996      30, 1996      1995      30, 1996
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------
<S>                            <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net sales....................  $ 214,936  $ 228,563  $ 271,994  $ 213,723  $ 164,736   $ 223,007   $ 534,680   $ 383,902
Cost of goods sold...........    192,208    205,025    232,154    181,870    141,973     192,257     442,332     336,580
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------
Gross profit.................     22,728     23,538     39,840     31,853     22,763      30,750      92,348      47,322
Selling, general and
 administrative expenses.....     21,813     22,018     19,703     15,810     11,664      15,557      36,847      29,550
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------
Income from operations.......        915      1,520     20,137     16,043     11,099      15,193      55,501      17,772
Other income (expense).......      3,651        126      1,927      1,761         --         166       4,174         (68)
Interest expense.............      4,948      5,448      5,607      4,672      2,697       3,632      24,518      18,388
Minority interest............         --       (180)      (146)        --         --        (146)       (146)         --
Provision (benefit) for
 income taxes................        453       (325)     5,483      4,350      3,658       4,791      12,480         494
Extraordinary item...........         --        381      2,219      2,219         --          --          --          --
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------
Net income (loss)............  $    (835) $  (3,276) $  13,047  $  11,001  $   4,744   $   6,790   $  22,531   $  (1,178)
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------
                               ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
EBITDA (2)...................  $   6,209  $   6,796  $  25,382  $  20,033  $  13,951   $  19,300   $  68,349   $  26,831
Ratio of EBITDA to interest
 expense (3).................         --         --         --       3.3x       3.2x        3.3x        2.9x        1.5x
Ratio of earnings to fixed
 charges (4).................       1.0x       0.5x       3.3x       3.3x       3.2x        3.3x        2.3x        1.0x
Depreciation and
 amortization................  $   5,294  $   5,276  $   5,245  $   3,990  $   2,852   $   4,107   $  12,848   $   9,059
Capital expenditures.........      3,935      3,916      3,690      2,950      4,281       5,021       8,054       4,659
Adjusted net sales (5).......    153,857    155,869    212,562    158,380    154,919     209,101          --          --
Adjusted EBITDA (5)..........      2,196      3,926     24,210     20,715     16,884      20,379          --          --
OPERATING DATA:
Corrugated Converting Operations:
  Million square feet sold...      3,513      3,799      3,794      2,944      2,629       3,476      10,754       7,116
  Average production per day
   (tons)....................      1,007      1,296      1,133        941        967       1,080       3,010       2,662
  Plants opened or
   acquired..................          2          4         --         --         --          --          16          16
  Plants closed or sold......          1          4          2          2          2           1           3           3
  Plants at period end.......         15         15         13         13         12          12          28          27
Ft. Madison Mill Operations:
  Tons sold..................         --     38,029     75,872     57,267     58,982      77,586      75,872      58,982
  Average production per day
   (tons)....................         --        119        217        214        214         213         217         214
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                 TWELVE
                                 MONTHS
                               ENDED APRIL
                                30, 1996
                               -----------
<S>                            <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net sales....................   $ 524,607
Cost of goods sold...........     452,179
                               -----------
Gross profit.................      72,428
Selling, general and
 administrative expenses.....      38,863
                               -----------
Income from operations.......      33,565
Other income (expense).......       3,129
Interest expense.............      24,518
Minority interest............        (146)
Provision (benefit) for
 income taxes................       5,007
Extraordinary item...........          --
                               -----------
Net income (loss)............   $   7,023
                               -----------
                               -----------
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
EBITDA (2)...................   $  45,988
Ratio of EBITDA to interest
 expense (3).................        1.9x
Ratio of earnings to fixed
 charges (4).................        1.5x
Depreciation and
 amortization................   $  12,423
Capital expenditures.........       5,134
Adjusted net sales (5).......          --
Adjusted EBITDA (5)..........          --
OPERATING DATA:
Corrugated Converting Operati
  Million square feet sold...       9,593
  Average production per day
   (tons)....................       2,708
  Plants opened or
   acquired..................          16
  Plants closed or sold......           2
  Plants at period end.......          27
Ft. Madison Mill Operations:
  Tons sold..................      77,586
  Average production per day
   (tons)....................         213
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            AS OF APRIL 30, 1996
                                                                                          ------------------------
                                                                                           ACTUAL    PRO FORMA (1)
                                                                                          ---------  -------------
<S>                                                                                       <C>        <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital.........................................................................  $  12,925    $  83,805
Property, plant and equipment, net......................................................     34,977      127,666
Total assets............................................................................     77,254      269,782
Total long-term debt....................................................................     33,279      207,798
Total stockholder's equity..............................................................     13,393       13,993
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1)  Gives  pro forma effect to (a) the Acquisition and the financings therefor,
     and (b) the  closing of the  Company's corrugator plant  located in  Flint,
     Michigan  ("Flint"), which the Company intends to close in 1996, as if such
     transactions had occurred on August 1, 1994 with respect to Fiscal 1995 and
     the nine months ended April  30, 1996, on May 1,  1995 with respect to  the
     twelve  months ended April 30, 1996, and  on April 30, 1996 with respect to
     the balance sheet  data. The  pro forma  statement of  operations data  for
     Fiscal  1995 reflect the  disposition in March  1995 by the  Company of The
     Fonda Group, Inc.  ("Fonda"), a  subsidiary of the  Company which  produced
     paper  plates, cups and other food  service disposables. See "Unaudited Pro
     Forma Combined Condensed Financial Data."
 
(2)  EBITDA represents income from operations before interest expense, provision
     (benefit) for income  taxes and  depreciation and  amortization. EBITDA  is
     generally  accepted as providing information  regarding a company's ability
     to service and/or incur debt. EBITDA should not be considered in  isolation
     or  as a substitute  for net income,  cash flows from  operations, or other
     consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with generally
     accepted accounting principles or as a measure of a company's profitability
     or liquidity.
 
(3)  Interest expense excludes the amortization of debt issuance costs of  $880,
     $660  and $880 for pro  forma Fiscal 1995, the  pro forma nine months ended
     April 30,  1996 and  the pro  forma  twelve months  ended April  30,  1996,
     respectively.
 
(4)  For  purposes  of  calculating  the ratio  of  earnings  to  fixed charges,
     earnings consist of earnings (loss)  before provision (benefit) for  income
     taxes, minority interest and extraordinary gain on early retirement of debt
     plus fixed charges, and fixed charges consist of interest expense plus that
     portion of rental payments on operating leases deemed representative of the
     interest factor.
 
(5)  Adjusted to exclude the results of Fonda and Flint.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    HOLDERS OF THE OLD NOTES SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING MATTERS, AS
WELL  AS THE OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED  IN THIS PROSPECTUS, BEFORE DECIDING TO
TENDER THEIR OLD NOTES IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER.
 
SUBSTANTIAL LEVERAGE
    Since the issuance of the Old  Notes and subsequent to the Acquisition,  the
Company  has become  highly leveraged.  As of April  30, 1996,  after giving pro
forma effect  to the  Acquisition  and the  financings therefor,  including  the
issuance  of  the New  Notes, the  Company would  have had  approximately $210.8
million  of  indebtedness  outstanding   and  approximately  $39.7  million   of
additional  borrowing capacity under  the Credit Facility,  subject to borrowing
base limitations. See "Capitalization."
 
    The significant indebtedness  incurred as  a result of  the Acquisition  has
several  important consequences to the Holders  of the New Notes, including, but
not limited to, the following: (i)  a substantial portion of the Company's  cash
flow  from operations  must be dedicated  to service such  indebtedness, and the
failure of  the  Company  to  generate sufficient  cash  flow  to  service  such
indebtedness  could result in a default under such indebtedness, including under
the New Notes; (ii) the Company's ability to obtain additional financing in  the
future  for  working capital,  capital expenditures,  acquisitions or  for other
purposes may  be  impaired; (iii)  the  Company's flexibility  to  expand,  make
capital  expenditures  and  respond  to changes  in  the  industry  and economic
conditions generally may be limited; (iv) the Credit Facility and the  Indenture
contain,  and  future  agreements  relating to  the  Company's  indebtedness may
contain, numerous financial  and other restrictive  covenants, including,  among
other  things, limitations  on the  ability of  the Company  to incur additional
indebtedness, to create liens and  other encumbrances, to make certain  payments
and  investments,  to  sell or  otherwise  dispose  of assets,  or  to  merge or
consolidate with another entity, the failure to comply with which may result  in
a  default under such  agreements, which, if  not cured or  waived, could have a
material adverse effect on the  Company; and (v) the  ability of the Company  to
satisfy its obligations pursuant to such indebtedness, including pursuant to the
New  Notes, will  be dependent upon  the Company's future  performance which, in
turn, will be subject to  management, financial, business, regulatory and  other
factors  affecting the business and operations of the Company, some of which are
not in the Company's control.
 
INTEGRATION OF THE ACQUIRED FACILITIES
    Although St. Joe Container  utilizes manufacturing equipment, raw  materials
and  production processes which are similar to  those used by the Company, there
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to integrate successfully  the
facilities  acquired in the Acquisition  with the Company's existing operations.
Integration of such facilities could be affected by a number of factors, some of
which are not in the Company's  control, including the ability of the  Company's
existing   management  and  systems  infrastructure   to  absorb  the  increased
operations, the response  of competition  and general  economic conditions.  The
Company  may  pursue additional  acquisitions  in the  future.  There can  be no
assurance that  future acquisitions  will be  advantageous or  that  anticipated
results of such acquisitions will be realized. See "The Acquisition."
 
HIGHLY COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY
    The  corrugated packaging  industry is  a highly  fragmented and competitive
industry. The  markets  for  corrugated packaging  materials  are  sensitive  to
changes  in industry capacity and cyclical changes in the economy. Both of these
factors can significantly impact  the Company's profitability. Recently,  prices
for  the Company's  products have  declined due  to a  decrease in industry-wide
demand. See "Management's  Discussion and  Analysis of  Financial Condition  and
Results  of Operations--Recent  Performance." The  Company's competitors include
large, vertically integrated corrugated packaging companies and, on a local  and
regional  level, many  smaller, independent  companies. The  primary competitive
factors in  the corrugated  packaging industry  are price,  design, quality  and
service.   In  addition,  corrugated  packaging  materials  compete  with  other
packaging materials, including paper, plastic, wood and metal.
 
    Linerboard and corrugating medium  are the principal  raw materials used  in
all  of  the  Company's  converting  facilities  and  are  purchased  in  highly
competitive and price sensitive markets.  These raw materials have  historically
exhibited  price and  demand cyclicality. In  addition, the supply  and price of
wood fiber, the principal  component of linerboard  and corrugating medium,  are
dependent  upon a  variety of  factors many  of which  are not  in the Company's
control, including environmental and conservation regulations,
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
natural disasters, such as  forest fires and  hurricanes, and weather.  Although
the  Company has  not experienced any  significant difficulty  in obtaining wood
fiber for the manufacture of corrugating medium  at the Ft. Madison Mill, or  in
obtaining   linerboard  and  corrugating  medium   for  use  in  its  converting
facilities, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to  continue
to  do so or that  increased costs of purchasing  such materials could be passed
along to the Company's customers.
 
RELATIONSHIP WITH MILL JOINT VENTURE
 
    In connection with the Acquisition,  the Company and Stone Container  formed
the  Mill Joint Venture for  the purpose of acquiring the  St. Joe Mill from St.
Joe Forest  Products  Company  ("St.  Joe Forest"),  an  affiliate  of  St.  Joe
Container.  The Company  and Stone Container  each invested $5.0  million in the
common equity of  the Mill Joint  Venture. In addition,  Stone Container  loaned
$30.0  million to Florida Coast Paper Holding Co., L.L.C, the parent of the Mill
Joint Venture.  See  "The  Acquisition."  In addition,  the  Company  and  Stone
Container each agreed to provide the Mill Joint Venture with up to $10.0 million
of  subordinated indebtedness, if needed, in addition to the capital invested in
the  Mill  Joint  Venture,  for   general  corporate  purposes  pursuant  to   a
Subordinated Credit Facility (the "Subordinated Credit Facility").
 
    Both  the Company and Stone Container also  agreed to purchase from the Mill
Joint Venture one-half of the St. Joe Mill's entire annual linerboard production
at a price that is $25 per ton below the price of such product published in PULP
& PAPER WEEK, under  the section entitled "Price  Watch: Paper and  Paperboard,"
subject  to  a  minimum purchase  price,  which  price is  intended  to generate
sufficient funds  to  cover cash  operating  costs, cash  interest  expense  and
maintenance  capital expenditures. The price that the Company is required to pay
the Mill Joint  Venture for such  linerboard may  be higher than  the prices  at
which  the Company  could purchase linerboard  from unrelated  third parties. In
addition, there can  be no  assurance that  if the  prices that  the Company  is
required to pay to the Mill Joint Venture for linerboard is substantially higher
than the prices available to the Company from third parties, such higher pricing
will not have a material adverse effect on the Company. See "The Acquisition."
 
FT. MADISON MILL OPERATIONS
 
    In  Fiscal 1995 and  the nine months  ended April 30,  1996, the Ft. Madison
Mill contributed approximately 12.3% and  10.9%, respectively, to the  Company's
net  sales and  approximately 27.1%  and 34.4%,  respectively, to  the Company's
EBITDA  before  corporate  overhead.  After  giving  pro  forma  effect  to  the
Acqusition,  in Fiscal 1995 and  in the twelve months  ended April 30, 1996, the
Ft.  Madison  Mill   would  have  contributed   approximately  6.3%  and   6.9%,
respectively,  to the  Company's net  sales and  approximately 11.3%  and 21.1%,
respectively, to the  Company's EBITDA  before corporate  overhead. Any  adverse
change  in the operations of the Ft.  Madison Mill could have a material adverse
effect on  the Company's  financial  condition and  results of  operations.  See
"Management's  Discussion  and Analysis  of Financial  Condition and  Results of
Operations."
 
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
    The Company's operations are subject to environmental regulation by federal,
state and  local  authorities in  the  United States.  Unreimbursed  liabilities
arising from environmental claims, if significant, could have a material adverse
effect   on  the  Company's  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations.
Furthermore,  actions  by  federal,  state  and  local  governments   concerning
environmental  matters could result  in laws or  regulations that could increase
the cost of compliance with environmental laws and regulations. There can be  no
assurance  that future capital  expenditures by the Company  to comply with such
laws and regulations will not be significant or that such costs will not  result
in  a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or results of
operations.
 
    In November  1993,  the U.S.  Environmental  Protection Agency  (the  "EPA")
announced proposed regulations, known as the "cluster rules," that would require
more  stringent controls on air  and water discharges from  pulp and paper mills
under the Clean  Water Act and  the Clean  Air Act. The  Company estimates  that
these  regulations,  if adopted  as  currently proposed,  would  require capital
expenditures of approximately $1.5 million to  $2.0 million by the Company  with
respect  to the Ft. Madison Mill. The  ultimate financial impact of the proposed
regulations on the Company will depend  on the nature of the final  regulations,
the  timing  of required  implementation and  the cost  and availability  of new
technology. See
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
"Business--Environmental Matters." St. Joe Container, St. Joe Paper and St.  Joe
Forest  (collectively, the "Paper Indemnitors")  agreed to indemnify the Company
for certain environmental matters  based on activities prior  to the closing  of
the   Acquisition  (the  "Closing").  There  can   be  no  assurance  that  this
indemnification  will  be   sufficient  to   reimburse  the   Company  for   all
environmental liabilities. See "Business--Environmental Matters."
 
CREDIT FACILITY AND INDENTURE RESTRICTIONS
 
    The Credit Facility and the Indenture contain numerous restrictive covenants
including,  among other  things, limitations  on the  ability of  the Company to
incur additional indebtedness, to create  liens and other encumbrances, to  make
certain  payments and investments, to sell or otherwise dispose of assets, or to
merge or consolidate with another entity. The Credit Facility also requires  the
Company  to meet certain  financial tests. The Company's  failure to comply with
its obligations under the Credit Facility or the Indenture, or under  agreements
relating  to indebtedness incurred  in the future,  could result in  an event of
default under such agreements,  which could permit  acceleration of the  related
indebtedness and acceleration of indebtedness under other financing arrangements
that   may   contain   cross-acceleration  or   cross-default   provisions.  See
"Description of New Notes" and "Description of Credit Facility."
 
LABOR MATTERS
 
    As of April 30,  1996, approximately 44.0% of  the Company's employees  were
covered  by collective bargaining agreements. In addition, as of April 30, 1996,
approximately  53.0%  of  the  employees  at  the  facilities  acquired  in  the
Acquisition  were covered by collective bargaining agreements. Since the Company
has not assumed St. Joe Container's obligations under such collective bargaining
agreements, the  Company must  negotiate  new collective  bargaining  agreements
covering  such employees.  There can  be no assurance  that the  Company will be
successful in renegotiating  collective bargaining  agreements that  are due  to
expire  or in negotiating  new collective bargaining  agreements relating to the
employees at  the  acquired facilities,  or  that  the Company  will  not  incur
increased costs as a result of such negotiations. See "Business-- Employees."
 
CONTROL BY PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDER
 
    All  of  the outstanding  common stock  of  the Company  is owned  by Dennis
Mehiel, the Company's Chairman. As a result, Mr. Mehiel controls the Company and
has the power to elect all of its directors, appoint new management and  approve
any  other action requiring the approval of  the holders of the Company's stock,
including adopting amendments  to the  Company's articles  of incorporation  and
approving mergers or sales of all of the Company's assets.
 
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
 
    The  Company is dependent on the retention of, and continued performance by,
its senior  management,  particularly Dennis  Mehiel,  its Chairman,  and  Chris
Mehiel,  its Executive Vice  President and Chief  Operating Officer. The Company
believes that the loss of the services of either of these officers could have  a
material  adverse effect  on the Company.  The Company does  not have employment
contracts with either Dennis Mehiel or Chris Mehiel.
 
UNCERTAIN VALUE OF SECURITY INTERESTS
 
    No assurance can  be given that  the proceeds  of a sale  of the  Collateral
securing  the Notes would  be sufficient to  repay all of  the Notes following a
foreclosure upon the  Collateral or  a liquidation of  the Company.  If the  net
proceeds  received from  the sale of  the Collateral (after  payment of expenses
relating to the sale) were insufficient to  pay all amounts due with respect  to
the Notes, then Holders of the Notes would, to the extent of such insufficiency,
have  only  an unsecured  claim  against any  remaining  assets of  the Company.
Furthermore, the ability of the Trustee  to foreclose upon the Collateral  would
be  delayed if the Company  were the subject of  any bankruptcy, receivership or
similar proceedings.
 
FRAUDULENT TRANSFER STATUTES; ENFORCEABILITY OF GUARANTEES
 
    Under federal or state fraudulent transfer laws, the Notes or the Subsidiary
Guarantees may be subordinated to existing or future indebtedness of the Company
or the  Guarantors, as  the case  may  be, or  found not  to be  enforceable  in
accordance  with their terms. Under such statutes, if a court were to find that,
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
at the time the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees were issued, the Company  or
any  such Guarantor was insolvent, was rendered insolvent by the issuance of the
Notes or  its  Subsidiary Guarantee,  as  the case  may  be, together  with  the
substantially  concurrent  use  of  the proceeds  therefrom,  was  engaged  in a
business or transaction for which the assets remaining with the Company or  such
Guarantor constituted unreasonably small capital, intended to incur, or believed
that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they matured,
or intended to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors, such court could void the
Company's  obligations under the Notes or such Guarantor's obligations under its
Subsidiary Guarantee, or subordinate the  Notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee  to
all  other indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be. In
such event, there can be no assurance that any repayment of the Notes could ever
be recovered by Holders of the Notes.
 
    For purposes of the  foregoing, the measure  of insolvency varies  depending
upon  the law of the jurisdiction that is being applied. Generally, however, the
Company or a Guarantor would  be considered to have  been insolvent at the  time
the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees were issued if the sum of its debts was,
at that time, greater than the sum of the value of all of its property at a fair
valuation,  or if the then  fair saleable value of its  assets was less than the
amount that was  then required  to pay its  probable liability  on its  existing
debts  as they became absolute and matured. There  can be no assurance as to the
standard a court  would apply in  order to  determine whether the  Company or  a
Guarantor  was insolvent as of the date  the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees
were issued, or that, regardless of the  method of valuation, a court would  not
determine  that the Company or a Guarantor  was insolvent on that date, or that,
regardless of whether the  Company or such Guarantor  was insolvent on the  date
the  Notes  and  the  Subsidiary  Guarantees  were  issued,  that  the issuances
constituted fraudulent transfers on another of the grounds summarized above.
 
CHANGE OF CONTROL PROVISIONS
 
    Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control at any time, the Company will  be
required  to offer to repurchase each Holder's Notes at a price equal to 101% of
the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any,
to the date of purchase.  There can be no assurance  that the Company will  have
the  financial  resources necessary  to repurchase  the Notes  upon a  Change of
Control.  See  "Description   of  New   Notes--Repurchase  at   the  Option   of
Holders--Change  of Control." In addition, a  Change of Control may constitute a
default under the Credit Facility.
 
CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE
 
    Holders of Old  Notes who  do not  exchange their  Old Notes  for New  Notes
pursuant  to the Exchange Offer will continue  to be subject to the restrictions
on transfer  of  such  Old Notes  as  set  forth  in the  legend  thereon  as  a
consequence  of the issuance of the Old Notes pursuant to exemptions from, or in
transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act
and applicable  state securities  laws. In  general, the  Old Notes  may not  be
offered  or sold, unless registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to
an exemption from, or in  a transaction not subject  to, the Securities Act  and
applicable state securities laws. The Company does not currently anticipate that
it  will  register the  Old Notes  under  the Securities  Act. New  Notes issued
pursuant to the  Exchange Offer in  exchange for  Old Notes may  be offered  for
resale,  resold or otherwise transferred by Holders thereof (other than any such
holder who is an "affiliate" of the Company or any Guarantor within the  meaning
of  Rule 405 under the Securities  Act) without compliance with the registration
and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act provided that such  New
Notes  are acquired in  the ordinary course  of such holders'  business and such
holders have no arrangement with any  person to participate in the  distribution
of  such Notes. Each broker-dealer  that receives New Notes  for its own account
pursuant to  the  Exchange  Offer  must  acknowledge  that  it  will  deliver  a
prospectus  in  connection with  any resale  of  such new  Notes. 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  New Notes received  in exchange  for Old Notes  where such Old
Notes  were  acquired  by  such  broker-dealer  as  a  result  of  market-making
activities  or  other trading  activities. The  Company has  agreed that,  for a
period 270 days  after the  effective date  of the  Exchange Offer  Registration
Statement    (as    defined   herein),    it    will   make    this   Prospectus
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
available to any broker-dealer for use  in connection with any such resale.  See
"Plan  of Distribution." However, to comply  with the securities laws of certain
jurisdictions, if applicable, the  New Notes may not  be offered or sold  unless
they  have been  registered or  qualified for sale  in such  jurisdictions or an
exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied  with.
To  the extent that Old  Notes are tendered and  accepted in the Exchange Offer,
the trading market for untendered and tendered but unaccepted Old Notes will  be
adversely affected.
 
ABSENCE OF PUBLIC MARKET
 
    Prior to this Prospectus, there has been no public market for the New Notes,
and  there can be no assurance that such a market will develop. In addition, the
Company does not currently intend to apply  for listing of the New Notes on  any
securities exchange. If a market for the New Notes should develop, the New Notes
may  trade  at a  discount  from their  initial  offering price,  depending upon
prevailing interest  rates, the  market for  similar securities,  the  Company's
performance  and other factors. The  Initial Purchaser has made  a market in the
Notes as  permitted  by applicable  law  and regulation;  however,  the  Initial
Purchaser is not obligated to do so and any such market-making activities may be
discontinued  at  any  time  without  notice.  In  addition,  such market-making
activities may be limited during the Exchange Offer. Therefore, there can be  no
assurance  that  an active  market  for the  New  Notes will  develop  after the
Company's  performance  of  its   obligations  under  the  Registration   Rights
Agreement. See "Description of New Notes."
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
PURPOSES AND EFFECTS
 
    The  Old Notes  were sold  by the  Company on  May 30,  1996 to  the Initial
Purchaser, who  resold the  Old Notes  to "qualified  institutional buyers"  (as
defined  in  Rule  144A  under  the  Securities  Act)  and  other  institutional
"accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act).  In
connection with the sale of the Old Notes, the Company and the Initial Purchaser
entered  into a  Registration Rights  Agreement dated  as of  May 30,  1996 (the
"Registration Rights Agreement") pursuant  to which the  Company agreed to  file
with  the Commission a registration  statement (the "Exchange Offer Registration
Statement") with respect to  an offer to  exchange the Old  Notes for New  Notes
within  45 days following  the closing date  of the Old  Notes. In addition, the
Company agreed to use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer  Registration
Statement  to become  effective under  the Securities Act  and to  issue the New
Notes pursuant  to  the  Exchange  Offer. A  copy  of  the  Registration  Rights
Agreement  has  been filed  as  an exhibit  to  the Exchange  Offer Registration
Statement.
 
    The Exchange  Offer  is  being  made pursuant  to  the  Registration  Rights
Agreement  to satisfy the Company's obligations  thereunder. For purposes of the
Exchange Offer, the term  "Eligible Holder" shall mean  the registered owner  of
any  Old Notes that  remain Transfer Restricted Securities,  as reflected on the
records of Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association as registrar for the Old
Notes (in such  capacity, the "Registrar"),  or any person  whose Old Notes  are
held  of record by the depositary of the  Old Notes. The Company is not required
to include  any  securities other  than  the New  Notes  in the  Exchange  Offer
Registration  Statement. Holders of Old Notes who  do not tender their Old Notes
or whose  Old  Notes  are tendered  but  not  accepted would  have  to  rely  on
exemptions to registration requirements under the securities laws, including the
Securities Act, if they wish to sell their Old Notes.
 
    Based  on an  interpretation by  the staff  of the  Commission set  forth in
no-action letters issued to third parties unrelated to the Company, the  Company
believes  that the New Notes  issued pursuant to the  Exchange Offer in exchange
for Old Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by any
holder of such  New Notes (other  than a person  that is an  "affiliate" of  the
Company  or a Guarantor within the meaning  of Rule 405 under the Securities Act
and except  as set  forth in  the next  paragraph) without  compliance with  the
registration  and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided
that such  New  Notes are  acquired  in the  ordinary  course of  such  holder's
business   and  such  holder  is  not  participating  and  does  not  intend  to
participate, and  has  no  arrangement  or  understanding  with  any  person  to
participate, in the distribution of such New Notes.
 
    If  any person were to participate in  the Exchange Offer for the purpose of
distributing  securities  in  a  manner   not  permitted  by  the   Commission's
interpretation (i) the position of the staff of the Commission enunciated in the
aforementioned  interpretive letters  would be  inapplicable to  such person and
(ii) such  person  would  be  required  to  comply  with  the  registration  and
prospectus  delivery requirements of  the Securities Act  in connection with any
resale transaction.  Each broker-dealer  that  receives New  Notes for  its  own
account  in exchange for Old  Notes, where such Old  Notes 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 New Notes. See "Plan of Distribution."
 
    The Exchange  Offer  is not  being  made to,  nor  will the  Company  accept
surrenders  for exchange from, holders of Old Notes in any jurisdiction in which
the Exchange Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the
securities or blue sky laws of  such jurisdiction. Prior to the Exchange  Offer,
however,  the Company will use  its best efforts to  register or qualify the New
Notes for  offer  and  sale under  the  securities  or blue  sky  laws  of  such
jurisdictions  as is necessary to permit  consummation of the Exchange Offer and
do any and all other acts or  things necessary or advisable to enable the  offer
and sale in such jurisdictions of the New Notes.
 
TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
    Upon  the terms and subject  to the conditions set  forth in this Prospectus
and in the accompanying Letter of  Transmittal, the Company will accept any  and
all Old Notes validly tendered prior to 5:00 p.m.,
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
New  York  City time,  on  the Expiration  Date. The  Company  will issue  up to
$170,000,000 aggregate principal  amount of  New Notes  in exchange  for a  like
principal  amount  of  outstanding  Old Notes  which  are  validly  tendered and
accepted in the Exchange Offer. Subject to the conditions of the Exchange  Offer
described  below, the  Company will accept  any and  all Old Notes  which are so
tendered. Holders may  tender some or  all of  their Old Notes  pursuant to  the
Exchange  Offer; however,  the Old  Notes may be  tendered only  in multiples of
$1,000. See "Description of New Notes."
 
    The form  and terms  of the  New  Notes will  be the  same in  all  material
respects  as the form and terms of the Old Notes, except that the New Notes will
be registered  under  the  Securities  Act  and  hence  will  not  bear  legends
restricting the transfer thereof.
 
    Holders  of Old Notes do not have  any appraisal or dissenters' rights under
the General  Corporation  Law of  the  State of  Maryland  or the  Indenture  in
connection  with the Exchange Offer. The Company intends to conduct the Exchange
Offer in accordance with  the provisions of  the Registration Rights  Agreement.
Old  Notes which are not tendered for  exchange or are tendered but not accepted
in the Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and be entitled to the benefits of
the Indenture, but  will not be  entitled to any  registration rights under  the
Registration Rights Agreement.
 
    The  Company shall  be deemed  to have  accepted validly  tendered Old Notes
when, as and  if the Company  has given oral  or written notice  thereof to  the
Exchange  Agent for the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Agent will act as agent for
the tendering  holders for  the purposes  of receiving  the New  Notes from  the
Company.
 
    If  any  tendered Old  Notes are  not  accepted for  exchange because  of an
invalid tender,  the occurrence  of certain  other events  set forth  herein  or
otherwise,  certificates for  any such  unaccepted Old  Notes will  be returned,
without expense,  to the  tendering holder  thereof as  promptly as  practicable
after the Expiration Date.
 
    Eligible  Holders who  tender Old  Notes in the  Exchange Offer  will not be
required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in
the Letter of Transmittal,  transfer taxes with respect  to the exchange of  Old
Notes  pursuant to  the Exchange  Offer. The  Company will  pay all  charges and
expenses, other than  certain applicable  taxes described  below, in  connection
with the Exchange Offer. See "--Fees and Expenses."
 
EXPIRATION DATE; EXTENSION; TERMINATION; AMENDMENTS
 
    The  Exchange  Offer  will expire  at  5:00  p.m., New  York  City  time, on
         , 1996, subject to extension by  the Company by notice to the  Exchange
Agent  as  herein provided.  The Company  reserves  the right  to so  extend the
Exchange Offer at  its discretion,  in which  event the  term "Expiration  Date"
shall  mean the time and  date on which the Exchange  Offer as so extended shall
expire. The Company will notify the Exchange  Agent of any extension by oral  or
written  notice and will make a public  announcement thereof, each prior to 9:00
a.m., New  York  City  time, on  the  next  business day  after  the  previously
scheduled Expiration Date.
 
    The  Company reserves the right (i) to  delay accepting for exchange any Old
Notes for any New  Notes or to  extend or terminate the  Exchange Offer and  not
accept  for exchange any  Old Notes for any  New Notes if any  of the events set
forth below under  the caption  "Conditions of  the Exchange  Offer" shall  have
occurred and shall not have been waived by the Company by giving oral or written
notice  of such delay or termination to the Exchange Agent, or (ii) to amend the
terms of the  Exchange Offer in  any manner.  Any such delay  in acceptance  for
exchange,  extension or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by
public announcement  thereof. If  the  Exchange Offer  is  amended in  a  manner
determined  by the  Company to  constitute a  material change,  the Company will
promptly disclose such amendment in a manner reasonably calculated to inform the
holder of the  New Notes  of such  amendment, and  the Company  will extend  the
Exchange  Offer  for  a  minimum  of  five  business  days,  depending  upon the
significance of the amendment and the manner of disclosure to the holders of the
New Notes,  if  the Exchange  Offer  would  otherwise expire  during  such  five
business-day period. The rights reserved by the Company in this paragraph are in
addition  to the Company's rights set  forth below under the caption "Conditions
of the Exchange Offer."
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
TERMINATION OF CERTAIN RIGHTS
 
    The  Registration  Rights  Agreement  provides  that,  subject  to   certain
exceptions,  in the  event of  a Registration  Default, Eligible  Holders of Old
Notes are entitled to receive Liquidated Damages in an amount equal to 50  basis
points  per annum for each 90 day period or any portion thereof (up to a maximum
of  200  basis  points  per  annum).   For  purposes  of  the  Exchange   Offer,
"Registration  Default" shall occur if (i) the  Company fails to file any of the
Registration Statements  required by  the Registration  Rights Agreement  on  or
before  the date specified for such filing; (ii) any such Registration Statement
is not declared effective by  the Commission on or  prior to the date  specified
for  such effectiveness (the  "Effectiveness Target Date")  or (iii) the Company
fails to  consummate the  Exchange Offer  within 30  days of  the  Effectiveness
Target  Date with respect to the Exchange Offer Registration Statements; or (iv)
the  Shelf  Registration  Statement  (as  defined  in  the  Registration  Rights
Agreement)  or the Exchange  Offer Registration Statement  is declared effective
but thereafter ceases to be effective  or usable in connection with the  resales
of the New Notes.
 
    Holders  of New  Notes will  not be and,  upon consummation  of the Exchange
Offer, Eligible Holders of Old Notes will no longer be entitled to (i) the right
to receive  the  Liquidated Damages  or  (ii)  certain other  rights  under  the
Registration  Rights  Agreement  intended  for  holders  of  Transfer Restricted
Securities. The Exchange Offer shall  be deemed consummated upon the  occurrence
of the delivery by the Company to the Registrar under the Indenture of New Notes
in  the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Old
Notes that are tendered by holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
 
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING
 
    Only Eligible Holders of Old Notes may tender such Old Notes in the Exchange
Offer. To tender in the Exchange Offer, Eligible Holders must complete, sign and
date the Letter  of Transmittal,  or a  facsimile thereof,  have the  signatures
thereon  guaranteed  if  required by  the  Letter  of Transmittal,  and  mail or
otherwise deliver such Letter  of Transmittal or  such facsimile, together  with
the  Old Notes (unless such  tender is being effected  pursuant to the procedure
for book-entry transfer described  below) and any  other required documents,  to
the  Exchange Agent prior  to 5:00 p.m.,  New York City  time, on the Expiration
Date.
 
    Any  financial  institution  that  is  a  participant  in  the  Depositary's
Book-Entry  Transfer Facility  system may  make book-entry  delivery of  the Old
Notes by causing  the Depositary to  transfer such Old  Notes into the  Exchange
Agent's account in accordance with the Depositary's procedure for such transfer.
Although  delivery of Old  Notes may be effected  through book-entry transfer in
the Exchange Agent's account  at the Depositary, the  Letter of Transmittal  (or
facsimile  thereof),  with  any  required  signature  guarantees  and  any other
required documents,  must,  in any  case,  be  transmitted to  and  received  or
confirmed  by the Exchange  Agent at its  addresses set forth  under the caption
"Exchange Agent" below prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration
Date. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO THE DEPOSITARY IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS  PROCEDURES
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.
 
    The  tender by an Eligible Holder of  Old Notes will constitute an agreement
between such holder and the Company in accordance with the terms and subject  to
the conditions set forth herein and in the Letter of Transmittal.
 
    The  method of delivery of  Old Notes and the  Letter of Transmittal and all
other required documents to the  Exchange Agent is at  the election and risk  of
the  Eligible  Holders. Instead  of  delivery by  mail,  it is  recommended that
Eligible Holders  use an  overnight  or hand  delivery  service. In  all  cases,
sufficient  time  should be  allowed to  assure delivery  to the  Exchange Agent
before the Expiration Date. No Letter of Transmittal or Old Notes should be sent
to the Company. Eligible Holders may request their respective brokers,  dealers,
commercial  banks, trust  companies or nominees  to effect the  tenders for such
holders.
 
    Signatures on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case
may be, must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined below)  unless
the  Old Notes tendered pursuant thereto are tendered (i) by a registered holder
who has  not  completed the  box  entitled "Special  Issuance  Instructions"  or
"Special  Delivery Instructions" on  the Letter of Transmittal,  or (ii) for the
account of an Eligible Institution. In the
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
event that signatures on a Letter of  Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal,  as
the  case may  be, are required  to be guaranteed,  such guarantee must  be by a
member of a signature guarantee program within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under
the Exchange Act (an "Eligible Institution").
 
    If the Letter of Transmittal or any  Old Notes or bond powers are signed  by
trustees,  executors, administrators, guardians,  attorneys-in-fact, officers of
corporations or others acting  in a fiduciary  or representative capacity,  such
persons  should  so indicate  when signing,  and unless  waived by  the Company,
evidence satisfactory  to the  Company of  their  authority to  so act  must  be
submitted with the Letter of Transmittal.
 
    All  questions  as to  the validity,  form,  eligibility (including  time of
receipt) and acceptance and withdrawal of tendered Old Notes will be  determined
by  the Company in  its sole discretion,  which determination will  be final and
binding. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject any and all Old Notes
not properly tendered or any Old Notes the Company's acceptance of which  would,
in  the  opinion of  counsel  for the  Company,  be unlawful.  The  Company also
reserves the right to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of  tender
as  to  particular Old  Notes.  The Company's  interpretation  of the  terms and
conditions of the Exchange  Offer (including the instructions  in the Letter  of
Transmittal)  will  be final  and  binding on  all  parties. Unless  waived, any
defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Old Notes must be  cured
within  such times as the Company  shall determine. Although the Company intends
to request the  Exchange Agent to  notify holders of  defects or  irregularities
with  respect to tenders of  Old Notes, neither the  Company, the Exchange Agent
nor any  other  person  shall incur  any  liability  for failure  to  give  such
notification.  Tenders of Old Notes  will not be deemed  to have been made until
such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any Old Notes received
by the Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects
or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the Exchange
Agent to  the tendering  holders, unless  otherwise provided  in the  Letter  of
Transmittal, as soon as practicable following the Expiration Date.
 
    In  addition, the Company reserves the right in its sole discretion (subject
to limitations contained in  the Indenture) (i) to  purchase or make offers  for
any Old Notes that remain outstanding subsequent to the Expiration Date and (ii)
to  the  extent permitted  by applicable  law, purchase  Old Notes  in privately
negotiated transactions or otherwise. The terms of any such purchases or  offers
could differ from the terms of the Exchange Offer.
 
    By tendering, each Eligible Holder will represent to the Company that, among
other  things, the New Notes  acquired pursuant to the  Exchange Offer are being
obtained in the ordinary course of business by persons receiving such New Notes,
whether or not such person  is the holder and  that neither the Eligible  Holder
nor any such other person has an arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate  in the distribution of such New Notes and that neither the Eligible
Holder nor any such other person is an "affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act, of the Company. If  the holder is a broker-dealer that  will
receive  New  Notes for  its own  account in  exchange for  Old Notes  that were
acquired as a result  of market-making activities  or other trading  activities,
such  holder by tendering will acknowledge that  it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Notes.
 
GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES
 
    Eligible Holders who wish to tender their Old Notes and (i) whose Old  Notes
are  not immediately available, or  (ii) who cannot deliver  their Old Notes and
other required documents to the Exchange Agent or cannot complete the  procedure
for book-entry transfer prior to the Expiration Date, may effect a tender if:
 
       (a) the tender is made through an Eligible Institution;
 
       (b) prior  to the Expiration Date, the  Exchange Agent receives from such
           Eligible Institution a properly completed and duly executed Notice of
    Guaranteed Delivery  (by  facsimile  transmission, mail  or  hand  delivery)
    setting  forth the name and address  of the Eligible Holder, the certificate
    number(s) of such Old Notes (if  available) and the principal amount of  Old
    Notes  tendered together  with a duly  executed Letter of  Transmittal (or a
    facsimile thereof),  stating  that the  tender  is being  made  thereby  and
    guaranteeing that, within three business days after the Expiration Date, the
    certificate(s) representing
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
    the  Old Notes to be tendered in proper form for transfer (or a confirmation
    of a book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent's account at the Depositary
    of Old Notes delivered electronically)  and any other documents required  by
    the Letter of Transmittal will be deposited by the Eligible Institution with
    the Exchange Agent; and
 
       (c) such  certificate(s) representing  all tendered  Old Notes  in proper
           form for transfer (or confirmation of a book-entry transfer into  the
    Exchange   Agent's  account  at  the   Depositary  of  Old  Notes  delivered
    electronically)  and  all  other  documents   required  by  the  Letter   of
    Transmittal  are received by  the Exchange Agent  within three business days
    after the Expiration Date.
 
    Upon request to the Exchange Agent, a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery will  be
sent  to Eligible Holders  who wish to  tender their Old  Notes according to the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth above.
 
WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERS
 
    Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders  of Old Notes may be  withdrawn
at  any time  prior to 5:00  p.m., New York  City time, on  the Expiration Date,
unless previously accepted for exchange.
 
    To withdraw  a tender  of Old  Notes in  the Exchange  Offer, a  written  or
facsimile  transmission notice  of withdrawal must  be received  by the Exchange
Agent at its address set forth herein prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
the Expiration  Date,  and prior  to  acceptance  for exchange  thereof  by  the
Company.  Any such notice of withdrawal must  (i) specify the name of the person
having deposited the Old Notes to be withdrawn (the "Depositor"), (ii)  identify
the  Old Notes to be withdrawn (including  the certificate number or numbers and
principal amount of such  Old Notes), (iii)  be signed by  the Depositor in  the
same manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which such
Old  Notes were  tendered (including  any required  signature guarantees)  or be
accompanied by documents of transfer sufficient to have the Trustee with respect
to the Old Notes register  the transfer of such Old  Notes into the name of  the
person  withdrawing the tender, and (iv) specify  the name in which any such Old
Notes are  to  be registered,  if  different from  that  of the  Depositor.  All
questions  as to the validity, form  and eligibility (including time of receipt)
of such  withdrawal  notices will  be  determined by  the  Company in  its  sole
discretion,  whose determination shall be final  and binding on all parties. Any
Old Notes so  withdrawn will be  deemed not  to have been  validly tendered  for
purposes  of the Exchange  Offer, and no  New Notes will  be issued with respect
thereto unless the Old Notes so withdrawn are validly re-tendered. Any Old Notes
which have been tendered but  which are not accepted  for exchange or which  are
withdrawn  will be returned to the holder thereof without cost to such holder as
soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of  the
Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn Old Notes may be re-tendered by following one
of   the  procedures  described  above   under  "Procedures  for  Tendering"  or
"Guaranteed Delivery Procedures" at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
 
CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
    In addition, and notwithstanding any other  term of the Exchange Offer,  the
Company  will not be required  to accept for exchange any  Old Notes for any New
Notes tendered and may terminate or amend the Exchange Offer as provided  herein
before  the acceptance  of such  Old Notes, if  any of  the following conditions
exist:
 
       (a) any action or proceeding is instituted or threatened in any court  or
           by  or before  any governmental  agency or  regulatory authority with
    respect to the Exchange  Offer which, in the  sole judgment of the  Company,
    might  materially  impair the  ability of  the Company  to proceed  with the
    Exchange Offer  or  have  a  material adverse  effect  on  the  contemplated
    benefits of the Exchange Offer to the Company; or
 
       (b) there  shall have occurred any change, or any development involving a
           prospective change,  in  the business  or  financial affairs  of  the
    Company  or  any of  its subsidiaries,  which  in the  sole judgment  of the
    Company, might materially impair the ability of the Company to proceed  with
    the  Exchange Offer  or materially impair  the contemplated  benefits of the
    Exchange Offer to the Company; or
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
       (c) there shall have been proposed, adopted or enacted any law,  statute,
           rule  or regulation which, in the sole judgment of the Company, might
    materially impair the ability  of the Company to  proceed with the  Exchange
    Offer  or have a material adverse effect on the contemplated benefits of the
    Exchange Offer to the Company; or
 
       (d) there shall have occurred (i)  any general suspension of,  shortening
           of  hours for, or limitation on  prices for, trading in securities on
    the New York Stock Exchange (whether  or not mandatory), (ii) a  declaration
    of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks by
    Federal   or  state  authorities  in  the  United  States  (whether  or  not
    mandatory), (iii)  a  commencement of  a  war, armed  hostilities  or  other
    international or national crisis directly or indirectly involving the United
    States,  (iv) any limitation (whether or  not mandatory) by any governmental
    authority on, or other  event having a  reasonable likelihood of  affecting,
    the extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions in the United
    States,  or (v) in the case of any  of the foregoing existing at the time of
    the commencement of the Exchange Offer, a material acceleration or worsening
    thereof.
 
    The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of the Company and may  be
asserted  by the  Company regardless  of the  circumstances giving  rise to such
conditions or may be waived by the Company  in whole or in part at any time  and
from  time to time in  its sole discretion. If the  Company waives or amends the
foregoing conditions, the Company  will, if required  by applicable law,  extend
the  Exchange Offer for a  minimum of five business days  from the date that the
Company first gives notice, by public announcement or otherwise, of such  waiver
or  amendment, if  the Exchange  Offer would  otherwise expire  within such five
business-day period.  Any determination  by the  Company concerning  the  events
described above will be final and binding upon all parties.
 
FEES AND EXPENSES
 
    The  expenses of soliciting  tenders pursuant to the  Exchange Offer will be
borne by the  Company. The principal  solicitation for tenders  pursuant to  the
Exchange  Offer is being  made by mail; however,  additional solicitation may be
made by telecopy, telephone  or in person by  officers and regular employees  of
the Company and its affiliates.
 
    The  Company  has not  retained any  dealer-manager  in connection  with the
Exchange Offer and  will not  make any payments  to brokers,  dealers or  others
soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer. The Company, however, will pay the
Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse
it  for  its  reasonable  out-of-pocket expenses  in  connection  therewith. The
Company may  also  pay  brokerage  houses and  other  custodians,  nominees  and
fiduciaries the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in forwarding
copies  of this Prospectus, Letters of  Transmittal and related documents to the
beneficial owners of  the Old Notes  and in handling  or forwarding tenders  for
exchange.  The Company will pay the other  expenses to be incurred in connection
with the Exchange Offer, including fees and expenses of the Trustee,  accounting
and legal fees and printing costs.
 
    The  Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange
of  Old  Notes  pursuant  to  the  Exchange  Offer.  If,  however,  certificates
representing  New  Notes or  Old  Notes for  principal  amounts not  tendered or
accepted for exchange are to  be delivered to, or are  to be issued in the  name
of, any person other than the registered holder of the Old Notes tendered, or if
tendered  Old Notes  are registered  in the  name of  any person  other than the
person signing the Letter of  Transmittal, or if a  transfer tax is imposed  for
any  reason other than the exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer,
then the amount of  any such transfer taxes  (whether imposed on the  registered
holder  or  any other  persons)  will be  payable  by the  tendering  holder. If
satisfactory evidence of  payment of such  taxes or exemption  therefrom is  not
submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will
be billed directly to such tendering holder.
 
CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE OLD NOTES
 
    Generally,  Eligible Holders (other than any holder who is an "affiliate" of
the Company  within  the meaning  of  Rule 405  under  the Securities  Act)  who
exchange  their Old Notes for New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may offer
such New Notes for  resale, resell such New  Notes, and otherwise transfer  such
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
New  Notes  without compliance  with  the registration  and  prospectus delivery
provisions of the Securities  Act, provided such New  Notes are acquired in  the
ordinary  course of the holders' business,  and such holders have no arrangement
with any  person  to participate  in  a distribution  of  such New  Notes.  Each
broker-dealer  that receives New Notes  for its own account  in exchange for Old
Notes, where such Old Notes 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 New Notes.  See
"Plan   of  Distribution."  To  comply  with  the  securities  laws  of  certain
jurisdictions, it may be necessary to qualify for sale or register the New Notes
prior to offering or  selling such New Notes.  Upon request by Eligible  Holders
prior  to the Exchange Offer, the Company will register or qualify the New Notes
in certain jurisdictions subject  to the conditions  in the Registration  Rights
Agreement.  If an Eligible Holder does not exchange such Old Notes for New Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer,  such Old Notes will  continue to be subject  to
the  restrictions on transfer contained in the  legend thereon and will not have
the benefit of any covenant regarding registration under the Securities Act.  In
general,  the Old Notes may not be  offered or sold, unless registered under the
Securities Act, except pursuant  to an exemption from,  or in a transaction  not
subject  to, the  Securities Act  and applicable  state securities  laws. To the
extent that  Old  Notes are  tendered  and accepted  in  the Exchange  Offer,  a
holder's ability to sell untendered Old Notes could be adversely affected.
 
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
    The  New Notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the Old Notes,
as reflected in the  Company's accounting records on  the date of the  exchange.
Accordingly,  no gain or loss for accounting  purposes will be recognized by the
Company upon  the  consummation of  the  Exchange  Offer. The  expenses  of  the
Exchange  Offer will be amortized by the Company  over the term of the New Notes
under generally accepted accounting principles.
 
EXCHANGE AGENT
 
    Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association has been appointed as  Exchange
Agent for the Exchange Offer. All correspondence in connection with the Exchange
Offer  and the Letter of Transmittal should  be addressed to the Exchange Agent,
as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                            <C>                            <C>
BY HAND OR OVERNIGHT COURIER:            BY MAIL:                      IN PERSON:
                                 (registered or certified
                                       recommended)
   Norwest Bank Minnesota,        Norwest Bank Minnesota,         Northstar East Bldg.
    National Association           National Association             608 2nd Avenue S.
 Corporate Trust Operations     Corporate Trust Operations             12th Floor
       Norwest Center                  P.O. Box 1517              Corporate Trust Ser.
     Sixth and Marquette        Minneapolis, MN 55480-1517           Minneapolis, MN
 Minneapolis, MN 55479-0113
</TABLE>
 
               FACSIMILE NUMBER (FOR ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS ONLY)
                                 (612) 667-4927
                           CONFIRM RECEIPT OF NOTICE
                             OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
                                 BY TELEPHONE:
                                 (612) 667-9764
 
    Requests  for  additional  copies  of  this  Prospectus  or  the  Letter  of
Transmittal should be directed to the Exchange Agent.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
                                THE ACQUISITION
 
    On May 30, 1996 (the "Closing Date"), the Company acquired substantially all
of  the assets of St. Joe Container, and the Mill Joint Venture, a joint venture
between the  Company and  Stone  Container, acquired  a  500,000 tons  per  year
linerboard mill from St. Joe Forest. In 1995, St. Joe Container sold 6.5 billion
square  feet of corrugated  packaging materials and  generated $326.7 million in
net sales  and $11.5  million in  EBITDA. The  purchase price  for the  St.  Joe
Container  facilities was $87.8 million for the fixed assets, plus approximately
$69.7 million for working capital, for a total purchase price of $157.5 million,
subject to adjustment  for changes in  working capital and  certain other  items
subsequent  to June 30, 1995. The purchase price for the St. Joe Mill was $185.0
million for  the fixed  assets,  plus approximately  $17.4 million  for  working
capital, for a total purchase price of $202.4 million, subject to adjustment for
changes  in working capital and certain other items subsequent to June 30, 1995.
The Company acquired a 50.0% equity interest in the Mill Joint Venture for  $5.0
million.
 
    The Acquisition Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and
covenants.  The Company,  on the  one hand,  and St.  Joe Container  and St. Joe
Paper, on  the  other hand,  also  agreed to  indemnify  one another  and  their
respective  affiliates for breaches of  representations and warranties contained
in the Acquisition Agreement, PROVIDED  that claims with respect thereto  (other
than  environmental claims)  are asserted  on or  before September  30, 1997. In
addition, pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, St. Joe  Container
and  St.  Joe Paper,  agreed  to indemnify  and  reimburse the  Company  and its
affiliates for all losses arising from  breaches of covenants and agreements  in
the  Acquisition Agreement, all retained liabilities, liens other than permitted
liens and certain other  matters as specified in  the Acquisition Agreement.  In
turn,  the Company agreed to  indemnify and reimburse St.  Joe Container and its
affiliates for all losses arising from  breaches of covenants and agreements  of
the  Company in the  Acquisition Agreement, all  assumed liabilities and certain
other matters as  specified in the  Acquisition Agreement. There  are no  dollar
limitations as to the foregoing indemnification obligations.
 
    The  Paper Indemnitors (as  defined in the  Acquisition Agreement) agreed to
indemnify the Company and the Mill  Joint Venture, to the extent permissible  by
law,  for on-site environmental claims arising from the operation of the St. Joe
Container facilities  and the  St. Joe  Mill prior  to the  consummation of  the
Acquisition  up to  a maximum  of $10.0  million of  the first  $17.5 million of
costs, subject to certain exceptions and  limitations. The Company and the  Mill
Joint  Venture will be required to fund  $7.5 million of the first $17.5 million
of any  such costs,  and  any costs  in  excess of  $17.5  million will  not  be
indemnified  by the Paper Indemnitors. The  obligations of the Paper Indemnitors
with respect to on-site  environmental liabilities will  terminate in the  event
the  Company or the Mill  Joint Venture is subject to  a "change of control" (as
defined  in  the   Acquisition  Agreement).  Pursuant   to  an   Indemnification
Reimbursement  Agreement between  the Company  and the  Mill Joint  Venture (the
"Indemnification Reimbursement Agreement"), the benefit of indemnification  from
the  Paper Indemnitors  with respect to  such environmental  liabilities will be
allocated 80.0% to the  Mill Joint Venture  and 20.0% to  the Company, with  the
Company  or the Mill Joint Venture being obligated, under certain circumstances,
to reimburse each  other in the  event either recovers  more than its  allocated
percentage share. See "Business--Environmental Matters."
 
    On  the Closing Date, the Company entered into certain agreements with Stone
Container and the Mill Joint Venture. Pursuant to an Output Purchase  Agreement,
Stone  Container and the Company will each  purchase from the Mill Joint Venture
one-half of  the  St.  Joe  Mill's  entire  linerboard  production,  which  will
represent  approximately  one-third of  the Company's  total requirements,  at a
price that is $25 per  ton below the price of  such product published in PULP  &
PAPER  WEEK  under the  section entitled  "Price  Watch: Paper  and Paperboard,"
subject to a minimum purchase price, which minimum purchase price is intended to
generate sufficient funds to cover  cash operating costs, cash interest  expense
and  maintenance capital expenditures. The Mill  Joint Venture must also use its
best efforts to operate the St. Joe Mill at a production rate not less than  the
average capacity utilization rate of domestic linerboard producers.
 
    Pursuant  to  the  Subordinated  Credit  Facility,  the  Company  and  Stone
Container each will provide the Mill Joint  Venture with up to $10.0 million  of
subordinated  indebtedness, if needed,  on a revolving  credit basis for general
corporate purposes.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
    The following  table  sets  forth the  consolidated  capitalization  of  the
Company  as of April 30, 1996 on an  actual basis and as adjusted to give effect
to the Acquisition  and the financings  therefor. This table  should be read  in
conjunction  with the  other financial  information appearing  elsewhere in this
Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               ACTUAL    ADJUSTMENTS  AS ADJUSTED
                                                                              ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                                    (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<S>                                                                           <C>        <C>          <C>
Current maturities of long-term debt........................................  $   4,158   $   (1,151)  $   3,007
                                                                              ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                              ---------  -----------  -----------
 
Long-term debt:
  Credit Facility (1).......................................................  $      --   $   27,587   $  27,587
  Notes.....................................................................         --      170,000     170,000
  Existing indebtedness.....................................................     33,279      (23,068)     10,211
                                                                              ---------  -----------  -----------
    Total long-term debt....................................................     33,279      174,519     207,798
                                                                              ---------  -----------  -----------
 
Stockholder's equity:
  Common stock, $0.125 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 7,229,770
   shares issued and 6,815,867 shares outstanding...........................        904           --         904
  Additional paid-in capital................................................        117          600(2)        717
  Retained earnings.........................................................     13,334                   13,334
  Treasury stock............................................................       (962)          --        (962)
                                                                              ---------  -----------  -----------
    Total stockholder's equity..............................................     13,393          600      13,993
                                                                              ---------  -----------  -----------
      Total capitalization..................................................  $  46,672   $  175,119   $ 221,791
                                                                              ---------  -----------  -----------
                                                                              ---------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) The Credit Facility will provide up  to $80.0 million on a revolving  basis,
    subject to borrowing base limitations. See "Description of Credit Facility."
 
(2) For  the purpose of this presentation, the Company valued warrants that were
    issued to the Initial Purchaser in  connection with the Acquisition at  $0.6
    million.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
                       SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The  following selected historical financial data have been derived from the
consolidated financial statements of  the Company. The data  as of and for  each
fiscal  year in the three-year  period ended July 31,  1993 are derived from the
consolidated financial statements of  the Company audited  by KPMG Peat  Marwick
LLP,  independent certified public accountants, whose report with respect to the
fiscal year ended July  31, 1993 is included  elsewhere in this Prospectus.  The
data  as of and  for the fiscal years  ended July 31, 1994  and 1995 are derived
from the  consolidated  financial  statements  of the  Company  audited  by  BDO
Seidman,  LLP, independent certified public accountants, whose report thereon is
included elsewhere in this Prospectus.  The data as of  and for the nine  months
ended  April 30, 1995  and 1996 and the  twelve months ended  April 30, 1996 are
derived from the Company's  unaudited consolidated financial statements,  which,
in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting of only normal
recurring  adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the information set
forth therein. The  results of operations  for the nine  months ended April  30,
1996  are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the
full year. The following data should  be read in conjunction with the  Company's
consolidated  financial statements  and related  notes, "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial  Condition and Results of  Operations," and the  other
financial information included elsewhere herein.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                                                   TWELVE
                                                FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31,                     APRIL 30,        MONTHS ENDED
                                   -----------------------------------------------------  --------------------    APRIL 30,
                                     1991       1992       1993       1994       1995       1995       1996         1996
                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------
                                                                     (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net sales........................  $ 189,661  $ 203,179  $ 214,936  $ 228,563  $ 271,994  $ 213,723  $ 164,736    $ 223,007
Cost of goods sold...............    166,812    178,189    192,208    205,025    232,154    181,870    141,973      192,257
                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------
Gross profit.....................     22,849     24,990     22,728     23,538     39,840     31,853     22,763       30,750
Selling, general and
 administrative expenses.........     20,379     23,663     21,813     22,018     19,703     15,810     11,664       15,557
                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------
Income from operations...........      2,470      1,327        915      1,520     20,137     16,043     11,099       15,193
Other income.....................        755      5,917      3,651        126      1,927      1,761         --          166
Interest expense.................      6,431      5,903      4,948      5,448      5,607      4,672      2,697        3,632
                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------
Income (loss) before provision
 (benefit) for income taxes,
 minority interest and
 extraordinary gain on early
 retirement of debt..............     (3,206)     1,341       (382)    (3,802)    16,457     13,132      8,402       11,727
Minority interest................        274         94         --       (180)      (146)        --         --         (146)
Provision (benefit) for income
 taxes...........................       (655)       832        453       (325)     5,483      4,350      3,658        4,791
Extraordinary gain on early
 retirement of debt..............         --        321         --        381      2,219      2,219         --           --
                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------
Net income (loss)................  $  (2,277) $     924  $    (835) $  (3,276) $  13,047  $  11,001  $   4,744    $   6,790
                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------
                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
EBITDA (1).......................  $   7,675  $   6,664  $   6,209  $   6,796  $  25,382  $  20,033  $  13,951    $  19,300
Ratio of earnings to fixed
 charges (2).....................       0.7x       1.1x       1.0x       0.5x       3.3x       3.3x       3.2x         3.3x
Depreciation and amortization....  $   5,205  $   5,337  $   5,294  $   5,276  $   5,245  $   3,990  $   2,852    $   4,107
Capital expenditures.............      2,064      2,862      3,935      3,916      3,690      2,950      4,281        5,021
Adjusted net sales (3)...........    126,580    139,116    153,857    155,869    212,562    158,380    154,919      209,101
Adjusted EBITDA (3)..............      3,283      3,110      2,196      3,926     24,210     20,715     16,884       20,379
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                    AS OF
                                                                         AS OF JULY 31,                           APRIL 30,
                                                      -----------------------------------------------------  --------------------
                                                        1991       1992       1993       1994       1995       1995       1996
                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital.....................................  $   4,984  $  11,573  $  10,413  $   8,903  $  14,504  $   7,853  $  12,925
Property, plant and equipment, net..................     40,148     37,636     36,052     36,536     27,044     27,183     34,977
Total assets........................................     91,444     85,744     79,716     93,933     73,137     77,113     77,254
Total long-term debt................................     41,646     44,285     40,993     44,105     30,998     29,199     33,279
Stockholder's equity................................      4,465      5,389      4,554      1,278      8,649      5,798     13,393
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
(1)  EBITDA represents income from operations before interest expense, provision
     (benefit)  for income  taxes and  depreciation and  amortization. EBITDA is
     generally accepted as providing  information regarding a company's  ability
     to  service and/or incur debt. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation
     or as a  substitute for net  income, cash flows  from operations, or  other
     consolidated income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with generally
     accepted accounting principles or as a measure of a company's profitability
     or liquidity.
 
(2)  For  purposes  of  calculating  the ratio  of  earnings  to  fixed charges,
     earnings consist of earnings (loss)  before provision (benefit) for  income
     taxes, minority interest and extraordinary gain on early retirement of debt
     plus fixed charges, and fixed charges consist of interest expense plus that
     portion of rental payments on operating leases deemed representative of the
     interest factor.
 
(3)  Adjusted to exclude the results of Fonda and Flint.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
             UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The  following unaudited pro  forma combined condensed  financial data as of
April 30, 1996  and for the  fiscal year ended  July 31, 1995  and the nine  and
twelve  months ended April  30, 1996 (the "Pro  Forma Financial Statements") are
derived from the  Company's consolidated  financial statements as  of April  30,
1996  and for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1995 and the nine and twelve months
ended April 30, 1996  and the financial  statements of St.  Joe Container as  of
March  31, 1996 and for the  twelve months ended June 30,  1995 and the nine and
twelve months ended  March 31,  1996. The  Pro Forma  Financial Statements  give
effect  to the Acquisition and the closing of Flint, as if such transactions had
occurred on April 30, 1996, in the case of the balance sheet data, on August  1,
1994 in the case of the statement of operations data for the twelve months ended
July  31, 1995, and the nine months ended April  30, 1996, and on May 1, 1995 in
the case of the statement of operations  data for the twelve months ended  April
30, 1996. In addition, the pro forma statement of operations data for the twelve
months  ended  July  31, 1995,  reflect  the  disposition of  Fonda  as  if such
disposition had occurred on August 1,  1994. The Pro Forma Financial  Statements
do  not  give  effect to  the  disposition of  three  individually insignificant
converting facilities. See  Note (a)  of the Notes  to the  Unaudited Pro  Forma
Combined  Condensed Financial  Data. The  pro forma  adjustments are  based upon
available information  and certain  assumptions that  the Company  believes  are
reasonable.  The Pro Forma Financial Statements do not purport to represent what
the Company's results of  operations or financial  position would actually  have
been had the Acquisition in fact occurred on such dates or to project results of
operations  for  or  at any  future  period  or date.  The  Pro  Forma Financial
Statements should be  read in conjunction  with "Capitalization,"  "Management's
Discussion  and Analysis of  Financial Condition and  Results of Operations" and
the financial statements  of the  Company and St.  Joe Container  and the  notes
thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
    The  Acquisition  has  been  accounted  for  under  the  purchase  method of
accounting. The total purchase  price for the Acquisition  was allocated to  the
assets  and liabilities  acquired based upon  their relative fair  values at the
closing date, based upon valuation and other studies which are not yet complete.
The allocation of  the purchase price  reflected herein is  subject to  revision
when  additional information from  the valuations and  studies become available.
The Company does not expect that the effects of the final allocation will differ
materially from those set forth herein.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
              UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                        AS OF
                                                       AS OF           AS OF                          APRIL 30,
                                                     APRIL 30,     MARCH 31, 1996                       1996
                                                       1996           ST. JOE                         PRO FORMA
                                                      FOUR M         CONTAINER       ADJUSTMENTS      COMBINED
                                                   -------------  ----------------  --------------  -------------
<S>                                                <C>            <C>               <C>             <C>
ASSETS:
  Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents....................    $   1,949       $      871     $     (871)(a)   $     1,949
    Accounts receivable, net.....................       21,997           28,837             --            50,834
    Inventories..................................       11,019           30,128         21,824(b)         62,971
    Other current assets.........................        3,285              687           (687)(a)         3,285
                                                   -------------        -------     --------------  -------------
        Total current assets.....................       38,250           60,523         20,266           119,039
  Property, plant and equipment, net.............       34,977           35,298         57,391(b)        127,666
  Goodwill and other intangibles, net............          987               --             --               987
  Other assets...................................        3,040              128           (128)(a)        11,840
                                                                                         8,800(b)
  Long-term investment...........................           --            3,113          2,137(b)          5,250
  Investment in Mill Joint Venture...............           --               --          5,000(b)          5,000
                                                   -------------        -------     --------------  -------------
                                                     $  77,254       $   99,062     $   93,466       $   269,782
                                                   -------------        -------     --------------  -------------
                                                   -------------        -------     --------------  -------------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY:
  Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities.....    $  21,167       $    9,748     $   (1,659)(a)   $    32,227
                                                                                         2,971(c)
    Current maturities of long-term debt.........        4,158               --         (1,151)(c)         3,007
                                                   -------------        -------     --------------  -------------
        Total current liabilities................       25,325            9,748            161            35,234
  Long-term debt less current maturities:
    Credit Facility..............................           --               --         27,587(c)         27,587
    Notes........................................           --               --        170,000(c)        170,000
    Existing indebtedness........................       33,279               --        (23,068)(c)        10,211
  Deferred income taxes..........................        4,410            4,234         (4,234)(a)         4,410
  Other liabilities..............................          847            1,939         (1,939)(a)         8,347
                                                                                         7,500(b)
                                                   -------------        -------     --------------  -------------
        Total liabilities........................       63,861           15,921        176,007           255,789
                                                   -------------        -------     --------------  -------------
  Stockholder's equity:
    Common stock.................................          904               --             --               904
    Additional paid-in capital...................          117               --            600(c)            717
    Equity in net assets.........................           --           81,318        (81,318)               --
    Net unrealized gain on marketable equity
     securities..................................           --            1,823         (1,823)(a)            --
    Retained earnings............................       13,334               --             --            13,334
    Treasury stock...............................         (962)              --             --              (962)
                                                   -------------        -------     --------------  -------------
        Total stockholder's equity...............       13,393           83,141        (82,541)           13,993
                                                   -------------        -------     --------------  -------------
                                                     $  77,254       $   99,062     $   93,466       $   269,782
                                                   -------------        -------     --------------  -------------
                                                   -------------        -------     --------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
See accompanying notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Balance Sheet.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
         NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
 
(a) Reflects the elimination of assets and liabilities of St. Joe Container that
    were retained  by  St. Joe  Container  and  therefore are  excluded  in  the
    Acquisition as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              (DOLLARS IN
                                                                                              THOUSANDS)
                                                                                              -----------
<S>                                                                                           <C>
Cash and cash equivalents...................................................................   $     871
Other current assets........................................................................         687
Other assets................................................................................         128
Accrued liabilities.........................................................................      (1,659)
Deferred taxes..............................................................................      (4,234)
Non-current workers compensation reserves...................................................      (1,939)
Net unrealized gain on marketable equity securities.........................................      (1,823)
                                                                                              -----------
    Net liabilities excluded................................................................     $(7,969)
                                                                                              -----------
                                                                                              -----------
</TABLE>
 
(b) The  Acquisition  was  accounted  for  as  a  purchase  in  accordance  with
    Accounting  Principles  Board  Opinion  No.  16,  "Business   Combinations,"
    pursuant  to which  the purchase  price has  been allocated  to the acquired
    assets and  liabilities based  upon their  relative fair  values as  of  the
    Closing Date.
 
    The  following table sets forth the  Company's preliminary allocation of the
    purchase price of the Acquisition:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        ASSETS    CARRYING
                                                                       ACQUIRED     VALUE    ADJUSTMENT
                                                                      ----------  ---------  -----------
                                                                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                   <C>         <C>        <C>
Accounts receivable, net............................................  $   28,837  $  28,837   $      --
Inventories, net....................................................      30,128     30,128          --
Reversal of LIFO reserve............................................      21,824         --      21,824
Property plant and equipment, net...................................      92,689     35,298      57,391
Long-term investment................................................       5,250      3,113       2,137
Deferred financing costs............................................       8,800         --       8,800
Investment in Mill Joint Venture....................................       5,000         --       5,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities............................      (8,089)    (8,089)         --
Acquisition related provisions......................................      (7,500)        --      (7,500)
                                                                      ----------  ---------  -----------
                                                                        $176,939    $89,287     $87,652
                                                                      ----------  ---------  -----------
                                                                      ----------  ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
(c) Reflects the financing of the Acquisition as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                                  ----------------------
<S>                                                                               <C>         <C>
Notes...........................................................................              $  170,000
Credit Facility.................................................................                  27,587
Refinancing of existing indebtedness -- current.................................  $   (1,151)
Refinancing of existing indebtedness -- noncurrent..............................     (23,068)    (24,219)
                                                                                  ----------
Warrants issued to the Initial Purchaser........................................                     600
Additional consideration based on working capital at March 31, 1996 (1).........                   2,971
                                                                                              ----------
                                                                                              $  176,939
                                                                                              ----------
                                                                                              ----------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
(1)  The Acquisition Agreement contemplated a post-closing adjustment to  adjust
     for  actual working  capital acquired at  Closing. The  Unaudited Pro Forma
     Combined Condensed  Balance  Sheet  reflects  the  acquisition  of  working
     capital  at  March 31,  1996, which  results in  an assumed  purchase price
     adjustment of $3.0 million which is reflected as a current liability in the
     Unaudited Pro Forma  Combined Condensed  Balance Sheet. Within  45 days  of
     Closing,  St. Joe  Container will  deliver to  the Company  its preliminary
     balance sheet as of May 30, 1996.
 
(2)  For the purpose of this presentation, the Company has valued warrants  that
     were  issued to the Initial Purchaser in connection with the Acquisition at
     $0.6 million.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
             UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED FINANCIAL DATA
                    FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1995
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                ADJUSTMENTS FOR
                                                                  ST. JOE          DISPOSED      ACQUISITION   PRO FORMA
                                                    FOUR M       CONTAINER       OPERATIONS(A)   ADJUSTMENTS   COMBINED
                                                  ----------  ----------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                               <C>         <C>               <C>              <C>          <C>
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Net sales.....................................  $  271,994    $    322,118      $   (59,432)    $      --    $ 534,680
  Cost of goods sold............................     232,154         291,370          (51,921)      (29,271)(b)    442,332
                                                  ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
  Gross profit..................................      39,840          30,748           (7,511)       29,271       92,348
  Selling, general and administrative
   expenses.....................................      19,703          23,458           (7,323)        1,009(c)     36,847
                                                  ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
  Income from operations........................      20,137           7,290             (188)       28,262       55,501
  Other income..................................       1,927           2,071              176            --        4,174
  Interest expense..............................       5,607             539           (1,308)       19,680(d)     24,518
                                                  ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
  Income before provision for income taxes,
   minority interest and extraordinary gain on
   early retirement of debt.....................      16,457           8,822            1,296         8,582       35,157
  Minority interest.............................        (146)             --               --            --         (146)
  Provision for income taxes....................       5,483           3,127              437         3,433(e)     12,480
                                                  ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
  Net income before extraordinary gain on early
   retirement of debt...........................  $   10,828    $      5,695      $       859     $   5,149    $  22,531
                                                  ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
                                                  ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
 
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
  EBITDA........................................  $   25,382    $     15,177      $    (1,172)    $  28,962    $  68,349
  Ratio of EBITDA to interest expense...........          --              --               --            --         2.9x(f)
  Ratio of earnings to fixed charges............          --              --               --            --         2.3x(g)
  Depreciation and amortization.................  $    5,245    $      7,887      $      (984)    $     700    $  12,848
  Capital expenditures..........................       3,690           4,603             (239)           --        8,054
 
OPERATING DATA:
  Corrugated Converting Operations:
    Million square feet sold....................       3,794           7,201             (241)           --       10,754
    Average production per day (tons)...........       1,133           1,969              (92)           --        3,010
    Plants at period end........................          13              16               (1)           --           28
 
  Ft. Madison Mill Operations:
    Tons sold...................................      75,872              --               --            --       75,872
    Average production per day (tons)...........         217              --               --            --          217
</TABLE>
 
See accompanying notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Financial Data.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
             UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED FINANCIAL DATA
                    FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 1996
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       ADJUSTMENTS
                                                                           FOR
                                                        ST. JOE         DISPOSED       ACQUISITION     PRO FORMA
                                          FOUR M       CONTAINER      OPERATIONS(A)    ADJUSTMENTS     COMBINED
                                        ----------  ----------------  -------------  ---------------  -----------
<S>                                     <C>         <C>               <C>            <C>              <C>
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Net sales...........................  $  164,736    $    228,983      $  (9,817)     $        --     $ 383,902
  Cost of goods sold..................     141,973         218,759        (11,841)         (12,311)(b)    336,580
                                        ----------        --------    -------------  ---------------  -----------
  Gross profit........................      22,763          10,224          2,024           12,311        47,322
  Selling, general and administrative
   expenses...........................      11,664          18,020           (891)             757(c)     29,550
                                        ----------        --------    -------------  ---------------  -----------
  Income from operations..............      11,099          (7,796)         2,915           11,554        17,772
  Other income (expense)..............          --             (64)            (4)              --           (68)
  Interest expense....................       2,697              84           (155)          15,762(d)     18,388
                                        ----------        --------    -------------  ---------------  -----------
  Income (loss) before provision
   (benefit) for income taxes and
   extraordinary gain on early
   retirement of debt.................       8,402          (7,944)         3,066           (4,208)         (684)
  Provision (benefit) for income
   taxes..............................       3,658          (2,815)         1,334           (1,683)(e)        494
                                        ----------        --------    -------------  ---------------  -----------
  Net income (loss) before
   extraordinary gain on early
   retirement of debt.................  $    4,744    $     (5,129)     $   1,732      $    (2,525)    $  (1,178)
                                        ----------        --------    -------------  ---------------  -----------
                                        ----------        --------    -------------  ---------------  -----------
 
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
  EBITDA..............................  $   13,951    $     (1,978)     $   2,779      $    12,079     $  26,831
  Ratio of EBITDA to interest
   expense............................                          --             --               --          1.5x(f)
  Ratio of earnings to fixed
   charges............................          --              --             --               --          1.0x(g)
  Depreciation and amortization.......  $    2,852    $      5,818      $    (136)     $       525     $   9,059
  Capital expenditures................       4,281             456            (78)              --         4,659
 
OPERATING DATA:
  Corrugated Converting Operations:
    Million square feet sold..........       2,629           4,607           (120)              --         7,116
    Average production per day
     (tons)...........................         967           1,759            (64)              --         2,662
    Plants at period end..............          12              16             (1)              --            27
 
  Ft. Madison Mill Operations:
    Tons sold.........................      58,982              --             --               --        58,982
    Average production per day
     (tons)...........................         214              --             --               --           214
</TABLE>
 
See accompanying notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Financial Data.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
             UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED FINANCIAL DATA
                   FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 1996
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        ADJUSTMENTS FOR
                                                          ST. JOE          DISPOSED      ACQUISITION   PRO FORMA
                                            FOUR M       CONTAINER       OPERATIONS(A)   ADJUSTMENTS   COMBINED
                                          ----------  ----------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                       <C>         <C>               <C>              <C>          <C>
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Net sales.............................  $  223,007    $    315,506      $   (13,906)    $      --    $ 524,607
  Cost of goods sold....................     192,257         293,808          (14,536)      (19,350)(b)    452,179
                                          ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
  Gross profit..........................      30,750          21,698              630        19,350       72,428
  Selling, general and administrative
   expenses.............................      15,557          23,578           (1,281)        1,009(c)     38,863
                                          ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
  Income from operations................      15,193          (1,880)           1,911        18,341       33,565
  Other income..........................         166           1,878            1,085            --        3,129
  Interest expense......................       3,632             205             (205)       20,886(d)     24,518
                                          ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
  Income (loss) before provision
   (benefit) for income taxes, minority
   interest and extraordinary gain on
   early retirement of debt.............      11,727            (207)           3,201        (2,545)      12,176
  Minority interest.....................        (146)             --               --            --         (146)
  Provision (benefit) for income
   taxes................................       4,791             (73)           1,307        (1,018)(c)      5,007
                                          ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
  Net income (loss) before extraordinary
   gain on early retirement of debt.....  $    6,790    $       (134)     $     1,894     $  (1,527)   $   7,023
                                          ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
                                          ----------        --------    ---------------  -----------  -----------
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
  EBITDA................................  $   19,300    $      5,894      $     1,753     $  19,041    $  45,988
  Ratio of EBITDA to interest expense...                          --               --            --         1.9x(f)
  Ratio of earnings to fixed charges....                          --               --            --         1.5x(g)
  Depreciation and amortization.........  $    4,107    $      7,774      $      (158)    $     700    $  12,423
  Capital expenditures..................       5,021             470             (357)           --        5,134
OPERATING DATA:
  Corrugated Converting Operations:
    Million square feet sold............       3,476           6,284             (167)           --        9,593
    Average production per day (tons)...       1,080           1,705              (77)           --        2,708
    Plants at period end................          12              16               (1)           --           27
  Ft. Madison Mill Operations:
    Tons sold...........................      77,586              --               --            --       77,586
    Average production per day (tons)...         213              --               --            --          213
</TABLE>
 
See accompanying notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Financial Data.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
         NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED FINANCIAL DATA
 
(a) Reflects elimination of the results of  operations of Fonda, which was  spun
    off  in March 1995, and  Flint, which will be closed  in 1996. The Pro Forma
    Financial Statements  do  not  give  effect  to  the  disposition  of  three
    individually  insignificant converting  facilities which  together generated
    net sales and EBITDA as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        FISCAL YEAR
                                                           ENDED        NINE MONTHS     TWELVE MONTHS
                                                          JULY 31,         ENDED            ENDED
                                                            1995      APRIL 30, 1996   APRIL 30, 1996
                                                        ------------  ---------------  ---------------
                                                                    (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>              <C>
Net sales.............................................   $   17,211     $     1,398      $     4,910
EBITDA................................................          908             116             (806)
</TABLE>
 
(b) Reflects (1) cost  savings at the  acquired facilities based  on the  Output
    Purchase   Agreement,   pursuant  to   which   the  Company   will  purchase
    approximately 250,000 tons of linerboard at a cost of $25 per ton below  the
    price  reported  in PULP  & PAPER  WEEK,  (2) cost  savings at  the acquired
    facilities relating to the purchase by  the Company of the remainder of  its
    linerboard  requirements  at  an  average price  paid  by  the  Company, (3)
    estimated increased costs of providing benefits for hourly employees at  the
    acquired  facilities,  (4) reduced  cost of  goods  sold resulting  from the
    restatement of St. Joe  Container's results of  operations from the  last-in
    first-out  ("LIFO") method to the first-in first-out ("FIFO") method and (5)
    increased depreciation and amortization based upon the preliminary  purchase
    price  allocation of the  Acquisition. The following  table summarizes these
    adjustments:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             FISCAL YEAR    NINE MONTHS
                                                                ENDED          ENDED      TWELVE MONTHS
                                                               JULY 31,      APRIL 30,        ENDED
                                                                 1995          1996       APRIL 30, 1996
                                                             ------------  -------------  --------------
                                                                       (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                          <C>           <C>            <C>
Reduction in raw material prices to reflect the Output
 Purchase Agreement........................................   $   (5,500)   $    (3,861)   $     (5,291)
Reduction in raw material prices to reflect prices paid by
 the Company...............................................      (12,712)       (10,069)        (12,013)
Increase in cost of pension benefits to hourly employees...          639            479             639
Effect on cost of goods sold of change from
 LIFO to FIFO..............................................      (12,398)           615          (3,385)
Increase in depreciation expense resulting from preliminary
 purchase price allocation.................................          700            525             700
                                                             ------------  -------------  --------------
    Total adjustments......................................   $  (29,271)   $   (12,311)   $    (19,350)
                                                             ------------  -------------  --------------
                                                             ------------  -------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
(c) Reflects the elimination of corporate overhead charges allocated to St.  Joe
    Container  by  St.  Joe  Paper and  the  Company's  estimate  of incremental
    overhead expenses  that  will  be incurred  following  the  Acquisition,  as
    follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              FISCAL YEAR     NINE MONTHS     TWELVE MONTHS
                                                                 ENDED           ENDED            ENDED
                                                             JULY 31, 1995  APRIL 30, 1996   APRIL 30, 1996
                                                             -------------  ---------------  ---------------
                                                                         (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                          <C>            <C>              <C>
Reversal of St. Joe Container corporate charges............    $    (931)      $    (698)       $    (931)
Estimated incremental corporate overhead expense...........        1,940           1,455            1,940
                                                                  ------           -----           ------
                                                               $   1,009       $     757        $   1,009
                                                                  ------           -----           ------
                                                                  ------           -----           ------
</TABLE>
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
(d) Reflects  the elimination of historical interest expense and the addition of
    the interest  expense resulting  from the  pro forma  capitalization of  the
    Company, as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             FISCAL YEAR    NINE MONTHS
                                                                ENDED          ENDED      TWELVE MONTHS
                                                               JULY 31,      APRIL 30,        ENDED
                                                                 1995          1996       APRIL 30, 1996
                                                             ------------  -------------  --------------
                                                                       (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                          <C>           <C>            <C>
Notes at 12%...............................................   $   20,400     $  15,300      $   20,400
Credit Facility at an assumed rate of 8.5%.................        1,982         1,486           1,982
Existing indebtedness at weighted average interest rate of
 9.5%......................................................        1,256           942           1,256
                                                             ------------  -------------       -------
Cash interest expense......................................       23,638        17,728          23,638
Amortization of financing costs............................          880           660             880
                                                             ------------  -------------       -------
Pro forma interest expense.................................       24,518        18,388          24,518
Less historical interest expense...........................       (4,838)       (2,626)         (3,632)
                                                             ------------  -------------       -------
    Total adjustments......................................   $   19,680     $  15,762      $   20,886
                                                             ------------  -------------       -------
                                                             ------------  -------------       -------
</TABLE>
 
(e) Reflects  the  cumulative tax  effect  of the  pro  forma adjustments  at an
    effective rate of 40.0%.
 
(f) Interest expense  excludes  the  amortization  of  debt  issuance  costs  of
    $880,000,  $660,000 and  $880,000 for pro  forma Fiscal 1995,  the pro forma
    nine months ended April 30, 1996 and the pro forma twelve months ended April
    30, 1996, respectively.
 
(g) For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
    consist of  earnings (loss)  before provision  (benefit) for  income  taxes,
    minority  interest and extraordinary  gain on early  retirement of debt plus
    fixed charges,  and fixed  charges  consist of  interest expense  plus  that
    portion  of rental payments on operating leases deemed representative of the
    interest factor.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
               MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                      CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
GENERAL
 
    The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the
financial  statements of the Company and the notes thereto included elsewhere in
this Prospectus.
 
    The markets for corrugated packaging  materials produced by the Company  are
generally  subject to changes  in industry capacity and  cyclical changes in the
economy, both of which can significantly impact the Company's profitability. The
ability of the Company to sustain profitability during cyclical fluctuations  in
corrugating  packaging material markets is  dependent upon the Company's ability
to maintain value-added margins (net sales less the cost of raw materials).  For
corrugated  packaging material manufacturers,  raw materials typically represent
approximately 70.0% of the total cost of goods sold. The ability of the  Company
to  maintain  value-added margins  is a  function  of the  speed with  which the
Company can pass on  raw material cost increases  to its customers. The  Company
has  been able to  sustain consistent value-added  margins on a  unit basis. The
Company also believes it has been able to mitigate raw material price  increases
at   its  converting  facilities  by  entering  into  several  long-term  supply
contracts.
 
    In addition to maintaining value-added margins, the Company has also focused
on  controlling  costs  through  maximum  utilization  of  available  production
capacity,   the  development  and  implementation   of  financial  controls  and
management systems and minimization of waste. Direct costs of production at  the
Company's  converting facilities  have declined  on a  per unit  basis from 1992
through the present. By controlling  costs and maintaining value-added  margins,
together with adding to its manufacturing base through acquisitions completed in
a  cost effective manner,  the Company has  been able to  increase its net sales
from $36.3  million in  Fiscal 1985  to $272.0  million in  Fiscal 1995  and  to
increase EBITDA from $2.6 million to $25.4 million over the same period.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                    FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31,          APRIL 30,
                                                                  -------------------------------  --------------------
                                                                    1993       1994       1995       1995       1996
                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                               <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Corrugated Converting Operations:
  Square feet sold (millions)...................................      3,513      3,799      3,794      2,944      2,629
  Net sales (millions)..........................................  $   153.9  $   155.4  $   196.0  $   147.1  $   146.9
  Gross profit (millions).......................................       11.5       13.3       24.4       19.5       15.3
  Average price per thousand square feet sold...................      43.90      40.90      51.66      49.97      55.88
  Value-added margin per thousand square feet sold (1)..........      17.66      18.29      20.73      20.17      20.03
Ft. Madison Mill Operations:
  Tons sold.....................................................         --     38,029     75,872     57,267     58,982
  Net sales (millions)..........................................         --  $    11.3  $    33.6  $    24.2  $    17.8
  Gross profit (millions).......................................         --        0.1        9.0        6.0        7.5
  Average price per ton sold....................................         --     297.98     442.67     422.58     408.60
  Value-added margin per ton sold (1)...........................         --     198.30     313.12     300.71     308.14
Fonda:
  Net sales (millions)..........................................  $    61.1  $    61.8  $    42.4  $    42.4         --
  Gross profit (millions).......................................       11.2       10.1        6.4        6.4         --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1)  Value-added margin represents net sales less the cost of raw materials.
 
RECENT PERFORMANCE
 
    In  the  first  half  of  1996,  the  Company  and  St.  Joe  Container have
experienced a continued decline in  prices for their products  as a result of  a
decline  in industry-wide demand during this  period. This decline in prices and
demand has had a negative effect on certain financial results of the Company and
St. Joe Container.
 
    Pro forma combined EBITDA of the Company and St. Joe Container based on  the
three-month  period ended  April 30,  1996 for  the Company  and the three-month
period ended  March  31, 1996  for  St.  Joe Container,  which  aggregated  $3.5
million,  includes all  pro forma  adjustments made  in the  Unaudited Pro Forma
Combined Condensed  Financial Data  included  elsewhere herein.  The  historical
financial statements of St. Joe Container, which are being used as the basis for
the pro forma financial statements, were
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
negatively  impacted by a $5.8 million  inventory devaluation primarily due to a
decrease in the prices of St. Joe Container's linerboard. The pro forma combined
EBITDA of the  Company and St.  Joe Container for  the three-month period  ended
April  30, 1996 would have  been insufficient to cover  cash interest expense by
$2.4 million.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31,                               APRIL 30,
                         ------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------
                                  1993                    1994                                              1995
                         ----------------------  ----------------------            1995            ----------------------
                                       PERCENT                 PERCENT   ------------------------                PERCENT
                                       OF NET                  OF NET                 PERCENT OF                 OF NET
                           AMOUNT       SALES      AMOUNT       SALES      AMOUNT      NET SALES     AMOUNT       SALES
                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
                                                              (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
<S>                      <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Net sales..............      $214.9       100.0%     $228.6       100.0%     $272.0        100.0 %     $213.7       100.0%
Cost of goods sold.....       192.2        89.5       205.0        89.7       232.2         85.4        181.9        85.1
                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Gross profit...........        22.7        10.5        23.6        10.3        39.8         14.6         31.8        14.9
Selling, general and
 administrative
 expenses..............        21.8        10.1        22.0         9.6        19.7          7.2         15.8         7.4
Income from
 operations............         0.9         0.4         1.6         0.7        20.1          7.4         16.0         7.5
Other income...........         3.7         1.7         0.1         0.1         2.0          0.7          1.8         0.8
Interest expense.......         5.0         2.3         5.5         2.4         5.6          2.1          4.7         2.2
                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Income (loss) before
 provision (benefit)
 for income taxes,
 minority interest and
 extraordinary gain on
 early retirement of
 debt..................        (0.4 )      (0.2)       (3.8 )      (1.6)       16.5          6.1         13.1         6.1
Provision (benefit) for
 income taxes..........         0.4         0.2        (0.3 )      (0.1)        5.5          2.0          4.4         2.0
                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
Net income (loss)
 before minority
 interest and
 extraordinary gain on
 early retirement of
 debt..................      $ (0.8 )      (0.4)%     $ (3.5 )      (1.5)%     $ 11.0        4.1 %      $ 8.7        4.1%
                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                  1996
                         ----------------------
                                       PERCENT
                                       OF NET
                           AMOUNT       SALES
                         -----------  ---------
 
<S>                      <C>          <C>
Net sales..............      $164.7       100.0%
Cost of goods sold.....       142.0        86.2
                         -----------  ---------
Gross profit...........        22.7        13.8
Selling, general and
 administrative
 expenses..............        11.7         7.1
Income from
 operations............        11.0         6.7
Other income...........          --          --
Interest expense.......         2.7         1.6
                         -----------  ---------
Income (loss) before
 provision (benefit)
 for income taxes,
 minority interest and
 extraordinary gain on
 early retirement of
 debt..................         8.3         5.1
Provision (benefit) for
 income taxes..........         3.6         2.2
                         -----------  ---------
Net income (loss)
 before minority
 interest and
 extraordinary gain on
 early retirement of
 debt..................       $ 4.7        2.9%
                         -----------  ---------
                         -----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 1996 COMPARED TO NINE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 1995
 
    The Company's net sales decreased $49.0 million, or 22.9%, to $164.7 million
for the nine months ended April 30, 1996 compared to net sales of $213.7 million
for the nine months ended April 30, 1995. Net sales for the Company's converting
operations decreased $.2 million, or .1%,  to $146.9 million in the nine  months
ended  April 30, 1996 compared to $147.1  million in the nine months ended April
30, 1995 primarily as a result of  a 10.7% decrease in volume of million  square
feet  sold  of  2,944 square  feet  sold to  2,629  square feet  sold  which was
partially offset by a 11.8% increase  in average price per thousand square  feet
sold  to $55.88 from  $49.97. Net sales  at the Ft.  Madison Mill decreased $6.4
million, or 26.4%, to  $17.8 million for  the nine months  ended April 30,  1996
from  $24.2 million  for the  nine months  ended April  30, 1995  due to  a 3.3%
decrease in  price per  ton sold  to $408.60  from $422.58  which was  partially
offset  by a 3.0% increase in volume to  58,982 tons sold from 57,267 tons sold.
The decreases in net sales for  the Company's converting operations and the  Ft.
Madison  Mill were affected by the elimination  of net sales generated by Fonda,
which accounted for $42.4 million,  or 19.8%, of net  sales for the nine  months
ended  April 30, 1995, and the elimination of eight months of net sales produced
by Timberline  Packaging,  Inc.  ("Timberline"),  a  converting  facility  which
accounted  for $10.1 million,  or 4.7%, of  net sales for  the nine months ended
April 30, 1995  compared to $1.2  million, or  1.0%, for the  nine months  ended
April  30, 1996.  The Company spun  off Fonda in  March 1995 and  sold its 67.0%
interest in Timberline in August 1995.
 
    The Company's cost of goods sold as  a percentage of net sales increased  to
86.2%  for the nine  months ended April 30,  1996 from 85.1%  in the nine months
ended April 30, 1995. Cost of goods sold at the Company's converting  operations
increased  as a percentage of net sales to  89.6% in the nine months ended April
30, 1996 from  86.7% for the  nine months ended  April 30, 1995  primarily as  a
result  of a shift in product mix for the nine months ended April 30, 1996. Cost
of   goods    sold    at    the    Ft.   Madison    Mill    decreased    as    a
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
percentage  of net sales to 68.9% for the  nine months ended April 30, 1996 from
75.2% for the nine months ended April 30,  1995 primarily as a result of a  2.5%
increase in value-added margins per ton to $308.4 from $300.17.
 
    Gross profit decreased $9.1 million, or 28.5%, to $22.8 million for the nine
months  ended April 30, 1996 from $31.9  million for the nine months ended April
30, 1995. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit decreased to 13.8% for  the
nine  months ended April  30, 1996 compared  to 14.9% for  the nine months ended
April 30, 1995.  Gross profit as  a percentage  of net sales  for the  Company's
converting  operations decreased  to 10.4% for  the nine months  ended April 30,
1996 compared to 13.3% for the nine months ended April 30, 1995. Gross profit as
a percentage of net  sales for the  Ft. Madison Mill increased  to 31.1% in  the
nine  months ended April  30, 1996 compared  to 24.8% for  the nine months ended
April 30, 1995.
 
    Selling, general  and administrative  expenses  decreased $4.1  million,  or
26.0%,  to $11.7  million for the  nine months  ended April 30,  1996 from $15.8
million for the nine months  ended April 30, 1995 primarily  as a result of  the
elimination   of  Fonda's  expenses  after  March  1995.  Selling,  general  and
administrative expenses as a percentage of  net sales decreased to 7.1% for  the
nine  months ended April 30, 1996 from 7.4%  for the nine months ended April 30,
1995.
 
    Operating income decreased $4.9 million, or 31.0%, to $11.1 million for  the
nine  months ended April 30,  1996 from $16.0 million  for the nine months ended
April 30, 1995. This decrease  was net of a  $5.9 million decrease in  operating
income for the Company's converting operations between the two periods primarily
as a result of the disposition of Fonda and Timberline.
 
FISCAL 1995 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1994
 
    The Company's net sales increased $43.4 million, or 19.0%, to $272.0 million
in  Fiscal 1995  compared to $228.6  million in  Fiscal 1994. Net  sales for the
Company's converting operations  increased $40.6  million, or  26.1%, to  $196.0
million  in Fiscal 1995 compared to $155.4 million in Fiscal 1994 primarily as a
result of an increase in average price  per thousand square feet sold to  $51.66
in  Fiscal 1995 from $40.90 in Fiscal  1994 with volume remaining virtually flat
at 3,794 million square  feet sold compared to  3,799 million square feet  sold.
Net  sales at the Ft. Madison Mill  increased $22.3 million, or 197.3%, to $33.6
million in Fiscal 1995 compared to $11.3  million in Fiscal 1994 primarily as  a
result  of  net  sales  in  Fiscal 1994  reflecting  only  five  full  months of
operations of the Ft. Madison Mill, which was acquired by the Company in January
1994, and by  a 48.6%  rise in  the average price  per ton  sold of  corrugating
medium  to $442.67 in Fiscal 1995 from $297.98 in Fiscal 1994. Volume at the Ft.
Madison Mill increased to 75,872 tons sold in Fiscal 1995 from 38,029 tons  sold
in Fiscal 1994. The increase in net sales from the Company's converting and mill
operations  was partially offset  by a decrease  of $19.4 million,  or 31.4%, in
Fonda's net sales to $42.4 million in  Fiscal 1995 from $61.8 million in  Fiscal
1994,  resulting from the elimination of four months of operations following the
spin-off of Fonda in March 1995.
 
    The Company's cost of goods  sold as a percentage  of net sales improved  to
85.4%  in Fiscal 1995 compared to 89.7% in  Fiscal 1994. Cost of goods sold as a
percentage of net sales at the Company's converting facilities improved to 87.1%
in Fiscal 1995 compared to 91.2% in Fiscal 1994. This improvement was  primarily
a  result of a decrease in labor costs to 10.3% of net sales in Fiscal 1995 from
13.8% of net sales in  Fiscal 1994 and reductions  in other major components  of
manufacturing  costs  as a  percentage of  net sales.  Cost of  goods sold  as a
percentage of net sales at the Ft. Madison Mill improved to 73.2% in Fiscal 1995
from 99.1% of net sales for the initial five months of ownership ended July  31,
1994. The improved performance at the Ft. Madison Mill was primarily a result of
improved  value-added margins which resulted from  the 48.6% increase in average
price per ton sold of corrugating medium partially offset by a 24.7% increase in
raw material costs  per ton  sold. Manufacturing  costs per  ton (excluding  raw
materials  used at  the Ft. Madison  Mill) decreased  to $169 per  ton in Fiscal
1995, or 1.7%, from $172 per ton sold in Fiscal 1994.
 
    Gross profit increased $16.3 million, or  69.4%, to $39.8 million in  Fiscal
1995  from $23.5 million in Fiscal 1994,  primarily as a result of the reduction
in  the   cost   of   goods   sold   as   a   percentage   of   net   sales   to
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
85.4%  from 89.7% during this period. Gross  profit as a percentage of net sales
for the  Company's  converting operations  increased  to 12.4%  in  Fiscal  1995
compared  to 8.8% in Fiscal 1994. Gross profit  as a percentage of net sales for
the Ft. Madison Mill improved to 26.8% in Fiscal 1995 compared to 0.9% in Fiscal
1994.
 
    Selling, general  and administrative  expenses  decreased $2.3  million,  or
10.5%, to $19.7 million in Fiscal 1995 from $22.0 million in Fiscal 1994 due, in
part,  to the elimination of Fonda's expenses subsequent to March 1995. Selling,
general and administrative expenses  as a percentage of  net sales were 7.2%  in
Fiscal  1995 compared  to 9.6%  in Fiscal  1994. This  decrease was  primarily a
result of a reduction  in certain selling, legal,  insurance and other costs  at
the Company's converting facilities.
 
    Operating  income increased  $18.6 million to  $20.1 million  in Fiscal 1995
from $1.5 million  in Fiscal  1994. This increase  was attributable  to a  26.1%
increase  in  net  sales in  the  Company's  converting operations  and  a 13.2%
improvement in value-added  margin for the  Company's converting operations,  as
well  as a  reduction in  overall selling,  general and  administrative expenses
primarily as a result of the exclusion of Fonda after March 1995.
 
FISCAL 1994 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1993
 
    The Company's net sales increased $13.7 million, or 6.4%, to $228.6  million
in  Fiscal 1994  compared to $214.9  million in  Fiscal 1993. Net  sales for the
Company's converting  operations  increased $1.5  million,  or 1.0%,  to  $155.4
million  in Fiscal 1994 from $153.9 million in Fiscal 1993 primarily as a result
of an 8.1%  increase in  volume to  3,799 million  square feet  sold from  3,513
million  square feet sold, partially offset by  a 6.6% decrease in average price
per thousand  square feet  sold to  $40.90  from $43.90.  The Ft.  Madison  Mill
generated  $11.3 million in net sales in its five months of operations in Fiscal
1994. Net sales from Fonda remained  relatively flat at $61.8 million in  Fiscal
1994 compared to $61.1 million in Fiscal 1993.
 
    Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales increased to 89.7% in Fiscal
1994 compared to 89.4% in Fiscal 1993. Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net
sales  for the Company's converting facilities  declined 1.1% to 91.2% in Fiscal
1994 from 92.5% in Fiscal 1993. This  reduction was primarily a result of  lower
raw material costs, which declined to 55.3% of net sales in Fiscal 1994 compared
to  59.8% of net sales in Fiscal 1993, partially offset by increases in freight,
direct and indirect expenses. Value-added  margin per thousand square feet  sold
improved 3.6% to $18.29 in Fiscal 1994 from $17.66 in Fiscal 1993. Cost of goods
sold  as a percentage  of net sales at  the Ft. Madison Mill  were 99.0% for the
five months of operations in Fiscal 1994 which followed the purchase of the  Ft.
Madison  Mill out of  bankruptcy by the  Company in January  1994. Cost of goods
sold as a percentage of net sales at Fonda were 83.6% in Fiscal 1994 compared to
81.6% in Fiscal 1993.
 
    Gross profit increased  $0.9 million, or  4.0%, to $23.6  million in  Fiscal
1994  from $22.7  million in Fiscal  1993. Gross  profit as a  percentage of net
sales for the Company's converting operations  increased to 8.8% in Fiscal  1994
compared  to 7.5% in Fiscal 1993. Gross profit  as a percentage of net sales for
the Ft. Madison Mill was 0.9% in Fiscal 1994.
 
    Selling, general  and administrative  expenses  increased $0.2  million,  or
0.9%,  to  $22.0 million  in  Fiscal 1994  from  $21.8 million  in  Fiscal 1993.
Selling, general  and  administrative expenses  as  a percentage  of  net  sales
decreased  to  9.6%  in Fiscal  1994  compared  to 10.1%  in  Fiscal  1993. This
reduction was primarily a result of a constant amount paid for expenses compared
to increased sales volume.
 
    Operating income increased $0.6 million, or 66.7%, to $1.5 million in Fiscal
1994 from $0.9 million in Fiscal 1993. This increase was attributable to a  1.0%
increase  in  net  sales  attributable to  the  Company's  converting operations
combined with a  3.8% improvement in  value-added margin partially  offset by  a
reduction in gross profit attributable to Fonda.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
    Historically,  the Company has relied on cash flows from operations and bank
borrowing to finance its working capital requirements and capital expenditures.
 
    Net cash provided by  operating activities for the  nine months ended  April
30,  1996 was $7.3 million compared to  net cash used in operating activities of
$5.1   million    for    the    nine    months    ended    April    30,    1995.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
Cash  provided in the nine months ended April  30, 1996 was driven by net income
of $4.7 million  for the period  and a $3.2  million reduction in  the level  of
accounts  receivable and inventory which was  offset by a $4.1 million reduction
in accounts  payable and  accrued liabilities.  Net cash  provided by  operating
activities  was $4.8 million for  Fiscal 1994 compared to  $2.2 million net cash
used for Fiscal 1995. The period-to-period  change was due primarily to the  net
changes related to the exclusion of Fonda after March 1995.
 
    Net  cash used by investing activities was  $2.7 million for the nine months
ended April 30, 1996 compared  to $1.2 million for  the nine months ended  April
30,  1995. The Company's net cash used by investing activities decreased to $2.0
million in Fiscal 1995  compared to $9.1 million  for Fiscal 1994. The  decrease
was  principally the result of the acquisition by the Company in January 1994 of
three converting facilities and the Ft. Madison Mill for $5.3 million (the  "CPC
Acquisition").
 
    Capital  expenditures for  the nine  months ended  April 30,  1996 were $4.3
million compared  to $2.9  million for  the nine  months ended  April 30,  1995.
Capital  expenditures for Fiscal 1995 were $3.7 million compared to $3.9 million
in  Fiscal  1994.  Estimated  capital  expenditures  for  Fiscal  1996  will  be
approximately $7.5 million.
 
    Following the Acquisition, the Company plans to implement a targeted capital
expenditure  program  with  annual capital  expenditures  totaling approximately
$10.0 million to $15.0 million for  Fiscal 1997. The Company intends to  finance
capital expenditures primarily through operating cash flow.
 
    Net  cash used in financing  activities was $3.9 million  in the nine months
ended April 30, 1996  compared to net cash  provided by financing activities  of
$5.1  million in the nine months ended April 30, 1995. For Fiscal 1995, net cash
provided by financing activities totaled $3.5 million and additional  borrowings
were used in part to pay $8.6 million of subordinated debt. Net cash provided by
financing activities for Fiscal 1994 totaled $5.2 million. In addition to normal
capital  expenditures, additional  borrowings in Fiscal  1994 were  used to fund
acquisitions, primarily the CPC Acquisition.
 
    The Company had  a $35.0  million bank  credit facility  consisting of  term
loans  and revolving credit  facilities. As of  April 30, 1996,  the Company had
unused availability of  approximately $14.1  million. On November  1, 1995,  the
Company  increased its approved credit under the bank credit facility from $31.0
million to $35.0 million.
 
    On May 30, 1996, the Company established a Credit Facility which will mature
in 2001. The Credit Facility provides total borrowing of up to $80.0 million  on
a  revolving  basis,  subject  to borrowing  base  limitations,  to  finance the
Company's working capital needs. Unused  borrowing base availability must be  at
least  $5.0 million. On May 30, 1996,  the Company had unused borrowing capacity
of approximately $33.4 million under the Credit Facility excluding any  purchase
price  adjustments. The  Credit Facility contains  certain restrictive covenants
with which the Company must comply  including, among others, the requirement  to
maintain  certain  financial ratios.  See "Description  of Credit  Facility." In
addition, the Company will provide, if needed, the Mill Joint Venture with up to
$10.0 million of subordinated indebtedness on a revolving credit basis.
 
    Following the  Acquisition,  the Company  believes  that cash  generated  by
operations,  combined with amounts available under  the Credit Facility, will be
sufficient to meet its capital expenditure needs, debt service requirements  and
working capital needs for the foreseeable future.
 
IMPACT OF INFLATION
 
    A  period of rising prices will affect the Company's cost of production and,
in particular, the Company's raw material costs. Since the Company's business is
a margin business, the impact of increased costs on the Company will depend upon
the Company's ability to  pass on such  costs to its  customers. The Company  is
typically  able to pass on  a significant portion of  its increased raw material
costs in a timely fashion. From time to time, however, there is a lag in passing
on price adjustments which  creates a temporary margin  contraction in a  rising
price environment. Historically, the Company has been able to recover fully from
the impact of rising prices over a short period of time.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
                               INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
 
    The  corrugated container is  unrivaled in most  industrial applications for
providing an economical and  safe means of  transporting products. In  addition,
corrugated  containers are increasingly utilized as an integrated transportation
and marketing device  in the form  of point-of-sale displays.  According to  the
Fibre  Box Association, the  corrugated container industry  generated revenue of
$19.6 billion in 1995. The major  end-use markets for corrugated containers  are
food,  beverage and agricultural products,  paper and fiber products, petroleum,
petrochemical resins, plastics and rubber products, glass and metal  containers,
electronic products and electrical and other machinery.
 
    Corrugated  sheet, consisting of  linerboard and corrugating  medium, is the
principal raw  material  used  in  the  manufacture  of  corrugated  containers.
Linerboard  provides  the strength  component of  a container  while corrugating
medium  provides  rigidity.  Corrugating  medium  is  fluted  and  laminated  to
linerboard  to produce corrugated  sheets. The sheets  are subsequently printed,
cut, folded and glued  to produce finished  corrugated containers or  corrugated
partitions.  Over  90.0% of  the corrugated  containers produced  are unbleached
kraft products. However corrugated containers produced from bleached  linerboard
(mottled  white or white-top) have recently experienced increasing demand due to
the increased  use of  graphics in  displays for  fresh produce,  office  paper,
electronic   devices,  office   equipment,  household  goods,   bins  and  other
point-of-sale displays. Mottled  white containers  generally sell  at a  premium
over  unbleached kraft, in  part to cover  the higher costs  associated with the
bleaching process.
 
    There are  generally  three types  of  corrugated container  plants:  feeder
plants  that combine  linerboard with  corrugating medium  to produce corrugated
sheets; sheet plants that convert the  corrugated sheets supplied by the  feeder
plants  into finished  corrugated containers  with printed  graphics; and large,
integrated corrugator  plants  that  perform  both  functions.  Most  corrugated
container  plants generally run jobs to an individual customer's specifications,
necessitating a carefully managed process of machine set up between each job  to
meet production schedules. The increased use of automation has greatly decreased
the  amount  of downtime  during the  production  process, thereby  allowing for
increased operating efficiencies.
 
    Target customers for corrugated containers fall into two general categories:
national and  local.  National  accounts seek  suppliers  with  wide  geographic
coverage  that  can service  most of  their  locations with  long run,  low cost
products. Local  accounts place  a high  priority on  assurance of  supply on  a
timely  or  as needed  basis.  Both types  of  customers are  price  and quality
conscious, and place a strong emphasis on the ability of their supplier to  meet
their product need and delivery time requirements.
 
    Shipping costs and customer service obligations require corrugated container
plants  to be located  relatively close to  customers. Each corrugated container
plant typically services a  market within a  150 mile radius  of the plant,  and
employs  its  own sales  force  which sells  and  services accounts  within this
geographic area. Corrugated containers generally  are delivered by truck due  to
the  large number of customers and demand  for timely service. The dispersion of
customers and the high bulk and  low density and value of corrugated  containers
make shipping costs a relatively high percentage of total costs.
 
    According  to the Fibre Box  Association, shipments of corrugated containers
have increased at a compound annual rate  of 3.0% since 1970. Shipments in  1995
declined  approximately  0.6%  from 1994  to  372.5 billion  square  feet, after
experiencing  increases  of  4.9%,  5.4%  and  6.0%  in  1992,  1993  and  1994,
respectively.  The  decline in  1995 represents  the  seventh decline  in annual
shipments in the  past 26  years; only once  during this  period have  shipments
declined in successive years (1974-1975).
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
                                    [CHART]
Description of the chart is a bar graph depicting corrugated container shipments
in billions of square feet from 1970 through 1995 starting with approximately
175 billion square feet in 1970 to approximately 375 billion square feet in
1995.
 
                     Source: Fibre Box Association
 
    Corrugated  container plant  profits are  dependent on  the ability  to pass
through the  cost  of  linerboard  and on  the  maintenance  of  high  operating
efficiencies. For corrugated container manufacturers, linerboard and corrugating
medium  typically represent  approximately 70.0%  of total  cost of  goods sold.
Manufacturers of  corrugated containers  are generally  able to  respond to  raw
material  price increases from  suppliers by increasing  product prices to their
customers. Conversely,  when  raw  material prices  are  reduced  by  suppliers,
corrugated  container  manufacturers  must  decrease  product  prices  to remain
competitive. Converting  margins  are  typically  best  during  weak  linerboard
markets  when manufacturers of corrugated containers  are able to purchase their
raw materials  at lower  prices. The  success of  a corrugated  container  plant
operation  depends on, among  other factors: (i)  efficient low-cost operations,
(ii) operation at or near full  capacity, (iii) careful management of  inventory
levels,  (iv) access to reasonably priced  linerboard and corrugating medium and
(v) ability to respond quickly and profitably to customer needs.
 
                                    [CHART]
Description of the chart is a graph of linerboard and corrugated container price
trends in dollars per ton from the first quarter of 1990 to the fourth quarter
of 1995 in quarterly increments. The graph tracks the dollars per ton of each of
(i) corrugated containers, (ii) linerboard, and (iii) the difference between (i)
and (ii). In the first quarter of 1990, corrugated containers were approximately
$620 per ton, linerboard was approximately $390 per ton and the difference was
approximately $230 per ton. In the last quarter of 1995, corrugated containers
were approximately $780 per ton, linerboard was approximately $550 per ton and
the difference was approximately $290 per ton.
 
                     Source: Pulp & Paper Forecaster
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
THE COMPANY
 
    Four M Corporation, which operates under the  trade name Box USA, is one  of
the   largest  independent  full-service   converters  of  corrugated  packaging
materials in  North  America.  The Company  operates  28  strategically  located
converting facilities, which sold 9.6 billion square feet of finished corrugated
containers, partitions and sheets during the twelve months ended April 30, 1996.
The Company has developed and maintains longstanding customer relationships with
leading  consumer products and packaging companies including Anchor Glass, Avon,
Clorox, Owens Illinois and Procter & Gamble. The Company also owns and  operates
a  paper mill  at Ft.  Madison, Iowa which  produced 77,710  tons of corrugating
medium during the twelve months ended April 30, 1996, most of which was sold  to
third parties. For the twelve months ended April 30, 1996, the Company generated
net sales of $223.0 million and EBITDA of $19.3 million.
 
    On May 30, 1996, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of St.
Joe Container, which consisted primarily of 16 converting facilities and related
working capital. The Acquisition more than doubled the size of the Company to 28
converting  facilities  which  sold  10.0  billion  square  feet  of  corrugated
packaging materials in 1995. The Company  and St. Joe Container utilize  similar
manufacturing equipment and production processes, and the two businesses operate
with   minimal  geographic   redundancy  and   no  material   customer  overlap.
Accordingly, the Company believes that the Acquisition creates opportunities  to
pursue continued growth in its business, utilize its purchasing power to achieve
reductions  in  raw material  costs, improve  productivity and  reduce operating
expenses. For the  twelve months ended  April 30, 1996,  after giving pro  forma
effect  to the Acquisition, the Company would have generated net sales of $524.6
million and EBITDA of $46.0 million. See "Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed
Financial Data."
 
    The Company was founded in 1966 as a manufacturer of corrugated  partitions.
From  a single partition plant, the  Company expanded initially through internal
growth and later  through 11  separate acquisitions  involving 17  manufacturing
facilities.  These strategic acquisitions have allowed the Company to (i) supply
its partition  plants  with lower-cost  corrugated  sheets for  conversion  into
interior   packaging  components,  (ii)  capture  a  portion  of  its  partition
customers' corrugated container business and  (iii) diversify its customer  base
to  include a  broader variety of  users of corrugated  packaging materials. The
Company has historically targeted distressed properties and undermanaged  assets
to  which the Company  could significantly improve  profitability. The Company's
ability to target  and integrate  acquisitions successfully is  reflected in  an
increase in average revenue per plant from $9.0 million in 1991 to $15.1 million
in  1995 while average annual production per  plant has grown from 201.7 million
square feet to 291.8 million square feet over the same period.
 
    The Company's strategy  is to  enhance its position  as one  of the  largest
independent  full-service converters of corrugated  packaging materials in North
America. Fundamental elements of the Company's strategy include:
 
       -providing a full line of high-quality products
       -capitalizing  on   the   Company's  significant   raw   materials
        purchasing power
       -implementing    cost-reduction   manufacturing   techniques   and
        operating efficiency programs
       -responding quickly to customer needs and offering high levels  of
        customer service
       -expanding  the  Company's  penetration of  national  accounts and
        increasing the Company's share of existing customers' business
 
    One of the Company's competitive  advantages is its long-term  relationships
with  many customers, some  of which have  been maintained for  over 25 years. A
second feature  which distinguishes  the  Company from  its competitors  is  the
significant  relationships it has established with its containerboard suppliers.
The Company believes that it  is the largest customer  of its three primary  raw
material  suppliers.  As  one  of  the  largest  purchasers  of  linerboard  and
corrugating medium in the industry, the  Company believes that it has been  able
to purchase raw materials at prices substantially below those reported in PULP &
PAPER WEEK.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
THE ACQUISITION
 
    Historically,  the St. Joe  Container facilities were  operated as a captive
outlet for linerboard  produced by the  St. Joe Mill.  Because these  facilities
represented only a small portion of the operations of St. Joe Paper, the Company
believes  that maximization  of revenues  and profitability  of St.  Joe Paper's
container operations was not  a primary priority of  prior management. Based  on
its  experience in  integrating acquisitions, the  Company believes  that it can
successfully integrate  the St.  Joe Container  facilities and  improve  overall
productivity and profitability by (i) increasing revenues through utilization of
available  capacity, (ii) capitalizing on the Company's raw materials purchasing
leverage and (iii) enhancing productivity and reducing operating expenses.
 
INCREASING REVENUES
 
    The Company has built its business through internal growth and opportunistic
acquisitions. The Company's strategy has resulted in (i) geographic expansion of
its operations, (ii)  new product offerings  which have allowed  the Company  to
attract new customers and capture an increasing share of its existing customers'
business and (iii) vertical integration of the Company's converting operations.
 
    The  Acquisition has increased the Company's presence from nine to 17 states
and enables it to serve new markets in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and the  faster
growing  Southeast. While corrugated packaging  plants typically serve customers
within a 150-mile radius,  the Company is generally  able to extend its  service
area  to a radius of approximately 250 miles. The Company believes that improved
operating efficiencies have enabled it to overcome any incremental freight costs
associated with its larger trading areas.
 
    The Company  believes  that  the Acquisition,  by  expanding  the  Company's
geographic  coverage,  will  particularly  benefit  its  national  account sales
program by  enabling  it to  serve  national  accounts from  St.  Joe  Container
facilities  in markets not previously covered  by the Company. National accounts
comprise approximately 18.1%  of net sales  for the Company  in Fiscal 1995.  In
addition,  the Company strives to operate  its corrugator plants at three shifts
per day, five  days per  week rather  than the two  shifts, five  days per  week
operation  of the  St. Joe Container  facilities. The Company  believes that the
addition of a  third shift  at the St.  Joe Container  facilities will  increase
aggregate  production at  these facilities  by approximately  50.0%. The Company
intends to  utilize  available capacity  to  increase production  of  corrugated
sheets  to supply sheet plants owned by third parties in the vicinity of the St.
Joe Container facilities.
 
    The Company  also believes  that the  Acquisition will  further improve  the
vertical  integration  of  the  Company's  converting  operations.  The  Company
anticipates that the  15 additional  corrugator plants operated  by the  Company
after  the Acquisition will  produce corrugated sheets for  use at other Company
facilities, reducing  the dependence  of the  Company on  external suppliers  of
corrugated  sheets. The Company may also  pursue acquisitions of sheet plants in
areas contiguous to its existing operations in order to maintain outlets for its
production of corrugated sheets.
 
CAPITALIZING ON RAW MATERIALS PURCHASING LEVERAGE
 
    Historically, the St. Joe Container facilities purchased linerboard from the
St. Joe Mill  at the prices  reported in PULP  & PAPER WEEK,  an industry  trade
publication.  As one  of the  largest purchasers  of linerboard  and corrugating
medium in the industry, the Company believes  that it has been able to  purchase
raw materials at prices substantially below those reported in PULP & PAPER WEEK.
Based  on the Company's average  raw materials prices paid  during 1995, St. Joe
Container's EBITDA for 1995, after giving  pro forma effect to the  Acquisition,
would  have increased by  approximately $15.9 million.  See "Unaudited Pro Forma
Combined Condensed Financial Data."
 
ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY AND REDUCING OPERATING EXPENSES
 
    The Company has improved profitability by focusing on maximum utilization of
available production capacity,  minimization of  waste and  the development  and
implementation  of financial controls  and management systems.  In addition, the
Company believes that it can eliminate certain duplicative functions and achieve
efficiencies  in  manufacturing,   administration  and   sales  and   marketing.
Furthermore,  the Company  believes that  it can  reduce manufacturing  costs by
reducing waste at the St. Joe Container facilities.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
OPERATIONS
 
    The Company operates  three types of  converting facilities: (i)  corrugator
plants  which convert linerboard  and corrugating medium  into corrugated sheets
and then convert the sheets into corrugated containers, (ii) sheet or  specialty
container  plants which receive corrugated  sheets from the Company's corrugator
plants or  external suppliers  and then  manufacture corrugated  containers  and
displays  and (iii)  partition plants which  receive corrugated  sheets from the
Company's corrugator plants  or external  sources and  make corrugated  interior
packaging  components.  The  Company  also  owns  a  paper  mill  which produces
corrugating medium primarily for sale to third parties.
 
CORRUGATORS
 
    The Company believes that it is one of the largest independent  full-service
converters  of corrugated containers in North America. The Company operates five
corrugator plants located  in the Midwest,  the Southeast and  California. As  a
result  of  the Acquisition,  the Company  currently  operates an  additional 15
full-service corrugators  located in  the Southeast,  Midwest, Mid-Atlantic  and
Texas.  The  Company supplies  corrugated containers  to national,  regional and
local accounts,  which  include  companies  in  the  food,  household  products,
cosmetics,   personal  care,  beverage,  pharmaceutical,  electrical  and  other
machinery,  and  high-tech  industries.  The  Company's  corrugator  plants  are
value-added container manufacturers as well as suppliers of corrugated sheets to
the Company's and third-parties' sheet and partition plants.
 
    During  Fiscal 1995, the Company's  corrugator plants produced approximately
4.1 billion square feet of  corrugated sheets, of which  61.2% were used in  the
Company's plants and the remaining 38.8% were sold to third parties. The Company
supplied  approximately 88.7% of  its own corrugated  sheet requirements in 1995
and purchased the remaining 11.3% in the marketplace from third parties.
 
    The Company's corrugators convert mottled white linerboard, unbleached kraft
linerboard and corrugating medium into corrugated sheets and containers. Mottled
white containers are generally sold at a premium over kraft containers; however,
the premium tends to cover the  higher cost of mottled white linerboard  without
increasing operating margins at the container facilities. Approximately 89.9% of
the  corrugated materials produced  in these facilities  in Fiscal 1995 required
unbleached kraft  linerboard  and the  remaining  10.1% required  mottled  white
linerboard.
 
SHEET PLANTS
 
    The   Company's  sheet  plants  convert  corrugated  sheets  into  specialty
containers and point-of-sale displays. The  Company operates one sheet plant  in
Ohio,  one in Alabama and  two in California. During  Fiscal 1995, the Company's
sheet plants  produced approximately  831.7 million  square feet  of  corrugated
containers,  accounting for approximately 22.3% of  the Company's net sales. The
Alabama facility, which was acquired by the Company in the Acquisition,  shipped
approximately 70.4 million square feet of corrugated containers in 1995.
 
    The  Company's sheet plants operate  on a two shifts  per day, five days per
week schedule. The Company operates the sheet plants for smaller production runs
and specialized containers. The customers  for these plants are primarily  local
and  regional accounts. By serving different market segments, sheet plants allow
the Company to operate  in trading areas which  overlap those of the  corrugator
plants without competing with the larger, integrated facilities.
 
PARTITION PLANTS
 
    The  Company believes that it is the largest producer of corrugated interior
packaging  components  in   the  United  States.   The  Company  operates   four
free-standing  partition plants in the West,  Midwest and Southeast and supplies
interior packaging components to major  food, household products, and glass  and
plastic  container  producers.  The  Company  also  has  partition manufacturing
capability at two of its sheet plants. The Company maintains a leading  position
in the partition segment of the corrugated market by supplying national account,
high-volume  users such  as Anchor Glass,  Clorox, Owens Illinois  and Procter &
Gamble. Output at  the partition  plants totaled  448.9 million  square feet  in
Fiscal 1995.
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
FT. MADISON MILL
 
    The Company's paper mill in Ft. Madison, Iowa was acquired out of bankruptcy
in  January 1994. In 1993, the Ft.  Madison Mill had a capacity of approximately
70,000 tons per  year and  200 tons  per day  of corrugating  medium and  actual
production  of approximately 165 tons per  day. Following the acquisition of the
Ft. Madison  Mill,  the  Company improved  production  by  providing  management
leadership,  supplying  necessary  working  capital  and  initiating significant
repairs. By the first  quarter of 1995,  the Ft. Madison  Mill began to  achieve
record  daily  production  levels,  thereby lowering  unit  operating  costs and
increasing sales. The following table sets  forth average tons produced per  day
and total tons produced per year at the Ft. Madison Mill in 1994 and 1995.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    AVERAGE TONS PER
                                                                      DAY PRODUCED      TOTAL TONS PRODUCED
                                                                   -------------------  -------------------
<S>                                                                <C>                  <C>
First Quarter 1994...............................................             178               15,134
Second Quarter 1994..............................................             199               17,885
Third Quarter 1994...............................................             201               17,855
Fourth Quarter 1994..............................................             215               18,531
 
First Quarter 1995...............................................             220               19,820
Second Quarter 1995..............................................             218               19,818
Third Quarter 1995...............................................             211               19,374
Fourth Quarter 1995..............................................             224               20,168
</TABLE>
 
    The Ft. Madison Mill is currently capable of producing up to 80,000 tons per
year  of corrugating medium. The Ft. Madison  Mill sells its output primarily to
smaller, independent corrugated container manufacturers in the Midwest. In 1995,
the Ft.  Madison Mill  generated net  sales of  $33.6 million  through sales  of
75,872 tons of corrugating medium to third parties. In addition, the Ft. Madison
Mill  supplied 3,186 tons of corrugating  medium for processing at the Company's
corrugator plants.
 
    The Ft.  Madison Mill  has the  capability to  process both  wood fiber  and
recycled  fiber. Recycled  fiber utilized  at the  Ft. Madison  Mill consists of
double-lined kraft clippings. This flexibility  in raw materials processing  has
enabled the Company to reduce the impact of fluctuations in raw material prices.
In  1995, the output  of the Ft.  Madison Mill consisted  of approximately 39.0%
recycled fiber. Presently, the Company  is benefiting from lower recycled  fiber
costs.  The price of  recycled fiber paid  by the Ft.  Madison Mill has declined
from an average of approximately  $205 per ton in August  1995 to an average  of
approximately $80 per ton as of March 31, 1996.
 
FIBRE MARKETING GROUP
 
    In 1996, the Company acquired a 50.0% interest in Fibre Marketing Group, LLC
("Fibre  Marketing"), which  procures and  markets waste  paper. Fibre Marketing
acts as  a  broker  for the  sale  and  transportation of  waste  material  from
companies which generate waste, such as printers, paper converters and recycling
processors,  to  paper  mills.  Fibre  Marketing  currently  provides  brokerage
services to all  of the  Company's converting facilities.  Fibre Marketing  also
owns and operates Fibre Processing Corporation, a waste paper processing company
located  in Edgemere, Maryland, which services sources of recyclable waste paper
which are too small to utilize brokerage services.
 
SALES, MARKETING AND CUSTOMERS
 
SALES AND MARKETING
 
    The Company's products are sold on a  direct basis and, to a lesser  degree,
through the use of brokers. The Company seeks to be a leader in customer service
for the markets it serves by capitalizing on its marketing experience, technical
expertise  and  manufacturing  flexibility. The  Company's  corrugated packaging
materials are typically  manufactured to  customer order.  The Company  believes
that  the strong integration between manufacturing, marketing and sales provides
it with a competitive advantage by allowing it to respond favorably and  quickly
to  changing customer demands.  The Company prides itself  on its sales oriented
culture and its long-standing relationships with customers. The Company's senior
executive officers personally handle a number of the larger accounts.
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
    The Company's sales are coordinated by five regional sales managers, one  in
each of the East, Southeast and West and two in the Midwest. Each regional sales
manager  is  responsible  for  directing  sales  of  corrugated  containers  and
partitions to large national accounts and smaller regional and local  purchasers
and sales of corrugated sheets to other corrugated container companies through a
regional  sales force consisting of sales representatives from each facility. In
addition to the regional sales force,  the Company uses the services of  several
brokers in the West and Northeast regions.
 
    Each  of the  Company's sales  representatives receives  training in product
specifications  and  manufacturing  techniques  in  order  to  satisfy  customer
requirements and maintain existing national and local account relationships. The
Company   emphasizes   achieving   sales  efficiency   by   preserving  existing
relationships, having a  thorough knowledge of  customer requirements and  being
flexible  and responsive to changing customer  needs. The Company has focused on
capturing market share by targeting a diverse customer base and offering a  full
product  line within  a given geographical  area. The Company  believes that the
Acquisition has  provided  access to  markets  currently outside  the  Company's
geographic  service  areas as  well  as allow  it  to expand  relationships with
existing customers  which have  packaging requirements  within geographic  areas
serviced by the St. Joe Container facilities.
 
    The  Company's  sales and  marketing system  is  supported by  a centralized
computer network. All sales are invoiced  and entered into the computer  network
at  the plant level.  Sales information and  data are accessible  on a real-time
basis from  computer terminals  at each  plant and  at the  Company's  executive
offices.  The Company's  sales and  marketing organization  provides the Company
with accurate and  timely information on  projected product demand,  competitive
activity in the marketplace and potential markets for new products and services.
 
CUSTOMERS
 
    In  Fiscal 1995, the Company's  largest customer accounted for approximately
8.7% of net sales, with the top 10 customers accounting for approximately 23.5%.
Following the Acquisition, it is anticipated  that no customer will account  for
more  than 5.0% of sales. The Company  typically has one-year, and in some cases
multi-year,  contracts  with  its   national  accounts.  These  contracts   have
provisions which provide for price adjustments based on changes in the Company's
raw  material  prices. Sales  to national  accounts accounted  for approximately
18.1% of net sales in Fiscal 1995.
 
COMPETITION
 
    The markets in which the Company sells its products are highly  competitive.
Competitors of the Company's corrugators include large, integrated manufacturers
with  operations  throughout the  United States  as  well as  small, independent
converters with a regional or local focus. The Company competes by offering  its
customers high-quality products produced to the customers' specifications, rapid
order turnaround, competitive pricing and high levels of customer service.
 
    The  Company's sheet plants generally  compete with independent regional and
local sheet plants. Competitive factors include product quality, price, delivery
time and customer  service. The Company  believes that its  ready access to  raw
materials  from its corrugator  plants provides it  a competitive advantage over
its non-integrated competitors.
 
    The market for corrugated partitions  is mature. The primary competitors  in
the  partition business  are producers  of solid  fiber partitions.  Solid fiber
partitions have a price  advantage over corrugated partitions  due to lower  raw
material  costs but are not as effective as corrugated partitions for protection
of fragile products during shipment and  storage. The Company competes with  the
solid  fiber manufacturers by tailoring timing, manufacturing specifications and
delivery requirements to individual customer needs. As consolidation among users
of corrugated partitions has  increased, the Company has  continued to focus  on
aligning  its  manufacturing  capabilites  with  individual  customer  needs  to
maintain its market share in the partition segment. In addition, the Company has
utilized its relationships  with its  partition customers to  increase sales  of
corrugated containers.
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
DISTRIBUTION
 
    Corrugated  packaging materials generally are delivered  by truck due to the
large number  of customers  and demand  for timely  service. The  dispersion  of
customers  and the high bulk  and low density and  value of corrugated packaging
materials make shipping costs a relatively high percentage of total costs. As  a
result,  corrugated  packaging  material  plants tend  to  be  located  close to
customers to minimize  freight costs. Generally,  corrugated packaging  material
plants  service an area within a 150-mile radius of the plant locations. Each of
the Company's plants typically services a market within a 250-mile radius of the
plant. The Company believes that improved operating efficiencies have enabled it
to overcome any  incremental freight  costs associated with  its larger  trading
areas.
 
RAW MATERIALS
 
    The  Company's primary raw materials  are linerboard and corrugating medium.
Historically, over two-thirds of the Company's raw materials have been  provided
by  Stone  Container, Inland  Container Corporation  and Tenneco  Packaging Inc.
pursuant to  long-term supply  contracts. The  Company has  recently  negotiated
renewals  of  two  of these  contracts  through  March and  July,  2000,  and is
currently negotiating the renewal  of the third contract.  The Company has  also
entered  into  an  additional  long-term  supply  contract  with Georgia-Pacific
Corporation. The  contracts  specify certain  monthly  and annual  discounts  to
negotiated  market prices,  which are  based on  volumes purchased.  The Company
believes that alternate sources of raw materials are available.
 
    In 1995, St. Joe Container bought a substantial amount of its containerboard
from the St. Joe Mill. Under the  Output Purchase Agreement entered into by  the
Company,  St. Joe Container, and the Mill Joint Venture on the Closing Date, the
Company must purchase one-half of the Mill's entire annual linerboard production
(approximately 250,000 tons), representing approximately one-third of its  total
requirements, at a price that is $25 per ton below the price published in PULP &
PAPER  WEEK, under  the section  entitled "Price  Watch: Paper  and Paperboard,"
subject to  a  minimum purchase  price,  which  price is  intended  to  generate
sufficient  funds  to  cover cash  operating  costs, cash  interest  expense and
maintenance capital expenditures.
 
    The Ft. Madison Mill purchases its virgin fiber and its recycled fiber  from
several  suppliers,  including some  suppliers of  recycled  fiber who  are also
customers of the Ft. Madison Mill. The Ft. Madison Mill does not typically enter
into long-term supply contracts.
 
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
    The Company's operations are subject to environmental regulation by federal,
state and local authorities in the  United States. The Company believes that  it
is in substantial compliance with current federal, state and local environmental
regulation.  Unreimbursed  liabilities  arising  from  environmental  claims, if
significant, could have a  material adverse effect on  the Company's results  of
operations  and financial condition. Furthermore,  actions by federal, state and
local governments  concerning  environmental matters  could  result in  laws  or
regulations  that could increase the cost  of compliance with environmental laws
and regulations.
 
    In November  1993, the  EPA  announced proposed  regulations, known  as  the
"cluster  rules," that  would require more  stringent controls on  air and water
discharges from pulp and paper mills under the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air
Act. In March  1996, the  EPA reopened  the comment  period for  certain of  the
proposed  cluster  rule  air  regulations  and  proposed  additional regulations
regarding air discharges. Pulp and paper manufacturers have submitted  extensive
comments  to the EPA  on the proposed  cluster rules in  support of the position
that requirements  under the  proposed  regulations are  unnecessarily  complex,
burdensome  and environmentally unjustified. It cannot be predicted at this time
whether the EPA will modify the requirements in the final regulations. Based  on
information  presently available from the EPA, it  is expected that the EPA will
promulgate the final cluster rules in 1996. In addition, the Company anticipates
that the  earliest time  for industry  compliance with  certain aspects  of  the
regulations should not be prior to the last quarter of 1997, and that compliance
with  the remaining elements  will be required  by the end  of 1999. The Company
estimates that  these  regulations,  if adopted  as  currently  proposed,  would
require  capital expenditures of  approximately $1.5 million  to $2.0 million by
the Company with respect to the Ft. Madison Mill. The ultimate financial  impact
of  the proposed  regulations on the  Company will  depend on the  nature of the
final regulations,  the  timing of  required  implementation and  the  cost  and
availability of new technology.
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
    The Acquisition Agreement provides that the Paper Indemnitors will indemnify
the  Company for certain "On-Site Environmental  Liabilities" (as defined in the
Acquisition Agreement) arising from conditions existing on the Closing Date  and
relating  either  to the  St.  Joe Mill  or  the St.  Joe  Container facilities.
Pursuant to  these provisions,  (1) 100.0%  of the  first $2.5  million of  such
liability  will be paid by the Company or  the Mill Joint Venture, (2) 100.0% of
the next $2.5  million by the  Paper Indemnitors,  (3) 100.0% of  the next  $2.5
million of such liability will be paid by the Company or the Mill Joint Venture,
(4)  100.0% of the next $2.5 million of such liability will be paid by the Paper
Indemnitors, (5) 100.0% of the next $2.5 million of such liability will be  paid
by the Company or the Mill Joint Venture and (6) 100.0% of the next $5.0 million
of  such liability  will be  paid by  the Paper  Indemnitors; PROVIDED  that the
conditions  that  give  rise  to  such  On-Site  Environmental  Liabilities  are
discovered  and the  Paper Indemnitors are  notified not later  than three years
after the Closing and, subject  to certain exceptions, remediation expenses  are
incurred within five years after the Closing. The Paper Indemnitors will have no
responsibility  to indemnify the Company or  the Mill Joint Venture for expenses
relating to On-Site Environmental Liabilities in excess of the foregoing or  for
any  On-Site Environmental Liabilities discovered after the third anniversary of
the Closing.  The  Company  is  solely  responsible  for  On-Site  Environmental
Liabilities  that arise  from the  acts or  omissions of  the Company  after the
Closing. In the event that On-Site Environmental Liabilities arise from acts  or
omissions  which occurred  both before and  after the  Closing, such liabilities
will be  allocated between  the Paper  Indemnitors,  on the  one hand,  and  the
Company  or the  Mill Joint Venture,  on the  other hand, based  on the relative
contribution of the  acts and omissions  occurring in each  time period to  such
On-Site  Environmental Liabilities. St. Joe  Paper and its affiliates, including
St. Joe  Container, have  retained  responsibility for  "Off-Site  Environmental
Liabilities"   (as  defined  in  the  Acquisition  Agreement)  that  arise  from
conditions existing on  the Closing  Date. In the  event Off-Site  Environmental
Liabilities arise from acts or omissions that occurred both before and after the
Closing,  such Liabilities will  be allocated between  the Paper Indemnitors, on
the one hand, and  the Company and  the Mill Joint Venture,  on the other  hand,
based  on the relative contribution of the  acts and omissions occurring in each
time period to such Off-Site Environmental Liabilities. Should a condition exist
that requires  remediation costs  to be  incurred both  within and  without  the
boundaries  of the real property, the costs  for work within the boundaries will
be  deemed  On-Site  Environmental  Liabilities,  and  the  work  outside   such
boundaries will be deemed Off-Site Environmental Liabilities. Subject to certain
exceptions,  On-Site Environmental  Liabilities do not  include liabilities that
arise due to a change in any law or regulation becoming effective after November
1, 1995.
 
    Pursuant to  the Indemnification  Reimbursement Agreement  between the  Mill
Joint  Venture and  the Company, the  benefit of indemnification  from the Paper
Indemnitors with respect  to such  environmental liabilities  will be  allocated
80.0%  to the Mill Joint  Venture and 20.0% to the  Company, with the Mill Joint
Venture  or  the  Company  being  obligated,  under  certain  circumstances,  to
reimburse  the other in the event either  recovers more than its allocated share
and the other recovers less.
 
    The  obligations  of   the  Paper  Indemnitors   with  respect  to   On-Site
Environmental Liabilities will terminate in the event that either the Company or
the  Mill  Joint Venture  undergoes a  "change  of control"  (as defined  in the
Acquisition Agreement). Change of Control is  defined to mean (i) a  transaction
in  which any  Person or Group  (as defined in  Rule 13d-5 of  the Exchange Act)
other than the  "Principals" (as defined  in the Acquisition  Agreement) or  the
"Lenders"  (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) acquires more than 50.0% of
the total voting power of all classes of voting stock of the Company or the Mill
Joint Venture, as the  case may be,  (ii) a transaction in  which any Person  or
Group  (as defined in Rule 13d-5 of  the Exchange Act) other than the Principals
or the  Lenders has  a sufficient  number of  nominees elected  to constitute  a
majority of the Board of Directors of the Company or of the Board of Managers of
the  Mill  Joint  Venture,  as  the  case may  be,  (iii)  the  sale  of  all or
substantially all of the capital stock of the Company or the Mill Joint Venture,
as the case may be, as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person
or Group  (as  defined  in Rule  13d-5  of  the Exchange  Act)  other  than  the
Principals  or the Lenders and (iv) the sale or transfer of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company or the Mill Joint Venture, as the case may  be,
as  an entirety  or substantially as  an entirety  to any Person  other than the
Principals or the Lenders. For purposes of the definition of Change of  Control,
"Principals"  is  defined as  (1)  Dennis Mehiel  in  the case  of  the Company,
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
(2) the Company and Stone Container, in the case of the Mill Joint Venture,  and
(3)  any  subsidiary  of Dennis  Mehiel,  the  Company or  Stone  Container; and
"Lenders" is defined  as one or  more institutional lenders  which provide  debt
financing to the Company or the Mill Joint Venture as of the Closing.
 
    Pursuant  to  the Acquisition  Agreement, St.  Joe  Container has  agreed to
undertake and complete, at its sole cost, remedial actions required for a former
land application  area  at the  container  facility located  in  Laurens,  South
Carolina  and remedial actions associated with  two underground storage tanks at
the container facility located in Chicago, Illinois. St. Joe Container has  also
agreed  to reimburse the Company for up  to $1.4 million of expenses incurred by
the Company  after the  Closing to  undertake certain  identified  environmental
projects at several of the acquired container facilities.
 
    The  indemnification provisions  in the Acquisition  Agreement are generally
intended to  be the  exclusive remedies  of  the parties  with respect  to  such
agreements.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    From  time to time,  the Company is  subject to legal  proceedings and other
claims arising in  the ordinary course  of its business.  The Company  maintains
insurance coverage against claims in an amount which it believes to be adequate.
The  Company believes that  it is not  presently a party  to any litigation, the
outcome of which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse  effect
on its financial condition or results of operations.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
PROPERTIES
 
    The  Company  owns or  leases manufacturing  properties having  an aggregate
floor space of approximately 4.5 million  square feet. The table below  provides
summary  information regarding the  principal properties owned  or leased by the
Company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             APPROXIMATE                          LEASED OR
LOCATION                    SQUARE FOOTAGE         TYPE             OWNED
- --------------------------  --------------  -------------------  ------------
<S>                         <C>             <C>                  <C>
Birmingham, AL (1)               167,000    Corrugator           Owned
Lake Wales, FL (1)               275,000    Corrugator           Owned
Atlanta, GA (1)                  167,000    Corrugator           Owned
Chicago, IL (1)                  185,000    Corrugator           Owned
Hartford City, IN (1)            277,150    Corrugator           Owned
Louisville, KY (1)               240,000    Corrugator           Owned
Baltimore, MD (1)                220,000    Corrugator           Owned
Newark, OH                       107,000    Corrugator           Owned
Charlotte, NC (1)                170,000    Corrugator           Owned
Eighty Four, PA                  133,000    Corrugator           Owned
Pittsburgh, PA (1)               225,000    Corrugator           Owned
Laurens, SC (1)                  180,000    Corrugator           Owned
Memphis, TN (1)                  216,000    Corrugator           Owned
Dallas, TX (1)                   187,000    Corrugator           Owned
Houston, TX (1)                  157,000    Corrugator           Owned
Chesapeake, VA (1)               148,000    Corrugator           Owned
Compton, CA                      135,000    Corrugator           Leased
Port St. Joe, FL (1)(2)          142,000    Corrugator           Leased
Stockbridge, GA (3)              160,000    Corrugator           Leased
Flint, MI (3)                    135,000    Corrugator           Leased
Dothan, AL (1)                    31,000    Sheet                Owned
Byesville, OH                     60,000    Sheet                Owned
Montebello, CA                    90,000    Sheet (4)            Leased
San Leandro, CA                  110,000    Sheet (4)            Leased
Vernon, CA (6)                   200,000    Sheet                Owned
Jacksonville, FL (3)(5)           69,000    Partition            Leased
Litchfield, IL                    42,000    Partition            Leased
Portland, IN (3)                  40,500    Partition            Leased
Bethesda, OH (3)                  44,100    Partition            Leased
Ft. Madison, IA                  138,570    Mill                 Owned
Valhalla, NY                      10,500    Executive Offices    Leased
Union, NJ (1)                        800    Sales                Leased
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
(1)  Properties acquired in the Acquisition.
 
(2)  Property to be net leased from the Mill Joint Venture for a nominal  rental
     payment.
 
(3)  Properties  owned, directly or  indirectly, by Dennis  Mehiel. See "Related
     Party Transactions."
 
(4)  Sheet plants which have the capability to produce partitions.
 
(5)  As of March 21, 1996, the Company  has leased an additional sheet plant  of
     approximately  72,690 square  feet located  in Jacksonville,  Florida which
     became fully operational on July 1, 1996.
 
(6)  Acquired on June  4, 1996  by Box USA  Group, Inc.  for approximately  $4.5
     million.  The  Company anticipates  that it  will spend  approximately $1.1
     million for capital expenditures on this plant.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
EMPLOYEES
 
    As of April 30, 1996, the Company had 915 employees, of whom 672 were hourly
employees and 243 were salaried employees.  Of such employees, 205 were  engaged
in  management  and  administrative  functions, 38  were  engaged  in  sales and
marketing and 672 were engaged in manufacturing. Three hundred ninety-one hourly
employees at seven Company facilities are members of unions under seven separate
contracts. Two of these contracts expire in 1996, one in 1997 and four in  1998.
Management believes that its employee relations are good.
 
    As  of January 31, 1996, 1,409 people were employed in the St. Joe Container
facilities, of whom 997 were hourly  employees and 412 were salaried  employees.
Of  such employees, 140 were engaged in management and administrative functions,
120  were  engaged  in  sales  and  marketing,  997  were  engaged  in  manufac-
turing,  and 152 were  engaged in distribution. Approximately  740 of the hourly
employees were members of various unions. None of the union agreements to  which
St.  Joe Container is a party were assignable to the Company in the Acquisition,
and the Company  must negotiate  new collective bargaining  agreements with  the
relevant  unions in  connection with  the consummation  of the  Acquisition. See
"Risk Factors -- Labor Matters."
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
 
    The  following is a table setting  forth certain information with respect to
the individuals who are the directors and executive officers of the Company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            NAME                  AGE                            POSITION
- -----------------------------     ---     ------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>        <C>
Dennis Mehiel                     54      Chairman and Director
Chris Mehiel                      56      Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and
                                           Director
Gerald K. Adams                   43      Chief Executive Officer
Timothy D. McMillin               53      Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
                                           Director
Harvey L. Friedman                54      Corporate Secretary and General Counsel
Frederick H. Woestendiek          65      Vice President and Regional Manager
Ingrid Santiago                   44      Vice President--Materials Management
Elizabeth H. Lally                60      Vice President--Administration
Clinton G. Ames                   73      Director
Lawrence A. Bishop                51      Director
Samuel B. Guren                   49      Director
Thomas Uleau                      51      Director
James Armenakis                   53      Director
John Nevin                        61      Director
</TABLE>
 
    DENNIS MEHIEL, a co-founder of the Company, has been the Chairman since 1977
and Chief Executive  Officer of  the Company until  June 1996,  except during  a
leave  of absence from April 1994 through July  1995. He is also the Chairman of
the Executive Committee of the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Mehiel is  also
the  Chairman of  Fonda and  the MannKraft  Corporation, a  corrugated container
manufacturer ("MannKraft").
 
    CHRIS MEHIEL, the brother of Dennis  Mehiel, is a co-founder of the  Company
and has been Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and a Director of
the  Company since September  1995. Mr. Mehiel was  President of Fibre Marketing
Group, Inc., a waste paper recovery  business which he co-founded, from 1994  to
January  1996. He  is the  President of the  managing member  of Fibre Marketing
Group, LLC, the successor to Fibre Marketing Group, Inc. From 1993 to 1994,  Mr.
Mehiel served as President and Chief Operating Officer of MannKraft Corporation,
a corrugated container manufacturer. From 1982 to 1992, Mr. Mehiel served as the
President  and Chief  Operating Officer of  Specialty Industries,  Inc., a waste
paper processing and container manufacturing company.
 
    GERALD K. ADAMS became Chief Executive Officer of the Company in June  1996.
From  March 1992 to  March 1996, he  was Chief Executive  Officer of Amcor Fibre
Packaging Group, a corrugated  packaging company and a  division of Amcor,  Ltd.
From  March  1988  until  March  1992, Mr.  Adams  was  the  General  Manager of
Australian Paper, a folding cartonboard producer and a division of Amcor, Ltd.
 
    TIMOTHY D. MCMILLIN has been a Director of the Company since 1983 and Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial  Officer since September 1995. From  November
1994  to  September  1995,  he  was  Chairman  of  Executive  Advisors,  Inc., a
consulting firm specializing in financial restructuring. From 1991 to 1994,  Mr.
McMillin  was an  independent strategic  and financial  consultant. Mr. McMillin
spent over 25  years in the  financial services industry  and served in  various
capacities,  including Executive Vice President,  at Maryland National Bank from
1965  to  1990.  Mr.  McMillin  is  a  Director  of  EIL  Instruments,  Inc.,  a
manufacturer and distributor of testing, measurement and energy control systems.
Mr.  McMillin  is a  member of  the Audit  Committee of  the Company's  Board of
Directors.
 
    HARVEY L.  FRIEDMAN  has  been  General Counsel  since  1991  and  Corporate
Secretary  since May  1996. He was  a Director of  the Company from  1985 to May
1996. He was formerly a partner in Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel, a New York
City law firm.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
    FREDERICK H. WOESTENDIEK has been Vice President and Regional Manager of the
Company's subsidiary, Box USA Group, Inc., since 1990. Mr. Woestendiek has  been
in the corrugated industry for over 30 years. He joined the Company when Eastern
Ohio  Packaging  Company (a  company he  started  in 1984)  was acquired  by the
Company in  1988.  He was  Sales  Manager  with Greif  Brothers  Corporation,  a
manufacturer of corrugated containers and fiber drums, from 1961 to 1984.
 
    INGRID  SANTIAGO  has  been  Vice  President--Materials  Management  of  the
Company's subsidiary, Box USA Group, Inc.,  since 1991. Ms. Santiago joined  the
Company  in 1977 as Executive Secretary. In 1982 she joined the Customer Service
Department and  in 1984  was named  Director of  the Company's  Corporate  Sales
Service Department.
 
    ELIZABETH  H. LALLY has  been Vice President--Administration  of the Company
since 1988. She was  Corporate Secretary from  1986 to May  1996. Ms. Lally  was
Vice  President and Corporate Secretary  at Clevepak Corporation, a manufacturer
of specialty packaging,  industrial and engineered  products, process  equipment
and  technical ceramics, from 1977 to 1986. She was Assistant to the Chairman of
Georgia-Pacific Corporation from 1966 to 1975.
 
    CLINTON G. AMES has been a Director  of the Company since 1992 and has  been
Chief Executive Officer of Four M Paper Corporation, a subsidiary of the Company
and  the operating company for the Ft. Madison Mill, since July 1995. From April
1994 through  July 1995,  Mr.  Ames served  as  the Company's  President,  Chief
Executive  Officer and Chief Operating Officer. From  1990 to 1994, he served as
the Chief Executive Officer of  Fonda. From 1988 to 1990,  Mr. Ames served as  a
consultant  to the  Company. Prior  to joining  the Company,  Mr. Ames  was with
Inland Container  Corporation for  19 years,  commencing in  1968. In  1974,  he
became  Inland's  President  and,  in  1978,  its  Chief  Executive  Officer and
Chairman, positions he held until  he retired from Inland  in 1987. Mr. Ames  is
also a Director of Bell Packaging Corporation.
 
    LAWRENCE  A. BISHOP has been a Director  of the Company since November 1985.
He has held  various positions  since 1980  at Gray,  Seifert and  Co., Inc.,  a
registered  investment  advisor  that  provides  money  management  services  to
individuals and institutions, and  currently holds the  title of Executive  Vice
President. From 1972 to 1979, he was a Vice President of Bessemer Trust Company,
N.A.  Mr. Bishop is a Director  of Synergistics, Inc., and Unapix Entertainment,
Inc. Mr.  Bishop  is  Chairman of  the  Compensation/Stock  Appreciation  Rights
Committee  and a member  of the Executive  Committee and Audit  Committee of the
Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Bishop is also a Director of Fonda.
 
    SAMUEL B. GUREN  has been  a Director  of the Company  since 1987.  He is  a
Managing  Director of Baird Capital Partners, a  private equity fund. He is also
co-founder and Managing Partner since  1982 of William Blair Venture  Management
Company, the general partner of three private equity funds. Mr. Guren was a Vice
President  at Continental Illinois  Corporation from 1974 to  1981. Mr. Guren is
Chairman of the Audit Committee of  the Company's Board of Directors. Mr.  Guren
is also a Director of Fonda.
 
    THOMAS  ULEAU has been the Chief Operating Officer of Fonda since March 1995
a Director of Fonda since 1988 and a Director of the Company since May 1989. Mr.
Uleau was Executive Vice  President and Chief Financial  Officer of the  Company
from  1989  through March  1994. He  served as  President of  Cardinal Container
Corporation (which was acquired by the Company  in 1985) from 1983 to 1986.  Mr.
Uleau  started his career as  an accountant at Deloitte,  Haskins and Sells from
1969 to 1972, after  which he spent  several years in  various capacities at  IU
International, a transportation and paper products conglomerate.
 
    JAMES  ARMENAKIS has been a  Director of the Company  since May 1996. He has
been a partner in Armenakis & Armenakis, a New York City law firm, since 1990.
 
    JOHN NEVIN has been a Director of the Company since May 1996. He has been an
Executive Vice President  at Fieldcrest  Cannon, Inc. since  October 1995.  From
September  1990 to October  1995 he was  a Senior Vice  President at James River
Corporation. From  1957 to  1990,  Mr. Nevin  served  in various  capacities  at
International Paper Company, including Vice President and Group Executive of the
Pulp and Coated Papers Businesses.
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    The  following  table  sets forth  the  compensation paid  to  the Company's
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  the  Company's  four  most  highly
compensated  executive officers  (the "Named Executive  Officers") during Fiscal
1995:
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       LONG-TERM
                                                                                     COMPENSATION
                                                                                    ---------------
                                              ANNUAL COMPENSATION                     SECURITIES
                                             ----------------------  OTHER ANNUAL     UNDERLYING       ALL OTHER
        NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION            SALARY      BONUS     COMPENSATION     OPTION/SARS    COMPENSATION
- -------------------------------------------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ---------------  -------------
<S>                                          <C>         <C>         <C>            <C>              <C>
Dennis Mehiel
 Chairman of the Board of
 Directors                                     $333,044    $375,000       $38,904 (1)            --      $137,448 (2)
 
Clinton Ames
 Chief Executive Officer
 of Four M Paper
 Corporation                                    360,000     120,000            --              --              --
 
William Hutchinson, Jr. (3)
 former Executive Vice President                160,000      55,000            --              --           1,542 (4)
 
Frederick H. Woestendiek
 Vice President and Regional
 Manager of Box USA
 Group, Inc.                                    122,855      16,000            --           1,500           3,452 (4)
 
Thomas Uleau
 Chief Operating Officer
 of Fonda                                       106,667(5)         --           --             --           1,208 (4)
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
(1)  Includes  imputed  interest  ($37,189)  from  non-interest  bearing   loans
     provided to Dennis Mehiel by the Company.
 
(2)  Consists  of split-dollar term life insurance  premiums for Mr. Mehiel paid
     by the Company.
 
(3)  Resigned as Executive Vice President in  August 1995 when the Company  sold
     its interest in Timberline Packaging, Inc.
 
(4)  Consists of contributions to the Company's Savings and Investment Plan.
 
(5)  Consists of salary through March 1995 when Fonda was spun off.
 
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
 
    Any  Director  who  is  not  an  employee  of  the  Company  receives annual
compensation of $5,000 and a fee of  $500 for attendance at each meeting of  the
Board  of Directors. Directors who  are employees of the  Company do not receive
any compensation or fees for service on the Board of Directors.
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
 
    The following table  provides information  on grants  of stock  appreciation
rights ("SARs") made during Fiscal 1995 to the Named Executive Officers:
 
                        OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN FISCAL 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
                                                                --------------------------------------------------
                                                                 NUMBER OF
                                                                SECURITIES    % OF TOTAL
                                                                UNDERLYING   OPTIONS/SARS    EXERCISE
                                                                 OPTIONS/     GRANTED TO     OR BASE
                                                                   SARS      EMPLOYEES IN     PRICE     EXPIRATION
NAME                                                              GRANTED     FISCAL YEAR   PER SHARE    DATE (1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  -------------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                                             <C>          <C>            <C>         <C>
Frederick H. Woestendiek......................................       1,500          6.1 %        $0.13      --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
(1) Unless otherwise determined by the non-employee directors of the Company and
    the  Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the "Administering Committee"),
    awards of SARs will vest on each  anniversary of their grant at the rate  of
    20.0%  per year  commencing on the  first anniversary date.  However, in the
    event that  at the  time of  any  grant of  SARs the  grantee has  not  been
    continuously  employed by the Company for  at least five years, such vesting
    shall be conditional and  shall be deemed unvested  until the completion  of
    such five-year period. Upon voluntary termination of employment, involuntary
    termination  without  cause  or  termination  due  to  death,  disability or
    retirement at  age 60  or above,  all unvested  SARs will  be forfeited  and
    vested  SARs not previously  redeemed will be  redeemed automatically by the
    Company as of the date of termination.
 
    The following  table provides  information on  SARs exercised  by the  Named
Executive  Officers in Fiscal 1995 and the value held by such officers as of the
end of Fiscal 1995:
 
                 AGGREGATE OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN FISCAL 1995
                     AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION/SAR VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  NUMBER OF SECURITIES        VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                                 UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED           IN-THE-MONEY
                                                                      OPTIONS/SARS                OPTIONS/SARS
                                                                  AS OF JULY 31, 1995         AS OF JULY 31, 1995
                                 SHARES ACQUIRED     VALUE     --------------------------  --------------------------
NAME                               ON EXERCISE     REALIZED    EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE  EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE
- -------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------  -------------
<S>                              <C>              <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
William Hutchinson, Jr.........            --             --        8,000          7,000           --             --
Thomas Uleau...................            --             --        4,800          4,200           --             --
Frederick H. Woestendiek.......            --             --        1,100          2,400           --             --
</TABLE>
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
                               SECURITY OWNERSHIP
 
    The following table  sets forth  information as  of December  31, 1995  with
respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  AMOUNT OF
                                                                 BENEFICIAL       PERCENTAGE OF BENEFICIAL
                                                             OWNERSHIP OF SHARES   OWNERSHIP OF SHARES OF
NAME                                                         OF COMMON STOCK(1)         COMMON STOCK
- -----------------------------------------------------------  -------------------  -------------------------
<S>                                                          <C>                  <C>
Dennis Mehiel..............................................        6,815,867                   100%
</TABLE>
 
                           RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
    Dennis  Mehiel is an owner of entities  from which the Company rents certain
property, plant  and  equipment.  Rental  expense incurred  and  paid  to  these
entities  in Fiscal 1993, Fiscal 1994  and Fiscal 1995 amounted to approximately
$0.9 million, $1.1 million, and $0.9 million, respectively. The Company believes
that such rents are not in excess of market levels. The partition plant  located
in  Jacksonville, Florida is  currently leased by  Fonda from Mr.  Mehiel, and a
portion of the facility is subleased to the Company.
 
    Dennis Mehiel has been a  part owner since 1993  of MannKraft, to which  the
Company  sold approximately $15.0 million, $3.3  million and $30,000 of material
in Fiscal 1993, Fiscal 1994 and Fiscal 1995, respectively. The Company  believes
that the prices at which such sales were made are not below market levels.
 
    In  March 1995, the Company spun off  its Fonda subsidiary to Dennis Mehiel.
The Company sold approximately  $0.8 million, $0.6 million  and $1.1 million  of
material to Fonda in Fiscal 1993, Fiscal 1994 and Fiscal 1995, respectively. The
Company  believes that the  prices at which  such sales were  made are not below
market levels.
 
    Chris Mehiel has been a part owner  since 1994 of Fibre Marketing, to  which
the  Company sold  approximately $3.4  million of  material in  Fiscal 1995. The
Company believes that the  prices at which  such sales were  made are not  below
market levels.
 
    The Company had outstanding notes and loans receivable from Dennis Mehiel in
the  amount of $0.8 million, $1.3 million and  $1.5 million at the end of Fiscal
1993, Fiscal 1994 and Fiscal 1995, respectively, all of which were  non-interest
bearing and all of which have been paid.
 
    In  addition,  the  Initial Purchaser  provided  certain  financial advisory
services to  the  Company in  connection  with the  Acquisition.  In  connection
therewith,  the Initial Purchaser received a fee of $1.2 million and warrants to
purchase 1.3% of the Company, plus reimbursement of certain expenses.
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
                            DESCRIPTION OF NEW NOTES
 
    GENERAL.    The New  Notes  will be  issued  pursuant to  an  Indenture (the
"Indenture") between the Company  and Norwest Bank  Minnesota, N.A., as  trustee
(the   "Trustee"),  in  a  private  transaction  that  is  not  subject  to  the
registration requirements of  the Securities  Act. The  terms of  the New  Notes
include  those stated in the  Indenture and those made  part of the Indenture by
reference to the Trust  Indenture Act of 1939  (the "Trust Indenture Act").  The
New  Notes are subject to all such terms,  and Holders of New Notes are referred
to the  Indenture and  the Trust  Indenture  Act for  a statement  thereof.  The
following  summary of certain provisions of the Indenture does not purport to be
complete and  is  qualified in  its  entirety  by reference  to  the  Indenture,
including  the definitions  therein of certain  terms used below.  Copies of the
Indenture, Collateral  Documents (as  defined  herein) and  Registration  Rights
Agreement   are  available  as   set  forth  under   the  caption  "--Additional
Information." The definitions of certain terms used in the following summary are
set forth below under the caption "--Certain Definitions."
 
    The New Notes will be senior secured obligations of the Company, rank senior
in right of  payment to all  subordinated indebtedness of  the Company and  rank
PARI PASSU in right of payment with all senior borrowings. The New Notes will be
secured  by  a  lien  on  certain  assets  of  the  Company  and  its Restricted
Subsidiaries, including a first priority security interest in substantially  all
of  the equipment of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and a pledge of
the Capital Stock of the Subsidiaries of the Company. See "--Security."
 
    The New Notes will be guaranteed, on a senior secured basis, by all  current
Subsidiaries  of  the  Company  other  than  Box  USA  Paper  Corporation, which
indirectly holds the Company's  interests in the  St. Joe Mill,  and Box USA  of
Florida,  L.P.,  which  operates  one  converting  facility.  See  "--Subsidiary
Guarantees." As of the date of the Indenture, all of the Company's  Subsidiaries
other  than Box USA Paper Corporation are Restricted Subsidiaries. Box USA Paper
Corporation is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, and the Company is able to  designate
other  current or future Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries under certain
circumstances.  Unrestricted  Subsidiaries  are  not  subject  to  many  of  the
restrictive   covenants   set   forth   in   the   Indenture.   See   "--Certain
Covenants--Restricted   Payments"   and   "--Certain   Definitions--Unrestricted
Subsidiary."
 
    SUBSIDIARY  GUARANTEES.   The  Company's payment  obligations under  the New
Notes will be jointly and severally guaranteed (the "Subsidiary Guarantees")  by
the Guarantors.
 
    The  Indenture provides that no Guarantor may consolidate with or merge with
or into  (whether  or  not  such Guarantor  is  the  surviving  Person)  another
corporation,  Person or entity,  whether or not  affiliated with such Guarantor,
unless (i) subject  to the  provisions of  the following  paragraph, the  Person
formed  by or  surviving any  such consolidation or  merger (if  other than such
Guarantor) assumes  all  the  obligations  of  such  Guarantor,  pursuant  to  a
supplemental  indenture  and the  appropriate Collateral  Documents in  form and
substance reasonably  satisfactory to  the  Trustee, under  the New  Notes,  the
Indenture  and the Collateral Documents; (ii) immediately after giving effect to
such transaction, no Default or Event  of Default exists; (iii) such  Guarantor,
or  any Person formed  by or surviving  any such consolidation  or merger, would
have  Consolidated  Net   Worth  (immediately  after   giving  effect  to   such
transaction)  equal  to  or greater  than  the  Consolidated Net  Worth  of such
Guarantor immediately preceding the transaction;  and (iv) the Company would  be
permitted  by virtue  of the  Company's pro  forma Fixed  Charge Coverage Ratio,
immediately after giving effect to such transaction, to incur at least $1.00  of
additional  Indebtedness pursuant  to the Fixed  Charge Coverage  Ratio test set
forth  in   the  covenant   described  below   under  the   caption   "--Certain
Covenants--Incurrence  of Indebtedness"; PROVIDED, that the foregoing provisions
do not restrict the ability of  a Restricted Subsidiary to consolidate or  merge
with the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary.
 
    The  Indenture provides that, in the event of a sale or other disposition of
all of the assets of any Guarantor (other than to or with the Company or another
Guarantor), by way  of merger, consolidation  or otherwise, or  a sale or  other
disposition  of all  of the capital  stock of  any Guarantor (other  than to the
Company or another Guarantor), then  such Guarantor (in the  event of a sale  or
other  disposition, by way of such a  merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all
of the  capital  stock of  such  Guarantor)  or the  corporation  acquiring  the
property  (in the event of a  sale or other disposition of  all of the assets of
such Guarantor) will
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
be released  and relieved  of any  obligations under  its Subsidiary  Guarantee;
PROVIDED  that the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture. See "--Repurchase at
Option of Holders--Asset Sales and Events  of Loss." In addition, the  Indenture
provides  that, in the event the Company designates a Subsidiary Guarantor to be
an Unrestricted Subsidiary, then such Subsidiary Guarantor will be released  and
relieved  of any obligations under its  Subsidiary Guarantee; PROVIDED that such
designation is conducted  in accordance  with the applicable  provisions of  the
Indenture.   See  "--Certain  Covenants--Restricted   Payments"  and  "--Certain
Definitions--Unrestricted Subsidiary."
 
    "Guarantors" means all current Subsidiaries  of the Company, other than  Box
USA  Paper Corporation and  Box USA of  Florida, L.P., and  any other Subsidiary
that executed a Subsidiary  Guarantee in accordance with  the provisions of  the
Indenture,  and their  respective successors and  assigns, unless  and until any
successor replaces  any such  Guarantor  in accordance  with  the terms  of  the
Indenture, and thereafter includes each such successor.
 
    SECURITY.    The New  Notes will  be  secured by  a first  priority security
interest in substantially all of the  equipment and certain other assets of  the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (but excluding, among other things, land
and  improvements thereon, inventories and accounts receivable, and the proceeds
thereof), and  by a  pledge of  the Capital  Stock of  the Subsidiaries  of  the
Company.  The Company  and its  Restricted Subsidiaries,  other than  Box USA of
Florida, L.P., have entered into  certain of the Collateral Documents  providing
for  the grant by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Trustee, as
collateral agent (in such capacity, the  "Collateral Agent") for the holders  of
the  New  Notes  ("Holders"),  of  a first  priority  security  interest  in the
Collateral. Such security interests will secure the payment and performance when
due of all  of the Obligations  of the Company  and its Restricted  Subsidiaries
under the Indenture, the New Notes and the Collateral Documents.
 
    In  the event that any Collateral is  sold in accordance with the provisions
of the Indenture and the Net  Proceeds therefrom are applied in accordance  with
the  terms of the covenant entitled  "Repurchase at the Option of Holders--Asset
Sales and Events of Loss," the Collateral Agent shall release the Liens in favor
of the Collateral Agent  in the Collateral sold;  PROVIDED, that the  Collateral
Agent  shall  have received  from the  Company an  Officer's Certificate  and an
Opinion of Counsel that such Net Proceeds have been or will be so applied.  Upon
the full and final payment and performance of all Obligations of the Company and
its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  under  the  Indenture,  the  New  Notes  and  the
Collateral  Documents,  the  Collateral   Documents  shall  terminate  and   the
Collateral  shall  be  released  from  the  Lien  of  the  applicable Collateral
Document. If an Event of Default (as defined herein) shall have occurred and  is
continuing,  the rights and remedies of the  Trustee as Collateral Agent for the
Holders of the New Notes with respect to the Collateral shall be as set forth in
the Collateral Documents.
 
    PRINCIPAL, MATURITY  AND  INTEREST.    The New  Notes  will  be  limited  in
aggregate  principal amount to $170.0  million and will mature  on June 1, 2006.
Interest on the New Notes will accrue at  the rate of 12% per annum and will  be
payable  semi-annually  in  arrears on  June  1  and December  1  of  each year,
commencing on  December  1,  1996,  to Holders  of  record  on  the  immediately
preceding May 15 and November 15. Interest on the New Notes will accrue from the
most  recent date to  which interest has been  paid or, if  no interest has been
paid, from the date of original issuance. Interest will be computed on the basis
of a 360-day year comprised of  twelve 30-day months. Principal of, premium  and
interest on the New Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Company
maintained  for  such purpose  or,  at the  option  of the  Company,  payment of
interest may be made by  check mailed to the Holders  of the New Notes at  their
respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders of New Notes; PROVIDED
that all payments with respect to New Notes the Holders of which have given wire
transfer  instructions  to the  Company  will be  required  to be  made  by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders
thereof. Until  otherwise designated  by the  Company, the  Company's office  or
agency  will be the office  of the Trustee maintained  for such purpose. The New
Notes will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
 
    OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.  The New Notes will not be redeemable at the  Company's
option  prior to  June 1,  2001. Thereafter,  the New  Notes will  be subject to
redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than
30 nor  more  than 60  days'  notice, at  the  redemption prices  (expressed  as
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
percentages  of  principal  amount)  set forth  below  plus  accrued  and unpaid
interest, if any,  to the  applicable redemption  date, if  redeemed during  the
twelve-month period beginning on June 1 of the years indicated below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR                                                                                PERCENTAGE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------
<S>                                                                                 <C>
2001..............................................................................       106.0%
2002..............................................................................       104.0%
2003..............................................................................       102.0%
2004 and thereafter...............................................................       100.0%
</TABLE>
 
    Notwithstanding  the  foregoing, at  any  time prior  to  June 1,  1999, the
Company may redeem up to one-third in aggregate principal amount of New Notes at
a redemption price of 112%  of the principal amount  thereof, in each case  plus
accrued  and  unpaid interest,  if any,  to  the redemption  date, with  the net
proceeds of a public offering of common  stock of the Company; PROVIDED that  at
least  two-thirds  in aggregate  principal amount  of  the New  Notes originally
issued under the Indenture remain  outstanding immediately after the  occurrence
of  such redemption;  and PROVIDED,  further, that  such redemption  shall occur
within 60 days following the date of the closing of such initial public offering
of common stock of the Company.
 
    In addition, upon the  occurrence of a  Change of Control  prior to June  1,
2001,  the Company, at its option, may redeem all, but not less than all, of the
outstanding New  Notes at  a redemption  price equal  to 100%  of the  principal
amount  thereof plus  the applicable  Make-Whole Premium  (a "Change  of Control
Redemption"). The Company shall give not less than 30 and not more than 60 days'
notice of such redemption within 30 days following a Change of Control.
 
    SELECTION AND NOTICE.  If less than all of the New Notes are to be  redeemed
at  any time, selection of New Notes for  redemption will be made by the Trustee
in compliance  with  the  requirements  of  the  principal  national  securities
exchange,  if any, on which the  New Notes are listed, or,  if the New Notes are
not so listed, on  a pro rata  basis, by lot  or by such  method as the  Trustee
shall  deem fair and appropriate;  PROVIDED that no New  Notes of $1,000 or less
shall be redeemed in part. Notices of redemption shall be mailed by first  class
mail  at least 30 but not  more than 60 days before  the redemption date to each
Holder of New Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. If any New Note is
to be redeemed in part only, the  notice of redemption that relates to such  New
Note  shall state the portion of the  principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A
new New Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be
issued in the name of the Holder  thereof upon cancellation of the original  New
Note.  On and after the  redemption date, interest shall  cease to accrue on New
Notes or the portions thereof called for redemption.
 
    MANDATORY  REDEMPTION.    Except  as  set  forth  below  under  the  caption
"--Repurchase  at the Option  of Holders," the  Company is not  required to make
mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the New Notes.
 
REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS
 
    CHANGE OF CONTROL.  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each  Holder
of New Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any
part  (equal to  $1,000 or  an integral multiple  thereof) of  such Holder's New
Notes pursuant to the offer described  below (the "Change of Control Offer")  at
an  offer price in cash equal to  101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof
plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any,  to the date of purchase (the  "Change
of  Control  Payment"). Within  ten days  following any  Change of  Control, the
Company will mail  a notice  to each Holder  that describes  the transaction  or
transactions  that constitute the Change of Control and offers to repurchase New
Notes pursuant to the procedures required by the Indenture and described in such
notice. The Company will  comply with the requirements  of Rule 14e-1 under  the
Exchange  Act and  any other securities  laws and regulations  thereunder to the
extent  such  laws  and  regulations  are  applicable  in  connection  with  the
repurchase of the New Notes as a result of a Change of Control.
 
    On  the Change  of Control  Payment Date,  the Company  will, to  the extent
lawful, (1)  accept for  payment  all New  Notes  or portions  thereof  properly
tendered    pursuant   to   the   Change   of   Control   Offer,   (2)   deposit
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
with the  Paying Agent  an amount  equal to  the Change  of Control  Payment  in
respect  of all  New Notes or  portions thereof  so tendered and  (3) deliver or
cause to be delivered to the Trustee the New Notes so accepted together with  an
Officers'  Certificate stating  the aggregate principal  amount of  New Notes or
portions thereof being purchased by the Company. The Paying Agent will  promptly
mail  to each Holder of New Notes so  tendered the Change of Control Payment for
such New Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to
be transferred by book entry) to each  Holder a new New Note equal in  principal
amount to any unpurchased portion of the New Notes surrendered, if any; PROVIDED
that  each such  new New  Note will  be in  a principal  amount of  $1,000 or an
integral multiple thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the
Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control
Payment Date.
 
    Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, the Indenture
does not contain provisions that permit the Holders of the New Notes to  require
that  the Company repurchase or redeem the New Notes in the event of a takeover,
recapitalization or similar transaction.  The Company's ability  to pay cash  to
the  Holders of New Notes upon a repurchase may be limited by the Company's then
existing financial resources. In addition, the occurrence of a Change of Control
may constitute a default under the Credit Facility.
 
    The Company will not be  required to make a Change  of Control Offer upon  a
Change  of Control  if a third  party makes the  Change of Control  Offer in the
manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth
in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and
purchases all New Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change  of
Control Offer.
 
    "Change  of Control" means the  occurrence of any of  the following: (i) the
sale, lease, transfer,  conveyance or other  disposition (other than  by way  of
merger  or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or
substantially all of the assets of  the Company and its Restricted  Subsidiaries
taken  as a whole to any  "person" (as such term is  used in Section 13(d)(3) of
the Exchange  Act)  other than  the  Principals  (as defined  below),  (ii)  the
adoption  of a plan relating  to the liquidation or  dissolution of the Company,
(iii) the consummation  of any transaction  (including, without limitation,  any
merger  or consolidation) the result  of which is that  any "person" (as defined
above), other than the Principals, becomes the "beneficial owner" (as such  term
is  defined in Rule  13d-3 and Rule  13d-5 under the  Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of  more than  35% of  the voting  stock of  the Company,  (iv)  the
consummation of the first transaction (including, without limitation, any merger
or  consolidation) the result of  which is that any  "person" (as defined above)
becomes the "beneficial owner"  (as defined above),  directly or indirectly,  of
more of the voting stock of the Company than is at the time "beneficially owned"
(as defined above) by the Principals or (v) the first day on which a majority of
the  members  of  the Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  are  not Continuing
Directors. For purposes of this definition,  any transfer of an equity  interest
of  an entity that was  formed for the purpose of  acquiring voting stock of the
Company will be deemed to be a transfer of such portion of such voting stock  as
corresponds  to  the portion  of  the equity  of such  entity  that has  been so
transferred.
 
    "Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any member of
the Board of  Directors of the  Company who (i)  was a member  of such Board  of
Directors  on the date  of the Indenture  or (ii) was  nominated for election or
elected to  such Board  of Directors  with the  approval of  a majority  of  the
Continuing  Directors  who  were members  of  such  Board at  the  time  of such
nomination or election.
 
    "Principals" means Dennis Mehiel, his  wife and lineal descendants, and  any
trust,  corporation, partnership or other entity  in which Dennis Mehiel and his
wife and/or lineal descendants hold an 80% or more controlling interest.
 
    ASSET SALES AND  EVENTS OF LOSS.   The Indenture  provides that the  Company
will  not, and will not permit any  of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in
an Asset Sale unless (i) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the  case
may  be) receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to
the fair market value (evidenced by a  resolution of the Board of Directors  set
forth  in an Officers'  Certificate delivered to  the Trustee) of  the assets or
Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise  disposed of and (ii) at least  85%
of  the  consideration  therefor  received by  the  Company  or  such Restricted
Subsidiary is
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
in the form of cash; PROVIDED that  the amount of (x) any liabilities (as  shown
on  the Company's or such Restricted Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet), of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities  and
liabilities  that  are by  their  terms subordinated  to  the New  Notes  or any
guarantee thereof)  that  are assumed  by  the  transferee of  any  such  assets
pursuant  to a  customary novation agreement  that releases the  Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary from further liability, (y) any notes or other obligations
received by the Company or any  such Restricted Subsidiary from such  transferee
that are immediately converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into
cash  (to the extent of the cash received) and (z) sales, leases, conveyances or
other dispositions of "Excluded Property"  as that term is defined  respectively
in  the Security  Agreement and  in the  Subsidiary Security  Agreement, in each
case, shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision.
 
    Within 270 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale  or
an  Event of Loss, the Company may apply such Net Proceeds to the acquisition of
a controlling interest in another business, the making of a capital  expenditure
or  the acquisition of other tangible assets, in  each case, in the same line of
business as the Company was engaged in on  the date of such Asset Sale or  Event
of Loss, upon the consummation of which the Collateral Agent shall have received
a  perfected first priority security interest in the assets so acquired. The Net
Proceeds of  all Asset  Sales and  Events  of Loss  shall promptly  and  without
commingling be deposited with the Trustee in the form received to be held by the
Trustee  as  Pledged  Collateral  in  the  applicable  Cash  Collateral  Account
established pursuant to the Indenture until applied as permitted pursuant to the
Indenture. Any Net  Proceeds from Asset  Sales or  Events of Loss  that are  not
applied  or invested as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph will be
deemed to  constitute "Excess  Proceeds." When  the aggregate  amount of  Excess
Proceeds  exceeds $5.0 million, the Company will be required to make an offer to
all Holders of New  Notes (an "Excess Proceeds  Offer") to purchase the  maximum
principal  amount of New Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds,
at an offer price  in cash in an  amount equal to 101%  of the principal  amount
thereof  plus accrued and unpaid  interest, if any, to  the date of purchase, in
accordance with the procedures  set forth in the  Indenture. To the extent  that
the  aggregate amount of New Notes tendered pursuant to an Excess Proceeds Offer
is less  than the  Excess Proceeds,  the Company  may use  any remaining  Excess
Proceeds  for general corporate  purposes. If the  aggregate principal amount of
New Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess  Proceeds,
the Trustee shall select the New Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon
completion  of such offer  to purchase, the  amount of Excess  Proceeds shall be
reset at zero. The Trustee shall continue  to have, and the Company shall  grant
to  the  Trustee,  on  behalf of  the  Holders,  a first  priority  Lien  on any
properties or assets acquired with  the Net Proceeds of  any such Asset Sale  or
Event  of  Loss on  the  terms set  forth in  the  Indenture and  the Collateral
Documents.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS
 
    RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.  The Indenture provides that the Company will not,  and
will  not permit any of its  Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
(i) declare or pay  any dividend or  make any other  payment or distribution  on
account of the Company's or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries' Equity Interests
(including,  without limitation,  any payment in  connection with  any merger or
consolidation involving the Company) or to the direct or indirect holders of the
Company's Equity Interests in  their capacity as such  (other than dividends  or
distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the
Company  and dividends  or distributions  payable to  the Company  or any Wholly
Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); (ii) purchase, redeem or  otherwise
acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or
indirect parent of the Company or other Affiliate of the Company (other than any
such  Equity  Interests owned  by  the Company  or  any Wholly  Owned Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company);  (iii) make any principal  payment on, or  purchase,
redeem,  defease or otherwise acquire or  retire for value any Indebtedness that
is subordinated to the  New Notes, except  at final maturity;  or (iv) make  any
Restricted  Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses
(i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as "Restricted Payments"),
unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
           (a)
           no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be  continuing
           or would occur as a consequence thereof;
 
           (b)
           the  Company would, at the time  of such Restricted Payment and after
           giving pro forma  effect thereto  as if such  Restricted Payment  had
    been  made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been
    permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the
    Fixed Charge Coverage  Ratio test set  forth in the  first paragraph of  the
    covenant  described below under the caption "--Certain Covenants--Incurrence
    of Indebtedness;" and
 
           (c)
           such Restricted Payment,  together with  the aggregate  of all  other
           Restricted   Payments  made   by  the  Company   and  its  Restricted
    Subsidiaries after the date of the Indenture (excluding Restricted  Payments
    permitted  by clauses (1) - (3), but including Restricted Payments permitted
    by clauses (4) and (5), of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than  the
    sum  of (i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period
    (taken as one  accounting period)  from the  beginning of  the first  fiscal
    quarter  commencing  after the  date  of the  Indenture  to the  end  of the
    Company's most recently  ended fiscal quarter  for which internal  financial
    statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such
    Consolidated  Net Income  for such  period is a  deficit, less  100% of such
    deficit), plus (ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by  the
    Company  from the issue  or sale since  the date of  the Indenture of Equity
    Interests of the Company or of debt securities of the Company that have been
    converted into  such  Equity  Interests (other  than  Equity  Interests  (or
    convertible  debt securities) sold to a  Subsidiary of the Company and other
    than Disqualified Stock  or debt  securities that have  been converted  into
    Disqualified  Stock), plus (iii)  50% of the Net  Income of any Unrestricted
    Subsidiary of the Company to the extent that such Net Income is received  as
    a  dividend  by  the Company  in  cash, plus  (iv)  to the  extent  that any
    Restricted Investment that was made after the date of the Indenture is  sold
    for  cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid  for cash, the lesser of (A) the
    cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less  the
    cost  of disposition, if any) and (B)  the initial amount of such Restricted
    Investment.
 
    The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:
 
         (1)
       the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of  declaration
       thereof,  if at said date of declaration such payment would have complied
with the provisions of the Indenture;
 
         (2)
       the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity
       Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of,  the
substantially  concurrent sale  (other than to  a Subsidiary of  the Company) of
other Equity  Interests of  the  Company (other  than any  Disqualified  Stock);
PROVIDED that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any
such  redemption, repurchase, retirement or  other acquisition shall be excluded
from clause (c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph;
 
         (3)
       the defeasance,  redemption or  repurchase of  subordinated  Indebtedness
       with  the net cash  proceeds from an  incurrence of Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness or the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of
the Company) of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock);
PROVIDED that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any
such redemption, repurchase, retirement or  other acquisition shall be  excluded
from clause (c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph;
 
         (4)
       Investments  in  the Mill  Joint Venture  in an  aggregate amount  not to
       exceed $5.0 million, plus the amount of any such Investments in the  Mill
Joint Venture that are returned to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries in
cash;  PROVIDED that the amount of any such Investments that are returned to the
Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded from clause (c)(iv)  of
the preceding paragraph; and
 
         (5)
       the  repurchase, redemption or other  acquisition or retirement for value
       of any Equity Interests  of the Company or  any Restricted Subsidiary  of
the  Company  held by  any member  of the  Company's (or  any of  its Restricted
Subsidiaries')  management  pursuant  to  any  management  equity   subscription
agreement  or stock option agreement; PROVIDED that the aggregate price paid for
all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired  or retired Equity Interests shall  not
exceed  $500,000 in  any twelve-month  period plus  the aggregate  cash proceeds
received by the Company during such  twelve-month period from any reissuance  of
Equity Interests
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
by  the  Company to  members of  management  of the  Company and  its Restricted
Subsidiaries; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that no  Default or Event of Default  shall
have occurred and be continuing immediately after such transaction.
 
    The  Board of  Directors may  designate any  Restricted Subsidiary  to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary  if such  designation  would not  cause a  Default.  For
purposes  of  making  such  determination, all  outstanding  Investments  by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid in cash) in
the Subsidiary so  designated will be  deemed to be  Restricted Payments at  the
time  of such  designation and will  reduce the amount  available for Restricted
Payments under  the  first paragraph  of  this covenant.  All  such  outstanding
Investments  will be deemed to constitute Investments  in an amount equal to the
greatest of (x)  the net  book value  of such Investments  at the  time of  such
designation,  (y) the fair market value of  such Investments at the time of such
designation and (z) the  original fair market value  of such Investments at  the
time  they were made. Such designation will only be permitted if such Restricted
Payment would  be permitted  at  such time  and  if such  Restricted  Subsidiary
otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
 
    The  amount of all Restricted  Payments (other than cash)  shall be the fair
market value (evidenced by a resolution of  the Board of Directors set forth  in
an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) on the date of the Restricted
Payment  of  the asset(s)  proposed to  be  transferred by  the Company  or such
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may  be, pursuant to the Restricted  Payment.
Not  later than  the date  of making any  Restricted Payment,  the Company shall
deliver to the  Trustee an  Officers' Certificate stating  that such  Restricted
Payment  is permitted  and setting forth  the basis upon  which the calculations
required  by  the  covenant  "--Certain  Covenants--Restricted  Payments"   were
computed,  which calculations may  be based upon  the Company's latest available
financial statements.
 
    INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS.   The Indenture provides  that the Company  will
not,  and will not  permit any of  its Subsidiaries to,  directly or indirectly,
create,  incur,  issue,  assume,  guaranty  or  otherwise  become  directly   or
indirectly  liable, contingently  or otherwise,  with respect  to (collectively,
"incur") any Indebtedness (including  Acquired Debt) and  that the Company  will
not  issue any Disqualified Stock; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company may incur
Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock  if
the  Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company's most recently ended four full
fiscal  quarters  for   which  internal  financial   statements  are   available
immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred
or  such Disqualified Stock is issued would have been at least 2.0 to 1, if such
Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock is issued prior to July  31,
1998,  or 2.25  to 1 thereafter,  in each case  determined on a  pro forma basis
(including a pro  forma application of  the net proceeds  therefrom), as if  the
additional  Indebtedness had been  incurred, or the  Disqualified Stock had been
issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.
 
    The foregoing provisions will not apply to:
 
         (i)
       the  incurrence  by  the  Company  or  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries   of
       Indebtedness  pursuant to the  Credit Facility in  an aggregate principal
amount at any time outstanding  (with letters of credit  being deemed to have  a
principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  thereunder)  not  to exceed  the  greater  of  (a) the
Borrowing Base and (b) $80.0 million;
 
        (ii)
       the incurrence  by the  Company and  its Restricted  Subsidiaries of  the
       Existing Indebtedness;
 
       (iii)
       the  incurrence by  the Company  of Indebtedness  represented by  the New
       Notes;
 
        (iv)
       the incurrence by the  Company or any of  its Restricted Subsidiaries  of
       Indebtedness   represented   by  Capital   Lease   Obligations,  mortgage
financings or purchase money obligations, in each case incurred for the  purpose
of  financing all or any  part of the purchase price  or cost of construction or
improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the  Company
or  such Restricted Subsidiary,  in an aggregate principal  amount not to exceed
$10.0 million at any time outstanding;
 
         (v)
       the incurrence by the  Company or any of  its Restricted Subsidiaries  of
       Indebtedness  in  connection  with the  acquisition  of assets  or  a new
Restricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED that such Indebtedness was incurred by the prior
owner of such assets or such Restricted Subsidiary prior to such acquisition  by
the Company or one
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
of  its Restricted Subsidiaries and  was not incurred in  connection with, or in
contemplation of,  such acquisition  by  the Company  or  one of  it  Restricted
Subsidiaries; and PROVIDED FURTHER that the principal amount (or accreted value,
as  applicable)  of  such  Indebtedness,  together  with  any  other outstanding
Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (v), does not exceed $5.0 million;
 
        (vi)
       the incurrence by the  Company or any of  its Restricted Subsidiaries  of
       Permitted  Refinancing Debt in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which
are used to extend, refinance,  renew, replace, defease or refund,  Indebtedness
that was permitted by the Indenture to be incurred;
 
       (vii)
       the  incurrence by the  Company or any of  its Restricted Subsidiaries of
       intercompany Indebtedness between  or among  the Company and  any of  its
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (A) any subsequent
issuance  or transfer of Equity Interests  that results in any such Indebtedness
being held by  a Person  other than  the Company  or a  Wholly Owned  Restricted
Subsidiary  and (B)  any sale or  other transfer  of any such  Indebtedness to a
Person that is not  either the Company or  a Wholly Owned Restricted  Subsidiary
shall  be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness
by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be;
 
      (viii)
       the incurrence by the  Company or any of  its Restricted Subsidiaries  of
       Hedging  Obligations  that  are incurred  for  the purpose  of  fixing or
hedging interest rate risk with respect  to any floating rate Indebtedness  that
is permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be outstanding;
 
        (ix)
       the  incurrence  by  the  Company  and  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  of
       additional Indebtedness  in  an  aggregate amount  not  to  exceed  $10.0
million at any one time outstanding; and
 
         (x)
       the incurrence by the Company's Unrestricted Subsidiaries of Non-Recourse
       Debt,  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that  if any  such  Indebtedness ceases  to be
Non-Recourse Debt of an Unrestricted Subsidiary,  such event shall be deemed  to
constitute  an  incurrence of  Indebtedness by  a  Restricted Subsidiary  of the
Company.
 
    LIENS.   The Indenture  provides that  the Company  will not,  and will  not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume
or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or any
income  or profits  therefrom or  assign or convey  any right  to receive income
therefrom, except Permitted Liens.
 
    DIVIDEND  AND  OTHER  PAYMENT  RESTRICTIONS  AFFECTING  SUBSIDIARIES.    The
Indenture  provides that the  Company will not,  and will not  permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or
suffer to  exist or  become  effective any  encumbrance  or restriction  on  the
ability  of any Restricted Subsidiary to (i)(a)  pay dividends or make any other
distributions to the Company  or any of its  Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on  its
Capital  Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or
measured by, its profits, or (b) pay any indebtedness owed to the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries,  (ii) make loans or  advances to the Company  or
any  of its Restricted Subsidiaries  or (iii) transfer any  of its properties or
assets to the  Company or any  of its Restricted  Subsidiaries, except for  such
encumbrances  or  restrictions  existing  under or  by  reason  of  (a) Existing
Indebtedness as in effect on the date of the Indenture, (b) the Credit  Facility
as in effect as of the date of the Indenture, and any amendments, modifications,
restatements,  renewals,  increases,  supplements,  refundings,  replacements or
refinancings   thereof,   PROVIDED   that   such   amendments,    modifications,
restatements,  renewals,  increases,  supplements,  refundings,  replacements or
refinancings are no  more restrictive with  respect to such  dividend and  other
payment restrictions than those contained in the Credit Facility as in effect on
the  date of the Indenture, (c) the  Indenture and the New Notes, (d) applicable
law, (e) any  instrument governing  Indebtedness or  Capital Stock  of a  Person
acquired  by the Company or  any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries as in effect at
the time  of  such acquisition  (except  to  the extent  such  Indebtedness  was
incurred  in connection  with or  in contemplation  of such  acquisition), which
encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or
assets of any Person, other  than the Person, or the  property or assets of  the
Person,   so  acquired,  provided  that,  in  the  case  of  Indebtedness,  such
Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be incurred, (f)  by
reason  of customary  non-assignment provisions  in leases  entered into  in the
ordinary course of  business and  consistent with past  practices, (g)  purchase
money obligations for property acquired
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
in  the  ordinary course  of  business that  impose  restrictions of  the nature
described in clause (iii)  above on the property  so acquired, or (h)  Permitted
Refinancing  Indebtedness,  provided  that  the  restrictions  contained  in the
agreements  governing  such  Permitted  Refinancing  Indebtedness  are  no  more
restrictive  than those contained  in the agreements  governing the Indebtedness
being refinanced.
 
    MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS.   The Indenture provides that  the
Company may not consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is
the  surviving  corporation),  or  sell,  assign,  transfer,  lease,  convey  or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one
or more related transactions,  to another corporation,  Person or entity  unless
(i)  the Company is the surviving corporation or the entity or the Person formed
by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company)  or
to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition
shall  have been made is  a corporation organized or  existing under the laws of
the United  States, any  state thereof  or the  District of  Columbia; (ii)  the
entity  or Person formed  by or surviving  any such consolidation  or merger (if
other than the Company) or the entity or Person to which such sale,  assignment,
transfer,  lease, conveyance or  other disposition shall  have been made assumes
all the  obligations  of the  Company  under the  New  Notes and  the  Indenture
pursuant  to a supplemental  indenture in a form  reasonably satisfactory to the
Trustee; (iii) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default
exists; and (iv) except in the  case of a merger of  the Company with or into  a
Wholly  Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company or the entity or
Person formed by or  surviving any such consolidation  or merger (if other  than
the  Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition shall  have been  made (A)  will have  Consolidated Net  Worth
immediately  after the transaction equal to or greater than the Consolidated Net
Worth of the Company immediately preceding the transaction and (B) will, at  the
time  of such transaction and  after giving pro forma  effect thereto as if such
transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period,
be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to  the
Fixed  Charge  Coverage Ratio  test  set forth  in  the first  paragraph  of the
covenant described  above  under  the caption  "--Incurrence  of  Indebtedness;"
provided,  that  the foregoing  provisions will  not restrict  the ability  of a
Restricted Subsidiary to consolidate or merge with the Company.
 
    ISSUANCES AND  SALES  OF CAPITAL  STOCK  OF RESTRICTED  SUBSIDIARIES.    The
Indenture provides that the Company (i) will not, and will not permit any of its
Wholly  Owned  Restricted  Subsidiaries  to, transfer,  convey,  sell,  lease or
otherwise dispose of any Capital Stock of any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company to  any Person (other  than the Company  or another Wholly  Owned
Restricted  Subsidiary), unless such transfer,  conveyance, sale, lease or other
disposition (a) is  of all  the Capital Stock  of such  Wholly Owned  Restricted
Subsidiary  and (b) complies with the covenant described above under the caption
"--Repurchase at the Option  of Holders--Asset Sales and  Events of Loss,"  (ii)
will  not permit any Wholly Owned Restricted  Subsidiary of the Company to issue
any of its Equity Interests (other than,  if required by law, shares of  Capital
Stock  constituting  directors'  qualifying  shares  of  a  Subsidiary  that  is
organized outside of the United States) to any Person other than to the  Company
or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (iii) will not permit
any  of its Restricted  Subsidiaries to issue any  preferred Equity Interests to
any Person other than to the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary  of
the Company.
 
    TRANSACTIONS  WITH AFFILIATES.  The Indenture provides that the Company will
not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment
to, or sell, lease, transfer  or otherwise dispose of  any of its properties  or
assets  to, or purchase  any property or assets  from, or enter  into or make or
amend any contract, agreement, understanding,  loan, advance or guarantee  with,
or  for the  benefit of,  any Affiliate  (each of  the foregoing,  an "Affiliate
Transaction"), unless (i)  such Affiliate Transaction  is on terms  that are  no
less  favorable to the Company or  the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those
that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person and (ii) the Company delivers  to
the  Trustee (a) with respect to any  Affiliate Transaction or series of related
Affiliate Transactions  involving  aggregate  consideration in  excess  of  $1.0
million,  a  resolution of  the Board  of  Directors set  forth in  an Officers'
Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause  (i)
above and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the
disinterested  members of  the Board  of Directors and  (b) with  respect to any
Affiliate Transaction or series of related
 
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Affiliate Transactions  involving  aggregate  consideration in  excess  of  $5.0
million,  an  opinion  as to  the  fairness  to the  Holders  of  such Affiliate
Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an investment banking  firm
of  national standing with total assets in excess of $1.0 billion; PROVIDED that
(1) any  employment  agreement  entered  into  by the  Company  or  any  of  its
Restricted  Subsidiaries in the ordinary course  of business and consistent with
the past practice of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, (2) transactions
between  or  among   the  Company  and/or   its  Restricted  Subsidiaries,   (3)
transactions  pursuant to the Output Purchase Agreement, the Subordinated Credit
Facility, the Indemnification Reimbursement Agreement  and the lease by Box  USA
Group,  Inc. of  the corrugator facility  owned by Florida  Coast Paper Company,
L.L.C., in  each  case as  in  effect  on the  date  of the  Indenture  and  (4)
Restricted  Payments  and  Permitted  Investments  that  are  permitted  by  the
provisions of  the  Indenture  described  above  under  the  caption  "--Certain
Covenants--Restricted  Payments," in  each case,  shall not  be deemed Affiliate
Transactions.
 
    ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY  GUARANTEES.    The Indenture  provides  that  if  the
Company  or any of  its Subsidiaries shall acquire  or create another Subsidiary
after the date of the Indenture, then such newly acquired or created  Subsidiary
shall  (a)  become  a  party  to  each  of  the  Subsidiary  Guarantee  and  the
Contribution Agreement, the  Drop-Down Note Security  Agreement, the  Subsidiary
Pledge  Agreement and  the Subsidiary Security  Agreement pursuant  to the terms
thereof and (b) execute and deliver to  the Trustee, for the ratable benefit  of
the  Holders, a Drop-Down Note, if  required; PROVIDED, that this covenant shall
not apply to all Subsidiaries that have been properly designated as Unrestricted
Subsidiaries in accordance with  the Indenture for so  long as they continue  to
constitute Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
 
    BUSINESS  ACTIVITIES.    The  Company  will not,  and  will  not  permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, engage  in any business other  than the packaging  and
paper   product  manufacturing  business  engaged  in  by  the  Company  or  its
Subsidiaries on the date  of the Indenture and  such business activities as  are
incidental or related thereto.
 
    PAYMENTS  FOR CONSENT.  The Indenture  provides that neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries will,  directly or indirectly, pay  or cause to be  paid
any  consideration, whether by way of interest,  fee or otherwise, to any Holder
of any New Notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment  of
any  of the terms  or provisions of the  Indenture or the  New Notes unless such
consideration is offered to be paid or is  paid to all Holders of the New  Notes
that  consent,  waive or  agree to  amend in  the  time frame  set forth  in the
solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
 
    REPORTS.  The Indenture provides that, whether or not required by the  rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), so
long  as any New Notes are outstanding,  the Company will furnish to the Holders
of New Notes (i)  all quarterly and annual  financial information that would  be
required  to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K
if the  Company were  required to  file such  Forms, including  a  "Management's
Discussion  and Analysis of Financial Condition  and Results of Operations" that
describes the financial condition and results  of operations of the Company  and
its  Restricted Subsidiaries and, with respect to the annual information only, a
report thereon by the Company's  certified independent accountants and (ii)  all
current  reports that would be required to  be filed with the Commission on Form
8-K if the Company were required to  file such reports. In addition, whether  or
not  required by the rules  and regulations of the  Commission, the Company will
file a copy of all such information  and reports with the Commission for  public
availability (unless the Commission will not accept such a filing) and make such
information  available  to securities  analysts  and prospective  investors upon
request. In  addition, the  Company and  the Subsidiary  Guarantors have  agreed
that,  for so long as any New Notes remain outstanding, they will furnish to the
Holders and  to  securities  analysts  and  prospective  investors,  upon  their
request,  the information required  to be delivered  pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4)
under the Securities Act.
 
    EVENTS OF DEFAULT  AND REMEDIES.   The Indenture provides  that each of  the
following  constitutes  an Event  of Default:  (i)  default for  30 days  in the
payment when due of interest on the New Notes; (ii) default in payment when  due
of  the principal of or premium, if any,  on the New Notes; (iii) failure by the
Company to  comply  with  the  provisions described  above  under  the  captions
"--Repurchase  at the Option  of Holders-- Change  of Control," "--Repurchase at
the  Option   of  Holders--Asset   Sales  and   Events  of   Loss,"   "--Certain
 
                                       64
<PAGE>
Covenants--Restricted   Payments"   or   "--Certain   Covenants--Incurrence   of
Indebtedness"; (iv) failure by  the Company for 30  days after notice to  comply
with  any of its other agreements in the Indenture or the New Notes; (v) default
under any mortgage, indenture or instrument  under which there may be issued  or
by  which there may be secured or  evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed
by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is
guaranteed by the Company  or any of its  Restricted Subsidiaries) whether  such
Indebtedness  or  guarantee now  exists, or  is  created after  the date  of the
Indenture, which default  (a) is  caused by  a failure  to pay  principal of  or
premium, if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the
grace  period  provided in  such Indebtedness  on  the date  of such  default (a
"Payment Default") or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior
to its express maturity and, in  each case, the outstanding principal amount  of
any  such Indebtedness,  together with the  outstanding principal  amount of any
other such Indebtedness  under which  there has been  a Payment  Default or  the
maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $5.0 million or more; (vi)
failure  by  the Company  or any  of  its Restricted  Subsidiaries to  pay final
judgments aggregating in excess of $5.0  million, which judgments are not  paid,
discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; (vii) breach by the Company or any
Subsidiary  of  any  material  representation  or  warranty  set  forth  in  any
Collateral Document,  or  default  by  the Company  or  any  Subsidiary  in  the
performance  of any covenant set forth  in any Collateral Document (after giving
effect to any applicable grace or  cure periods), or repudiation by the  Company
or  any  Subsidiary of  its obligations  under any  Collateral Document,  or any
Collateral Document shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable
or invalid or cease for any reason to be in full force and effect; (viii) except
as permitted by  the Indenture, any  Subsidiary Guarantee shall  be held in  any
judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason
to  be in full force and effect or  any Guarantor, or any Person acing on behalf
of any Guarantor, shall deny or  disaffirm its obligations under its  Subsidiary
Guarantee;  and (ix) certain events of  bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
 
    If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders
of at  least 25%  in principal  amount of  the then  outstanding New  Notes  may
declare all the New Notes to be due and payable immediately. Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  in the case  of an Event  of Default arising  from certain events of
bankruptcy  or  insolvency,  with  respect  to  the  Company,  any   Significant
Subsidiary  or any group of Restricted  Subsidiaries that, taken together, would
constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all  outstanding New Notes will become  due
and  payable without further action or notice.  Holders of the New Notes may not
enforce the Indenture  or the  New Notes except  as provided  in the  Indenture.
Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
then  outstanding New Notes may direct the  Trustee in its exercise of any trust
or power. The Trustee may withhold from  Holders of the New Notes notice of  any
continuing  Default or Event  of Default (except  a Default or  Event of Default
relating to  the  payment  of  principal or  interest)  if  it  determines  that
withholding notice is in their interest.
 
    In  the case  of any  Event of  Default occurring  by reason  of any willful
action (or inaction) taken (or  not taken) by or on  behalf of the Company  with
the intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the Company would have had
to  pay if the Company then had elected  to redeem the New Notes pursuant to the
optional redemption provisions  of the  Indenture, an  equivalent premium  shall
also  become and be immediately  due and payable to  the extent permitted by law
upon the acceleration of the New Notes.  If an Event of Default occurs prior  to
June  1, 2001 by reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken)
by or on behalf of the Company with the intention of avoiding the prohibition on
redemption of the New Notes prior to June 1, 2001, then the premium specified in
the Indenture  shall also  become  immediately due  and  payable to  the  extent
permitted by law upon the acceleration of the New Notes.
 
    The  Holders of a  majority in aggregate  principal amount of  the New Notes
then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of
the  New  Notes  waive  any  existing  Default  or  Event  of  Default  and  its
consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default
in the payment of principal of or interest on the New Notes.
 
    The  Company  is required  to deliver  to the  Trustee annually  a statement
regarding compliance  with  the Indenture,  and  the Company  is  required  upon
becoming  aware of any Default or Event of  Default, to deliver to the Trustee a
statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
 
                                       65
<PAGE>
    NO   PERSONAL   LIABILITY    OF   DIRECTORS,    OFFICERS,   EMPLOYEES    AND
STOCKHOLDERS.   No director,  officer, employee, incorporator  or stockholder of
the Company,  as such,  shall have  any  liability for  any obligations  of  the
Company  under the New Notes, the Indenture or the Security Agreement or for any
claim based  on, in  respect of,  or by  reason of,  such obligations  or  their
creation.  Each Holder of New Notes by  accepting a New Note waives and releases
all such liability.  The waiver and  release are part  of the consideration  for
issuance of the New Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities
under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the Commission that such
a waiver is against public policy.
 
    LEGAL  DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT  DEFEASANCE.  The Company  may, at its option
and at any time, elect to have all of its obligations discharged with respect to
the outstanding New  Notes ("Legal  Defeasance") except  for (i)  the rights  of
Holders of outstanding New Notes to receive principal of or premium and interest
payments,  if any, on such  New Notes when such payments  are due from the trust
referred to below, (ii) the Company's obligations with respect to the New  Notes
concerning  issuing temporary New  Notes, registration of  New Notes, mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen New Notes and  the maintenance of an office or  agency
for  payment and money  for security payments  held in trust,  (iii) the rights,
powers, trusts,  duties  and  immunities  of  the  Trustee,  and  the  Company's
obligations  in connection therewith and (iv) the Legal Defeasance provisions of
the Indenture. In  addition, the Company  may, at  its option and  at any  time,
elect  to have the obligations  of the Company released  with respect to certain
covenants that  are  described  in the  Indenture  ("Covenant  Defeasance")  and
thereafter  any omission  to comply with  such covenants shall  not constitute a
Default or Event of Default with respect to the New Notes. In the event Covenant
Defeasance  occurs,  certain  events  (not  including  non-payment,  bankruptcy,
receivership, rehabilitation and insolvency events) described under "--Events of
Default"  will no longer constitute an Event  of Default with respect to the New
Notes.
 
    In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, (i) the
Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit  of
the  Holders of  the New  Notes, cash  in U.S.  dollars, non-callable Government
Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient,  in
the  opinion of a nationally recognized  firm of independent public accountants,
to pay the principal of  and premium and interest,  if any, on, the  outstanding
New  Notes on the stated  maturity or on the  applicable redemption date, as the
case may  be, and  the Company  must specify  whether the  New Notes  are  being
defeased  to maturity or  to a particular  redemption date; (ii)  in the case of
Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion  of
counsel  in the  United States reasonably  acceptable to  the Trustee confirming
that (A) the  Company has received  from, or  there has been  published by,  the
Internal  Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of the Indenture, there
has been a change in  the applicable federal income tax  law, in either case  to
the  effect that, and based thereon such  opinion of counsel shall confirm that,
the Holders of the outstanding New Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss
for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the
same times  as  would have  been  the case  if  such Legal  Defeasance  had  not
occurred;  (iii)  in the  case of  Covenant Defeasance,  the Company  shall have
delivered to the Trustee an opinion  of counsel in the United States  reasonably
acceptable  to the  Trustee confirming that  the Holders of  the outstanding New
Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as
a result of such Covenant Defeasance and  will be subject to federal income  tax
on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been
the  case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred; (iv) no Default or Event
of Default shall have  occurred and be  continuing on the  date of such  deposit
(other  than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds
to be applied to such deposit) or  insofar as Events of Default from  bankruptcy
or insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st
day  after the date of deposit; (v) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
will not result in a breach or  violation of, or constitute a default under  any
material agreement or instrument (other than the Indenture) to which the Company
or  any of its  Subsidiaries is a  party or by  which the Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries is bound; (vi)  the Company must have  delivered to the Trustee  an
opinion  of counsel to the effect that after the 91st day following the deposit,
the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency,   reorganization  or   similar  laws   affecting  creditors'  rights
generally;  (vii)  the  Company  must  deliver  to  the  Trustee  an   Officers'
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent
of preferring the Holders of
 
                                       66
<PAGE>
New  Notes over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating,
hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and (viii)
the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an  opinion
of  counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to
the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
 
    TRANSFER AND  EXCHANGE.   A Holder  may transfer  or exchange  New Notes  in
accordance  with  the Indenture.  The Registrar  and the  Trustee may  require a
Holder, among other  things, to  furnish appropriate  endorsements and  transfer
documents  and  the Company  may  require a  Holder to  pay  any taxes  and fees
required by law or permitted  by the Indenture. The  Company is not required  to
transfer  or exchange any New Note selected for redemption. Also, the Company is
not required to transfer or exchange any New Note for a period of 15 days before
a selection of New Notes to be redeemed.
 
    The registered Holder of a New Note will  be treated as the owner of it  for
all purposes.
 
    AMENDMENT,  SUPPLEMENT  AND WAIVER.    Except as  provided  in the  next two
succeeding paragraphs, the Indenture,  the New Notes  or the Security  Agreement
may  be amended or  supplemented with the consent  of the Holders  of at least a
majority in  principal amount  of  the New  Notes then  outstanding  (including,
without  limitation,  consents obtained  in connection  with  a purchase  of, or
tender offer or  exchange offer  for, New Notes),  and any  existing default  or
compliance  with any provision of the Indenture, the New Notes or the Collateral
Documents may  be waived  with  the consent  of the  Holders  of a  majority  in
principal  amount of the then outstanding New Notes (including consents obtained
in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for New Notes).
 
    Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may  not
(with  respect to any New Notes held by a non-consenting Holder): (i) reduce the
principal amount  of New  Notes  whose Holders  must  consent to  an  amendment,
supplement  or waiver, (ii) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity
of any New Note or  alter the provisions with respect  to the redemption of  the
New Notes (other than provisions relating to the covenants described above under
the  caption "--Repurchase at the Option of  Holders"), (iii) reduce the rate of
or change the time for payment of interest on any New Note, (iv) waive a Default
or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium or interest on the
New Notes (except a rescission of acceleration  of the New Notes by the  Holders
of  at least  a majority in  aggregate principal amount  of the New  Notes and a
waiver of the payment  default that resulted from  such acceleration), (v)  make
any New Note payable in money other than that stated in the New Notes, (vi) make
any  change  in the  provisions of  the  Indenture relating  to waivers  of past
Defaults or the rights of Holders of  New Notes to receive interest payments  on
the  New Notes, (vii)  waive a redemption  payment with respect  to any New Note
(other than a payment required by one of the covenants described above under the
caption "--Repurchase at the Option of Holders"), (viii) consent to a release of
the security  interest in  the Pledged  Collateral  or make  any change  in  the
provisions of the Indenture or the Collateral Documents relating to the security
interest  of the Trustee  in Pledged Collateral  or (ix) make  any change in the
foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.
 
    Notwithstanding the  foregoing, without  the consent  of any  Holder of  New
Notes,  the Company and the  Trustee may amend or  supplement the Indenture, the
New Notes  or  the  Collateral  Documents  to  cure  any  ambiguity,  defect  or
inconsistency,  to provide  for uncertificated  New Notes  in addition  to or in
place of certificated New Notes, to provide for the assumption of the  Company's
obligations to Holders of New Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation, to
make  any change  that would  provide any additional  rights or  benefits to the
Holders of New Notes or  that does not adversely  affect the legal rights  under
the Indenture of any such Holder, to provide for additional collateral to secure
the  New Notes  or to  comply with  requirements of  the Commission  in order to
effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust  Indenture
Act.
 
    CONCERNING  THE TRUSTEE.  The Indenture  contains certain limitations on the
rights of the Trustee,  should it become  a creditor of  the Company, to  obtain
payment  of claims in certain cases, or  to realize on certain property received
in respect of  any such  claim as  security or  otherwise. The  Trustee will  be
permitted  to  engage  in  other  transactions;  however,  if  it  acquires  any
conflicting interest it must  eliminate such conflict within  90 days, apply  to
the Commission for permission to continue or resign.
 
                                       67
<PAGE>
    The  Holders of a majority  in principal amount of  the then outstanding New
Notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for  exercising  any remedy  available  to the  Trustee,  subject  to
certain  exceptions. The  Indenture provides  that in  case an  Event of Default
shall occur (which shall  not be cured),  the Trustee will  be required, in  the
exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct
of  his own affairs.  Subject to such  provisions, the Trustee  will be under no
obligation to exercise any of  its rights or powers  under the Indenture at  the
request of any Holder of New Notes, unless such Holder shall have offered to the
Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.
 
BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM
 
    The  New Notes to be resold as set  forth herein will initially be issued in
the form  of one  global  note (the  "Global Note").  The  Global Note  will  be
deposited  on  the closing  date of  the Exchange  Offer becomes  effective (the
"Effective Date") with, or  on behalf of, the  Depositary and registered in  the
name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depositary (such nominee being referred to
herein as the "Global Note Holder").
 
    New   Notes  that   are  issued  as   described  below   under  the  caption
"--Certificated Notes"  will be  issued  in the  form of  registered  definitive
certificates  (the  "Certificated  Notes"). Upon  the  transfer  of Certificated
Notes, such Certificated Notes may, unless the Global Notes have previously been
exchanged for Certificated  Notes, be exchanged  for an interest  in the  Global
Note representing the principal amount of the New Notes being transferred.
 
    The  Depositary is a limited-purpose trust  company that was created to hold
securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the "Participants"
or  the  "Depositary's  Participants")  and  to  facilitate  the  clearance  and
settlement  of  transactions  in such  securities  between  Participants through
electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The  Depositary's
Participants  include  securities  brokers and  dealers  (including  the Initial
Purchaser), banks and trust companies,  clearing corporations and certain  other
organizations.  Access to  the Depositary's  system is  also available  to other
entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies (collectively,  the
"Indirect  Participants" or the "Depositary's Indirect Participants") that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly
or indirectly. Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own  securities
held   by  or  on  behalf  of  the  Depositary  only  through  the  Depositary's
Participants or the Depositary's Indirect Participants.
 
    The  Company  expects  that  pursuant  to  procedures  established  by   the
Depositary  (i) upon deposit of the Global  Note, the Depositary will credit the
accounts of Participants designated  by the Initial  Purchaser with portions  of
the  Global Note and  (ii) ownership of  the Notes evidenced  by the Global Note
will be shown on, and  the transfer of ownership  thereof will be effected  only
through,  records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to the interests of
the  Depositary's   Participants),  the   Depositary's  Participants   and   the
Depositary's  Indirect Participants. Prospective purchasers are advised that the
laws of  some states  require that  certain persons  take physical  delivery  in
definitive  form  of  securities that  they  own. Consequently,  the  ability to
transfer New Notes evidenced by the Global Notes will be limited to such extent.
 
    So long as the Global Note Holder is the registered owner of any New  Notes,
the  Global  Note Holder  will be  considered the  sole owner  of the  New Notes
represented by such Global  Notes. Beneficial owners of  New Notes evidenced  by
the  Global Notes will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the
Indenture for  any  purpose,  including  with  respect  to  the  giving  of  any
directions,  instructions or approvals  to Trustee thereunder.  As a result, the
ability of a person having a beneficial interest in New Notes represented by any
Global Note,  to  pledge  such interest  to  persons  or entities  that  do  not
participate  in the Depositary's system or  to otherwise take actions in respect
of such  interest,  may  be affected  by  the  lack of  a  physical  certificate
evidencing  such interest.  Neither the  Company nor  the Trustee  will have any
responsibility or  liability  for any  aspect  of  the records  relating  to  or
payments  made on account  of New Notes  by the Depositary,  or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing  any records  of the  Depositary relating  to such  New
Notes.
 
    Payments in respect of the New Notes registered in the name of a Global Note
Holder  on the applicable record date will be payable by the applicable transfer
agent   to    or   at    the   direction    of   such    Global   Note    Holder
 
                                       68
<PAGE>
in  its capacity as the registered holder of  such New Notes. Under the terms of
the Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may treat the persons in whose  names
New  Notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners thereof for
the purpose  of receiving  such payments  and  for any  and all  other  purposes
whatsoever.  Consequently, none of the Company nor  the Trustee has or will have
any responsibility or liability  for the payment of  such amounts to  beneficial
owners of the New Notes (including principal, premium and interest, if any). The
Company  believes, however, that it is currently the policy of the Depositary to
immediately credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with such payments,
in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings of beneficial interests in
the relevant security as shown on the records of the Depositary. Payments by the
Depositary's Participants  and the  Depositary's  Indirect Participants  to  the
beneficial  owners  of  Notes  will be  governed  by  standing  instructions and
customary  practice  and  will  be   the  responsibility  of  the   Depositary's
Participants or the Depositary's Indirect Participants.
 
    CERTIFICATED  NOTES.   Subject to  certain conditions,  any person  having a
beneficial interest  in  any Global  Note  may,  upon request  to  the  Trustee,
exchange  such beneficial  interest for  New Notes  in the  form of Certificated
Notes. Upon  any  such  issuance,  the Trustee  is  required  to  register  such
Certificated  Notes in the name of, and cause  the same to be delivered to, such
person or persons (or the nominee of any thereof). In addition, if (i) a Company
notifies the Trustee in writing that the Depositary is no longer willing or able
to act as a depositary and the Company is unable to locate a qualified successor
within 90 days  or (ii)  the Company,  at its  option, notifies  the Trustee  in
writing  that  it elects  to cause  the issuance  of  New Notes  in the  form of
Certificated Notes, then, upon surrender by the Global Note Holder of its Global
Note, New Notes in such form will be issued to each person that the Global  Note
Holder  and the Depositary identify as being the beneficial owner of the related
New Notes.
 
    Neither the Company  nor the Trustee  will be  liable for any  delay by  the
Global Note Holder or the Depositary in identifying the beneficial owners of New
Notes  and the Company,  and the Trustee  may conclusively rely  on, and will be
protected in  relying  on, instructions  from  the  Global Note  Holder  or  the
Depositary for all purposes.
 
    SAME-DAY  SETTLEMENT AND PAYMENT.   The Indenture  requires that payments in
respect of the New  Notes represented by the  Global Note (including  principal,
premium  and interest, if any) be made by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to  the accounts  specified by  the Global  Note Holder.  With respect  to
Certificated  Notes, the Company  will make all  payments in respect  of the New
Notes (including principal, premium and interest,  if any), by wire transfer  of
immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holders thereof or,
if  no  such account  is specified,  by mailing  a check  to each  such Holder's
registered address.  Secondary  trading in  long-term  notes and  debentures  of
corporate  issuers is generally settled in  clearing-house or next-day funds. In
contrast, the  New Notes  represented by  the Global  Notes are  expected to  be
eligible  to trade in the Depositary's Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any
permitted secondary market trading activity  in such New Notes will,  therefore,
be  required by the Depositary to be settled in immediately available funds. The
Company expects that secondary  trading in the Certificated  Notes will also  be
settled in immediately available funds.
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS; LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
 
    The  Company,  the Guarantors  and the  Initial  Purchaser entered  into the
Registration Rights  Agreement  dated  as  of May  30,  1996.  Pursuant  to  the
Registration  Rights Agreement,  the Company and  the Guarantors  agreed to file
with the Commission the Exchange Offer Registration Statement on the appropriate
form under  the  Securities  Act  with  respect  to  the  New  Notes.  Upon  the
effectiveness  of the  Exchange Offer  Registration Statement,  the Company will
offer to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the  Exchange
Offer  who are able to make  certain representations the opportunity to exchange
their Transfer Restricted Securities for New Notes. If the Company does not meet
its obligations under the Registration Rights  Agreement, it may be required  to
pay Liquidated Damages to holders of Old Notes.
 
    Holders  of  New Notes  are  not entitled  to  any registration  rights with
respect to the New Notes. The Company agrees  for a period of 270 days from  the
effective  date of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to make available a
prospectus meeting the requirements of  the Securities Act to any  broker-dealer
for  use  in connection  with  any resale  of  any New  Notes.  The Registration
Statement of which this
 
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Prospectus is a  part constitutes  the registration statement  for the  Exchange
Offer  which  is the  subject  of the  Registration  Rights Agreement.  Upon the
closing of the Exchange Offer, subject to certain limited exceptions, Holders of
untendered Old Notes will  not retain any rights  under the Registration  Rights
Agreement.
 
    Holders  of Transfer Restricted Securities will  be required to make certain
representations  to  the  Company  (as  described  in  the  Registration  Rights
Agreement) in order to participate in the Exchange Offer and will be required to
deliver  information  to  be  used in  connection  with  the  Shelf Registration
Statement, if any, and to provide  comments on the Shelf Registration  Statement
within  the time periods set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement in order
to have their Transfer Restricted Securities included in the Shelf  Registration
Statement.
 
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
    Set  forth below are certain defined  terms used in the Indenture. Reference
is made to the Indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any
other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
 
    "Acquired  Debt"  means,   with  respect  to   any  specified  Person,   (i)
Indebtedness  of any  other Person  existing at  the time  such other  Person is
merged with or into or becomes a Subsidiary of such specified Person, including,
without  limitation,   Indebtedness  incurred   in   connection  with,   or   in
contemplation  of,  such  other  Person  merging  with  or  into  or  becoming a
Subsidiary of such  specified Person, and  (ii) Indebtedness secured  by a  Lien
encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.
 
    "Affiliate"  of  any specified  Person means  any  other Person  directly or
indirectly controlling  or controlled  by  or under  direct or  indirect  common
control  with such specified Person. For  purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled  by"
and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean
the  possession, directly  or indirectly,  of the power  to direct  or cause the
direction of the  management or  policies of  such Person,  whether through  the
ownership  of  voting  securities,  by  agreement  or  otherwise;  PROVIDED that
beneficial ownership of 10% or more of  the voting securities of a Person  shall
be deemed to be control.
 
    "Asset  Sale" means (i) the sale,  lease, conveyance or other disposition of
any assets (including,  without limitation,  by way  of a  sale and  leaseback),
other  than (x) sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past  practices  (PROVIDED  that  the  sale,  lease,  conveyance  or  other
disposition  of all or  substantially all of  the assets of  the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole  will be governed by the provisions  of
the  Indenture described above under the  caption "--Repurchase at the Option of
the Holders--Change of Control" and/or the provisions described above under  the
caption  "-- Certain Covenants--Merger,  Consolidation, or Sale  of Assets," and
not by  the  provisions of  the  Asset Sale  covenant),  and (y)  sales  of  the
Company's  equity interest  in Groveton Paperboard,  Inc. and (ii)  the issue or
sale of Equity  Interests in  any of  its Subsidiaries,  in the  case of  either
clause  (i) or  (ii), whether  in a  single transaction  or a  series of related
transactions (a) that have a fair market value in excess of $1.0 million or  (b)
for Net Proceeds in excess of $1.0 million. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) a
transfer  of assets by the Company to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or by
a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary to  the Company or to another Wholly  Owned
Restricted  Subsidiary and  (ii) a Restricted  Payment that is  permitted by the
covenant described  above  under the  caption  "--Certain  Covenants--Restricted
Payments," as applicable, will not be deemed to be Asset Sales.
 
    "Asset  Sale  Account" means  a  cash collateral  account  in which  the Net
Proceeds from Asset Sales shall be deposited pursuant to the Indenture.
 
    "Borrowing Base" means, at any time, an amount equal to the aggregate of (i)
85% of the amount of eligible accounts receivable plus (ii) the lesser of 60% of
the amount of eligible inventory or $40.0 million.
 
    "Capital Lease Obligation" means, at  the time any determination thereof  is
to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would
at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with
GAAP.
 
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    "Capital  Stock" means  (i) in the  case of a  corporation, corporate stock,
(ii) in the  case of  an association  or business  entity, any  and all  shares,
interests,  participations, rights or other  equivalents (however designated) of
corporate stock,  (iii) in  the  case of  a partnership,  partnership  interests
(whether  general or limited) and (iv)  any other interest or participation that
confers on a Person the right to receive  a share of the profits and losses  of,
or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
 
    "Cash Collateral Account" means the Asset Sale Account and the Event of Loss
Account.
 
    "Cash  Equivalents" means (i) United  States dollars, (ii) securities issued
or directly and fully guaranteed or  insured by the United States government  or
any  agency or  instrumentality thereof having  maturities of not  more than six
months  from  the  date  of  acquisition,  (iii)  certificates  of  deposit  and
eurodollar  time deposits with maturities of six months or less from the date of
acquisition, bankers' acceptances with maturities  not exceeding six months  and
overnight  bank deposits, in each case  with any domestic commercial bank having
capital and surplus in excess of $500  million and a Keefe Bank Watch Rating  of
"B"  or better, (iv) repurchase  obligations with a term  of not more than seven
days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (ii) and  (iii)
above  entered into  with any  financial institution  meeting the qualifications
specified in clause  (iii) above  and (v)  commercial paper  having the  highest
rating  obtainable from  Moody's Investors  Service, Inc.  or Standard  & Poor's
Ratings Corporation and in each case  maturing within six months after the  date
of acquisition.
 
    "Collateral  Documents" means the Security  Agreement, the Pledge Agreement,
the Subsidiary Guarantee,  the Contribution Agreement,  the Subsidiary  Security
Agreement,  the  Subsidiary  Pledge  Agreement,  the  Drop-Down  Notes  and  the
Drop-Down  Note  Security  Agreement  and  any  other  agreements,  instruments,
financing  statements or other documents that evidence  or set forth the Lien of
the Trustee in the Pledged Collateral.
 
    "Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect  to any Person for any  period,
the  Consolidated Net Income of such  Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for
such period plus (i) an amount equal to any extraordinary loss plus any net loss
realized in  connection with  an Asset  Sale  (to the  extent such  losses  were
deducted  in computing  such Consolidated Net  Income), plus  (ii) provision for
taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted  Subsidiaries
for  such period, to  the extent that  such provision for  taxes was included in
computing such Consolidated Net Income, plus (iii) consolidated interest expense
of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid  or
accrued   and  whether  or  not   capitalized  (including,  without  limitation,
amortization  of  original  issue  discount,  non-cash  interest  payments,  the
interest  component of any deferred  payment obligations, the interest component
of  all  payments  associated  with  Capital  Lease  Obligations,   commissions,
discounts  and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or
bankers' acceptance financings, and  net payments (if  any) pursuant to  Hedging
Obligations), to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such
Consolidated  Net  Income, plus  (iv)  depreciation and  amortization (including
amortization of goodwill  and other  intangibles but  excluding amortization  of
prepaid  cash expenses that were paid in a  prior period) of such Person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation and
amortization was deducted  in computing  such Consolidated Net  Income, in  each
case,   on  a  consolidated  basis  and  determined  in  accordance  with  GAAP.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for taxes on the income or  profits
of,  and  the depreciation  and amortization  of, a  Subsidiary of  the referent
Person shall be added  to Consolidated Net Income  to compute Consolidated  Cash
Flow  only to the  extent (and in same  proportion) that the  Net Income of such
Subsidiary was  included in  calculating  the Consolidated  Net Income  of  such
Person  and only  if a corresponding  amount would  be permitted at  the date of
determination to be dividended, directly or  indirectly, to the Company by  such
Subsidiary without prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained), and
without  direct or indirect restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and
all agreements,  instruments, judgments,  decrees, orders,  statutes, rules  and
governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders.
 
    "Consolidated  Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the aggregate of the Net Income  of such Person and its Restricted  Subsidiaries
for  such period, on  a consolidated basis, determined  in accordance with GAAP;
PROVIDED that (i)  the Net Income  (but not loss)  of any Person  that is not  a
Subsidiary
 
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<PAGE>
or  that is accounted for  by the equity method  of accounting shall be included
only to the extent of the amount  of dividends or distributions paid in cash  to
the  referent Person or  a Wholly Owned Restricted  Subsidiary thereof, (ii) the
Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that the
declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that  Restricted
Subsidiary  of that  Net Income  is not at  the date  of determination permitted
without any  prior  governmental  approval  (that has  not  been  obtained)  or,
directly  or  indirectly,  by operation  of  the  terms of  its  charter  or any
agreement, instrument, judgment,  decree, order, statute,  rule or  governmental
regulation  applicable to that Restricted  Subsidiary or its stockholders, (iii)
the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction  for
any  period prior to  the date of  such acquisition shall  be excluded, (iv) the
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles shall be excluded and (v)
the Net Income of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be excluded, whether or  not
distributed to the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
 
    "Consolidated  Net Worth" means, with respect to  any Person as of any date,
the sum of (i) the consolidated equity of the common stockholders of such Person
and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date plus (ii) the respective amounts
reported on such  Person's balance sheet  as of  such date with  respect to  any
series  of preferred stock (other than Disqualified  Stock) that by its terms is
not entitled to the payment of  dividends unless such dividends may be  declared
and paid only out of net earnings in respect of the year of such declaration and
payment,  but  only to  the  extent of  any cash  received  by such  Person upon
issuance of such preferred stock, less  (x) all write-ups (other than  write-ups
resulting from foreign currency translations and write-ups of tangible assets of
a  going concern business  made within 12  months after the  acquisition of such
business) subsequent to the date of the Indenture in the book value of any asset
owned by  such Person  or a  consolidated  Subsidiary of  such Person,  (y)  all
investments  as of such date in  unconsolidated Subsidiaries and in Persons that
are not Subsidiaries (except, in each case, Permitted Investments), and (z)  all
unamortized  debt discount  and expense and  unamortized deferred  charges as of
such date, all of the foregoing determined in accordance with GAAP.
 
    "Contribution Agreement" means the Contribution  Agreement, dated as of  the
date  of the Indenture,  by and among the  Company's Restricted Subsidiaries, as
such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
 
    "Default" means any event that is or with the passage of time or the  giving
of notice or both would be an Event of Default.
 
    "Disqualified  Stock" means any Capital Stock that,  by its terms (or by the
terms of  any  security  into  which  it is  convertible  or  for  which  it  is
exchangeable),  or upon  the happening of  any event, matures  or is mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at
the option of the Holder thereof, in whole  or in part, on or prior to the  date
that is 91 days after the date on which the New Notes mature.
 
    "Equity  Interests" means Capital  Stock and all  warrants, options or other
rights to  acquire  Capital Stock  (but  excluding  any debt  security  that  is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
 
    "Event of Loss" means (i) the loss or destruction of or damage to any assets
of  the Company  or any of  its Restricted Subsidiaries,  (ii) the condemnation,
seizure, confiscation, requisition of the use or taking by exercise of the power
of eminent  domain or  otherwise of  any assets  of the  Company or  any of  its
Restricted  Subsidiaries or (iii) any consensual settlement in lieu of any event
listed in clause (ii),  in each case whether  in a single event  or a series  of
related  events, that results in net proceeds from all sources in excess of $1.0
million.
 
    "Event of Loss  Account" means a  cash collateral account  in which the  Net
Proceeds from Events of Loss shall be deposited pursuant to the Indenture.
 
    "Existing   Indebtedness"  means   Indebtedness  of  the   Company  and  its
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Facility) in existence on
the date of the Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.
 
    "Fixed Charges" means, with respect to  any Person for any period, the  sum,
without duplication, of (i) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and
its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether
 
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<PAGE>
paid  or accrued (including, without  limitation, amortization of original issue
discount, non-cash interest  payments, the  interest component  of any  deferred
payment  obligations,  the interest  component of  all payments  associated with
Capital Lease Obligations,  commissions, discounts  and other  fees and  charges
incurred  in respect of letter of  credit or bankers' acceptance financings, and
net payments (if any) pursuant to Hedging Obligations) and (ii) the consolidated
interest expense  of  such  Person  and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  that  was
capitalized  during such period, and (iii)  any interest expense on Indebtedness
of another Person that  is Guaranteed by  such Person or  one of its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  or  secured by  a Lien  on assets  of  such Person  or one  of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not such  Guarantee or Lien is called  upon)
and  (iv) the product  of (a) all  dividend payments on  any series of preferred
stock of such  Person, other than  dividend payments on  preferred stock of  the
Company  paid solely in additional  shares of such preferred  stock, times (b) a
fraction, the numerator  of which is  one and  the denominator of  which is  one
minus  the then current combined federal, state  and local statutory tax rate of
such Person, expressed as a decimal, in  each case, on a consolidated basis  and
in accordance with GAAP.
 
    "Fixed  Charge  Coverage Ratio"  means with  respect to  any Person  for any
period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash  Flow of such Person for such  period
to  the Fixed  Charges of  such Person for  such period.  In the  event that the
Company or any  of its  Restricted Subsidiaries incurs,  assumes, Guarantees  or
redeems  any  Indebtedness (other  than revolving  credit borrowings)  or issues
preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio is  being calculated but  prior to the  date on which  the
event  for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the
"Calculation Date"), then the  Fixed Charge Coverage  Ratio shall be  calculated
giving  pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, Guarantee or redemption
of Indebtedness, or such  issuance or redemption of  preferred stock, as if  the
same  had occurred  at the  beginning of  the applicable  four-quarter reference
period. In addition, for purposes of  making the computation referred to  above,
(i)  acquisitions that have  been made by  the Company or  any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, including  through mergers  or  consolidations and  including  any
related  financing  transactions, during  the  four-quarter reference  period or
subsequent to such  reference period  and on or  prior to  the Calculation  Date
shall  be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference
period and Consolidated Cash Flow for such reference period shall be  calculated
without giving effect to clause (iii) of the proviso set forth in the definition
of  Consolidated Net Income, and (ii) the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to
discontinued operations, as determined in  accordance with GAAP, and  operations
or  businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, and
(iii) the Fixed Charges attributable  to discontinued operations, as  determined
in  accordance with GAAP, and operations or  businesses disposed of prior to the
Calculation Date, shall be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations
giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the referent Person
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date.
 
    "GAAP" means  generally  accepted accounting  principles  set forth  in  the
opinions  and pronouncements of the Accounting  Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants  and statements and pronouncements  of
the  Financial Accounting  Standards Board or  in such other  statements by such
other entity as have  been approved by a  significant segment of the  accounting
profession, which are in effect on the date of the Indenture.
 
    "Guarantee"  means  a guarantee  (other  than by  endorsement  of negotiable
instruments for  collection  in the  ordinary  course of  business),  direct  or
indirect,  in any manner  (including, without limitation,  letters of credit and
reimbursement agreements  in  respect  thereof),  of all  or  any  part  of  any
Indebtedness.
 
    "Hedging  Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of
such  Person  under  (i)  interest  rate  swap  agreements,  interest  rate  cap
agreements  and interest  rate collar  agreements and  (ii) other  agreements or
arrangements designed to  protect such Person  against fluctuations in  interest
rates.
 
    "Indebtedness"  means, with respect to any  Person, any indebtedness of such
Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or evidenced  by
bonds,  notes,  debentures  or  similar instruments  or  letters  of  credit (or
reimbursement  agreements  in  respect  thereof)  or  banker's  acceptances   or
representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of the
purchase  price of any property or  representing any Hedging Obligations, except
any   such   balance   that   constitutes   an   accrued   expense   or    trade
 
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<PAGE>
payable,  if and  to the  extent any of  the foregoing  indebtedness (other than
letters of credit and  Hedging Obligations) would appear  as a liability upon  a
balance  sheet of such Person  prepared in accordance with  GAAP, as well as all
indebtedness of others secured by a Lien  on any asset of such Person (in  which
case the amount of such Indebtedness shall be deemed to be the lesser of (a) the
amount  of such  Indebtedness and (b)  the fair  market value of  the asset that
secures such  Indebtedness), and,  to  the extent  not otherwise  included,  the
Guarantee by such Person of any indebtedness of any other Person.
 
    "Investments"  means, with  respect to any  Person, all  investments by such
Person in  other  Persons (including  Affiliates)  in  the forms  of  direct  or
indirect  loans  (including guarantees  of  Indebtedness or  other obligations),
advances or  capital contributions  (excluding  commission, travel  and  similar
advances  to officers  and employees made  in the ordinary  course of business),
purchases or  other  acquisitions  for  consideration  of  Indebtedness,  Equity
Interests  or other  securities, together  with all items  that are  or would be
classified as investments on a balance  sheet prepared in accordance with  GAAP;
PROVIDED  that an acquisition of assets, Equity Interests or other securities by
the Company  for consideration  consisting of  common equity  securities of  the
Company shall not be deemed to be an Investment.
 
    "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge,
security  interest or encumbrance of any kind  in respect of such asset, whether
or not filed, recorded  or otherwise perfected  under applicable law  (including
any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature
thereof,  any option or other  agreement to sell or  give a security interest in
and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform
Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction).
 
    "Make-Whole Premium" with respect to a New Note means an amount equal to the
greater of (i) 106%  of the outstanding  principal amount of  such New Note  and
(ii)  the excess of (A) the present value of the remaining interest, premium and
principal payments due on such New Note as if such Note were redeemed on June 1,
2001, computed using a discount  rate equal to the  Treasury Rate plus 50  basis
points, over (B) the outstanding principal amount of such New Note.
 
    "Net  Income" means, with  respect to any  Person, the net  income (loss) of
such Person, determined  in accordance  with GAAP  and before  any reduction  in
respect  of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (i) any gain (but not
loss), together  with any  related provision  for taxes  on such  gain (but  not
loss),  realized  in  connection with  (a)  any Asset  Sale  (including, without
limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale and leaseback transactions) or (b) the
disposition  of  any  securities  by  such  Person  or  any  of  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain (but
not loss), together with any related  provision for taxes on such  extraordinary
or nonrecurring gain (but not loss).
 
    "Net  Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale or Event of Loss
(including, without  limitation,  any  cash  received upon  the  sale  or  other
disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale or Event of
Loss),  net of  the direct costs  relating to such  Asset Sale or  Event of Loss
(including, without limitation, legal,  accounting and investment banking  fees,
and sales commissions) and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof,
taxes  paid  or payable  as  a result  thereof  (after taking  into  account any
available tax credits or deductions  and any tax sharing arrangements),  amounts
required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the
asset  or assets that were the  subject of such Asset Sale  or Event of Loss and
any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or  assets
established in accordance with GAAP.
 
    "Non-Recourse  Debt" means Indebtedness (i) as  to which neither the Company
nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries  (a) provides credit support of any  kind
(including  any  undertaking,  agreement  or  instrument  that  would constitute
Indebtedness),  (b)  is  directly  or  indirectly  liable  (as  a  guarantor  or
otherwise),  or (c) constitutes the lender; and  (ii) no default with respect to
which  (including  any  rights  that  the  holders  thereof  may  have  to  take
enforcement  action  against  an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary)  would  permit (upon
notice, lapse of time or both) any holder of any other Indebtedness (other  than
the  New Notes  being offered hereby)  of the  Company or any  of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other
 
                                       74
<PAGE>
Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior  to
its  stated maturity; and  (iii) as to  which the lenders  have been notified in
writing that they  will not  have any  recourse to the  stock or  assets of  the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
 
    "Obligations"    means   any    principal,   interest,    penalties,   fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages  and other  liabilities payable  under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
 
    "Permitted  Investments" means  (a) any  Investment in  the Company  or in a
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary  of the Company; (b)  any Investment in  Cash
Equivalents;  (c) any Investment by the  Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company in  a Person,  if as  a result of  such Investment  (i) such  Person
becomes  a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of  the Company and a Guarantor or
(ii) such  Person  is merged,  consolidated  or  amalgamated with  or  into,  or
transfers  or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into,
the Company or  a Wholly  Owned Restricted Subsidiary  of the  Company; (d)  any
Investment  made as a  result of the  receipt of non-cash  consideration from an
Asset Sale  that  was made  pursuant  to and  in  compliance with  the  covenant
described  above under the caption "--Repurchase at the Option of Holders--Asset
Sales and Events of Loss"; (e) Investments in the Joint Venture pursuant to  the
Subordinated  Credit Facility in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10.0 million
at any one time outstanding; and  (f) Investments in the Joint Venture  pursuant
to  the Indemnification Reimbursement Agreement as in  effect on the date of the
Indenture; (g) Investments to purchase equity interests of MannKraft Corporation
not owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company in an aggregate  amount
not  to exceed $4.5 million; (h) Investments in Persons engaged in the same line
of business as the Company, or any business incidental or related thereto, in an
amount not to exceed  (i) $3.5 million  during the period from  the date of  the
Indenture through July 31, 1997, (ii) $3.5 million during the period from August
1,  1997 through July 31, 1998 and (iii) an aggregate of $7.0 million at any one
time outstanding  after  July  31,  1998,  plus to  the  extent  that  any  such
Investment  is sold  for cash  or otherwise liquidated  or repaid  for cash, the
lesser of (A) the cash return of  capital with respect to such Investment  (less
the  cost of disposition, if any) and (B) the initial amount of such Investment,
plus (iv) to the  extent that any  Person in which any  such Investment is  made
becomes  a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary and a Guarantor, the lesser of (A)
the fair market  value of  the common  equity of such  Person at  the time  such
Person  becomes a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary and a Guarantor and (B) the
initial amount of such  Investment; and (i) Investments  in Box USA of  Florida,
L.P. in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5.0 million.
 
    "Permitted  Liens" means  (i) Liens  securing the  New Notes;  (ii) Liens on
Excluded Property described in clause (1) of the definition of such term in  the
Security  Agreement securing  Indebtedness under  the Credit  Facility, provided
that such  Indebtedness  was permitted  by  the terms  of  the Indenture  to  be
incurred;  (iii) Liens  in favor  of the  Company; (iv)  Liens on  property of a
Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with  the
Company  or any Restricted  Subsidiary of the Company;  PROVIDED that such Liens
were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and
do not  extend to  any assets  other than  those of  the Person  merged into  or
consolidated  with the Company;  (v) Liens on  property existing at  the time of
acquisition thereof by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the  Company,
PROVIDED  that such Liens were  in existence prior to  the contemplation of such
acquisition; (vi)  Liens to  secure the  performance of  statutory  obligations,
surety  or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature
incurred in the ordinary course of business; (vii) Liens to secure  Indebtedness
(including  Capital Lease--Obligations) permitted  by clause (iv)  of the second
paragraph  of  the   covenant  entitled   "--Certain  Covenants--Incurrence   of
Indebtedness,"  covering only the assets acquired with such Indebtedness; (viii)
Liens existing on the date of the Indenture excluding (a) Liens on  Indebtedness
to  be  repaid  with  the  proceeds of  this  Offering  and  (b)  Liens securing
Indebtedness under the  Credit Facility;  (ix) Liens for  taxes, assessments  or
governmental  charges or claims  that are not  yet delinquent or  that are being
contested in  good  faith by  appropriate  proceedings promptly  instituted  and
diligently  concluded, PROVIDED that any  reserve or other appropriate provision
as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor;  (x)
Liens  incurred  in  the ordinary  course  of  business of  the  Company  or any
Restricted Subsidiary of  the Company with  respect to obligations  that do  not
exceed $2.0 million at any one time outstanding and that (a) are not incurred in
connection  with the borrowing of  money or the obtaining  of advances or credit
(other than trade credit in the ordinary  course of business) and (b) do not  in
 
                                       75
<PAGE>
the  aggregate materially detract  from the value of  the property or materially
impair the use  thereof in  the operation  of business  by the  Company or  such
Restricted  Subsidiary; (xi) renewals or refundings  of any Liens referred to in
clauses (ii) through (x) above, PROVIDED that any such renewal or refunding does
not extend to any assets or secure  any Indebtedness not securing or secured  by
the Liens being renewed or refinanced; and (xii) Liens on assets of Unrestricted
Subsidiaries that secure Non-Recourse Debt of Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
 
    "Permitted Refinancing Debt" means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which
are  used  to  extend,  refinance,  renew,  replace,  defease  or  refund  other
Indebtedness of  the Company  or any  of its  Restricted Subsidiaries;  PROVIDED
that:  (i)  the principal  amount  (or accreted  value,  if applicable)  of such
Permitted Refinancing Debt  does not  exceed the principal  amount (or  accreted
value,  if  applicable) of  the Indebtedness  so extended,  refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded (plus the amount of reasonable expenses  incurred
in  connection  therewith); (ii)  such Permitted  Refinancing  Debt has  a final
maturity date no earlier  than the final  maturity date of,  and has a  Weighted
Average  Life to Maturity equal to or  greater than the Weighted Average Life to
Maturity of,  the Indebtedness  being extended,  refinanced, renewed,  replaced,
defeased  or  refunded; (iii)  if the  Indebtedness being  extended, refinanced,
renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is  subordinated in right of payment  to
the  New Notes,  such Permitted  Refinancing Debt has  a final  maturity date no
earlier than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment
to, the New Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of New Notes  as
those  contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and (iv) such  Indebtedness
is  incurred either by  the Company or  by the Restricted  Subsidiary who is the
obligor on  the  Indebtedness  being extended,  refinanced,  renewed,  replaced,
defeased or refunded.
 
    "Pledged  Collateral" means (i) any and  all accounts at any time identified
as Collateral in the Indenture or in  any Collateral Document, all funds at  any
time  on deposit in any such account, all  investments of any such funds and all
interest and dividends thereon, and (ii) all other assets of the Company or  the
Restricted   Subsidiaries  defined  as  Collateral  in  any  of  the  Collateral
Documents, excluding "Excluded Property" as that term is defined in the Security
Agreement and in the Subsidiary Security Agreement, respectively.
 
    "Restricted  Investment"  means  an   Investment  other  than  a   Permitted
Investment.
 
    "Restricted  Subsidiary" of  a Person means  any Subsidiary  of the referent
Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
 
    "Significant Subsidiary" means  any Restricted  Subsidiary that  would be  a
"significant  subsidiary" as defined in Article  1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X,
promulgated pursuant to the  Act, as such  Regulation is in  effect on the  date
hereof.
 
    "Subsidiary"  means,  with  respect  to  any  Person,  (i)  any corporation,
association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total  voting
power  of shares of Capital Stock entitled  (without regard to the occurrence of
any contingency) to  vote in  the election  of directors,  managers or  trustees
thereof  is at  the time  owned or controlled,  directly or  indirectly, by such
Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination
thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a)  the sole general partner or the  managing
general  partner of which is  such Person or a Subsidiary  of such Person or (b)
the only  general  partners  of  which  are  such  Person  or  of  one  or  more
Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).
 
    "Treasury  Rate" means the yield to maturity  at the time of the computation
of United States Treasury  securities with a constant  maturity (as compiled  by
and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519)),
which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the date
fixed  for prepayment (or,  if such Statistical Release  is no longer published,
any publicly available source of similar  market data) most nearly equal to  the
then  remaining average life of  the series of New  Notes for which a Make-Whole
Premium is being calculated; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the average life of such
note is  not  equal to  the  constant maturity  of  the United  States  Treasury
security  for which a weekly average yield  is given, the Treasury Rate shall be
obtained by linear  interpolation (calculated  to the nearest  one-twelfth of  a
 
                                       76
<PAGE>
year)  from the weekly  average yields of United  States Treasury securities for
which such yields are given,  except that if the average  life of such Notes  is
less  than one year, the  weekly average yield on  actually traded United States
Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used.
 
    "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (i) any Subsidiary that is designated by the
Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution;
but only to the extent that such Subsidiary: (a) has no Indebtedness other  than
Non-Recourse  Debt; (b) is not party  to any agreement, contract, arrangement or
understanding with  the Company  or  any Restricted  Subsidiary of  the  Company
unless  the terms of any such  agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding
are no less favorable  to the Company or  such Restricted Subsidiary than  those
that  might be obtained at  the time from Persons who  are not Affiliates of the
Company; (c) is a Person  with respect to which neither  the Company nor any  of
its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  has  any direct  or  indirect  obligation  (x) to
subscribe for additional Equity  Interests or (y) to  maintain or preserve  such
Person's  financial condition or  to cause such Person  to achieve any specified
levels of operating  results; (d) has  not guaranteed or  otherwise directly  or
indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of
its  Restricted Subsidiaries;  (e) has  at least  one director  on its  board of
directors that is not a director or  executive officer of the Company or any  of
its Restricted Subsidiaries and has at least one executive officer that is not a
director  or  executive  officer  of  the  Company  or  any  of  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries; and (f) does not own any Pledged Collateral. Any such  designation
by  the Board of Directors shall be evidenced  to the Trustee by filing with the
Trustee a  certified  copy  of  the  Board  Resolution  giving  effect  to  such
designation  and  an  Officers'  Certificate  certifying  that  such designation
complied with  the  foregoing  conditions  and was  permitted  by  the  covenant
described  above under  the caption  "--Certain Covenants--Restricted Payments."
If, at any time,  any Unrestricted Subsidiary would  fail to meet the  foregoing
requirements  as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it  shall thereafter cease to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes  of the Indenture  and any Indebtedness  of
such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company  as  of such  date (and,  if such  Indebtedness is  not permitted  to be
incurred as  of  such  date  under the  covenant  described  under  the  caption
"Incurrence of Indebtedness," the Company shall be in default of such covenant).
The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted
Subsidiary  to be a Restricted Subsidiary;  PROVIDED that such designation shall
be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of  the
Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such
designation  shall only be permitted if (i) such Indebtedness is permitted under
the covenant described above under the caption "--Certain  Covenants--Incurrence
of  Indebtedness," and (ii) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence
following such designation.
 
    "Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any  Indebtedness
at  any  date, the  number of  years obtained  by  dividing (i)  the sum  of the
products  obtained  by  multiplying  (a)  the  amount  of  each  then  remaining
installment,  sinking  fund,  serial  maturity  or  other  required  payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity,  in respect thereof, by (b)  the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between
such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding principal
amount of such Indebtedness.
 
    "Wholly  Owned  Restricted  Subsidiary"  of any  Person  means  a Restricted
Subsidiary of  such  Person  all  of the  outstanding  Capital  Stock  or  other
ownership  interests of which (other than directors' qualifying shares) shall at
the time be  owned by  such Person  or by one  or more  Wholly Owned  Restricted
Subsidiaries of such Person and one or more Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries
of such Person.
 
                                       77
<PAGE>
                         DESCRIPTION OF CREDIT FACILITY
 
    On  May 30,  1996, the  Company entered  into the  Credit Facility  with the
financial  institutions   which  are   parties  thereto   (the  "Lenders")   and
NationsBank, N.A., as agent for the Lenders (the "Agent"), which provides for an
aggregate  revolving credit facility of  $80.0 million under which approximately
$28.5 million was  drawn upon the  consummation of the  Acquisition. The  Credit
Facility  will expire  in 2001.  Amounts outstanding  under the  Credit Facility
bears interest at  a rate  per annum  equal to one  of the  following rates,  as
selected  and specified  by the  Company: (i)  if the  ratio of  Funded Debt (as
defined) to Tangible Net Worth (as defined) is less than 7:1, (a) the sum of the
prime commercial lending rate of NationsBank,  N.A. plus 0.5% per annum, or  (b)
LIBOR  plus  2.5%  per  annum; and  (ii)  otherwise  (a) the  sum  of  the prime
commercial lending rate of NationsBank, N.A. plus 0.75% per annum, or (b)  LIBOR
plus 2.75% per annum. The Company paid an arrangement fee of $1.0 million on May
30,  1996,  the date  of  closing of  the Acquisition.  The  Company will  pay a
quarterly commitment fee of 0.375% per annum on unused amounts of the  revolving
credit facility and a quarterly servicing fee of $12,500.
 
    The  Company's indebtedness under the Credit  Facility is secured by a first
priority security  interest in  the Company's  existing and  hereafter  acquired
accounts  receivable,  inventory,  chattel  paper  and  other  like  assets.  In
addition, all loans and the performance by  each of Four M and its  subsidiaries
entering  into the Credit Facility is guaranteed by each of the other borrowers.
A default with respect to any loan under the Credit Agreement will be a  default
with respect to all loans thereunder.
 
    Availability of initial and subsequent advances under the Credit Facility is
subject  to a  borrowing base test.  The borrowing  base means, at  any time, an
amount equal to  the aggregate of  (i) 85%  of the amount  of eligible  accounts
receivable  plus (ii) the lesser  of 60% of the  amount of eligible inventory or
$40.0 million. The Credit Facility provides  that the amount of Credit  Facility
borrowings  must be at least $5.0 million less than the Borrowing Base after May
30, 1996. The Credit Facility limits advances  by the Company to the Mill  Joint
Venture to $10.0 million.
 
    The  Credit Facility  requires mandatory prepayments  of amounts outstanding
if, and to the extent  that, such amounts exceed  the Borrowing Base minus  $5.0
million.  In  addition, the  Agent may  apply  portions of  the net  proceeds of
certain cash proceeds of the collateral to repayment of the Credit Facility.
 
    The obligation of the Lenders under the Credit Facility to advance funds  is
subject  to  certain conditions  customary for  facilities  of similar  size and
nature. In addition, the Company is subject to certain affirmative and  negative
covenants  customarily obtained in  agreements of this  type, including, without
limitation,  covenants  that  restrict,  subject  to  specified  exceptions  (i)
mergers,  consolidations,  asset sales  or  changes in  capital  structure, (ii)
creation or acquisition  of subsidiaries,  (iii) purchase or  redemption of  the
Company's  capital stock or declaration or payment of dividends or distributions
on  such  capital  stock,  (iv)  incurrence  of  additional  indebtedness,   (v)
investment  activities, (vi) capital expenditures,  (vii) granting or incurrence
of liens to secure other indebtedness, (viii) prepayment or modification of  the
terms  of  subordinated  indebtedness  and (ix)  engaging  in  transactions with
affiliates. In addition, the Credit Facility requires that the Company  maintain
certain  specified financial covenants, including, without limitation, a minimum
tangible net worth, a minimum interest coverage ratio, a maximum funded debt  to
EBITDA ratio and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio.
 
    The   Credit  Facility  also  provides  for  customary  events  of  default.
Occurrence of any  such events of  default could result  in acceleration of  the
Company's   obligations  under  the  Credit  Facility  and  foreclosure  on  the
collateral securing such obligations.
 
                                       78
<PAGE>
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
    Based  on  interpretations  by the  staff  of  the Commission  set  forth in
no-action letters issued to third parties,  the Company believes that New  Notes
issued  pursuant to the Exchange Offer to an Eligible Holder in exchange for Old
Notes may  be offered  for  resale, resold  and  otherwise transferred  by  such
Eligible  Holder (other  than (i)  a broker-dealer  who purchased  the Old Notes
directly from the Company for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the  Securities
Act  or any other available exemption under the Securities Act, or (ii) a person
that is an affiliate  of the Company  within the meaning of  Rule 405 under  the
Securities  Act),  without  compliance  with  the  registration  and  prospectus
delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that the Eligible Holder  is
acquiring  the  New  Notes  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  and  is not
participating, and  has  no arrangement  or  understanding with  any  person  to
participate, in a distribution of the New Notes.
 
    Each  broker-dealer that  holds Old  Notes which  were acquired  for its own
account as  a result  of market-making  activities or  other trading  activities
(other  than Old Notes acquired directly from the Company or an affiliate of the
Company), may  exchange the  Old Notes  for  New Notes  in the  Exchange  Offer.
However, such broker-dealer may be deemed an "underwriter" within the meaning of
the Act and, therefore, must deliver a prospectus in connection with any resales
of  the New  Notes received  by such broker-dealer  in the  Exchange Offer. This
prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied by delivery of this Prospectus,
as it may  be amended or  supplemented from time  to time. The  Company and  the
Guarantors  have agreed that  they will provide sufficient  copies of the latest
version of the Prospectus  to broker-dealers promptly upon  request at any  time
during  the 270 day  period following the  effective date of  the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement to facilitate such resales.
 
    The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of the New Notes  by
broker-dealers.  New  Notes received  by broker-dealers  for their  own accounts
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  New Notes or  a combination of  such methods of
resale, at  market prices  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 and/or the  purchasers of  any such New  Notes. Any  broker-dealer
that  resells New Notes 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 New Notes may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities  Act  and  any  profit  on  any such  resale  of  New  Notes  and any
commissions 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.
 
    By acceptance  of the  Exchange Offer,  each broker-dealer  and Holder  that
receives  the New Notes pursuant  to the Exchange Offer  hereby agrees to notify
the Company  prior  to using  the  Prospectus in  connection  with the  sale  or
transfer  of  New Notes,  and  each broker-dealer  and  Holder agrees  that upon
receipt of any  notice from  the Company  of the existence  of any  fact or  the
happening  of  any event  that makes  any statement  of a  material fact  in the
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement hereto, or any document  incorporated
herein by reference untrue or requires the making of any additions or changes in
the  Prospectus  (the  "Notice"),  such holder  will  forthwith  discontinue the
disposition of  the  New  Notes until  such  Holder  (i) receives  copies  of  a
supplemental  Prospectus or (ii) is  advised in writing by  the Company that the
use of the Prospectus may be resumed  and has received copies of any  additional
or  supplemental filings  that are  incorporated herein  by reference.  Upon the
Company's request and at  its expense, each Holder  will deliver to the  Company
all copies, other than permanent file copies in such Holder's possession, of the
Prospectus  covering such New Notes  that was current at  the time of receipt of
such Notice.
 
                                       79
<PAGE>
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The legality of the New Notes and Guarantees being issued in connection with
the Exchange  Offer  will be  passed  upon for  the  Company by  Kramer,  Levin,
Naftalis & Frankel, New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of July 31, 1994 and
1995  and for each of the two years in  the period ended July 31, 1995 have been
included herein upon reliance upon the  report of BDO Seidman, LLP,  independent
certified  public accountants, and upon the authority of such firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
 
    The consolidated financial  statements of  Four M Corporation  for the  year
ended July 31, 1993 and the financial statements of St. Joe Container Company as
of  December 31,  1994 and  1995, and for  each of  the years  in the three-year
period  ended  December  31,  1995,  have  been  included  herein  and  in   the
Registration  Statement in reliance  upon the reports of  KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent certified public accountants,  appearing elsewhere herein, and  upon
the  authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The report of
KPMG Peat Marwick  LLP on St.  Joe Container  Company refers to  changes in  the
method of accounting for income taxes and investments.
 
                                       80
<PAGE>
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                              PAGE
                                                                                                            ---------
<S>                                                                                                         <C>
FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
  Independent Auditors' Report............................................................................  F-2
  Independent Auditors' Report............................................................................  F-3
  Consolidated Balance Sheets as of July 31, 1994 and 1995 and April 30, 1996 (unaudited).................  F-4
  Consolidated Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings for the years ended July 31, 1993, 1994 and
   1995 and the nine months ended April 30, 1995 and 1996 (unaudited).....................................  F-5
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended July 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 and the nine
   months ended April 30, 1995 and 1996 (unaudited).......................................................  F-6
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..............................................................  F-7
 
ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
  Independent Auditors' Report............................................................................  F-15
  Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 1994 and 1995........................................  F-16
  Statement of Operations for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995............................  F-17
  Statement of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995............................  F-18
  Statement of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995.....................  F-19
  Notes to Financial Statements...........................................................................  F-20
  Unaudited Statement of Financial Position as of March 31, 1996..........................................  F-25
  Unaudited Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996....................  F-26
  Unaudited Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996....................  F-27
  Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements.................................................................  F-28
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
Board of Directors and Stockholder
Four M Corporation and Subsidiaries
 
    We  have  audited the  accompanying consolidated  balance  sheets of  Four M
Corporation and subsidiaries (the  "Company") as of July  31, 1994 and 1995  and
the  related consolidated statements of operations  and retained earnings and of
cash flows  for  each  of  the  years  ended  July  31,  1994  and  1995.  These
consolidated  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of  the Company's
management. Our responsibility is  to express an  opinion on these  consolidated
financial statements based on our audits.
 
    We  conducted  our audits  in  accordance with  generally  accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to  obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also  includes
assessing  the  accounting principles  used  and significant  estimates  made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement  presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In  our  opinion, the  consolidated financial  statements referred  to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the  Company
at  July 31, 1994  and 1995 and the  results of their  operations and their cash
flows for each  of the years  ended July 31,  1994 and 1995  in conformity  with
generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                          /s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
                                          BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
 
September 22, 1995, except for Note 3
for which the date is November 1, 1995.
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
The Board of Directors and Shareholder
Four M Corporation:
 
    We  have audited the accompanying  consolidated statements of operations and
retained earnings and cash flows of Four M Corporation and subsidiaries for  the
year  ended  July  31, 1993.  These  consolidated financial  statements  are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express  an
opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.
 
    We  conducted  our  audit  in accordance  with  generally  accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to  obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also  includes
assessing  the  accounting principles  used  and significant  estimates  made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement  presentation.
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In  our  opinion, the  consolidated financial  statements referred  to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations and the cash
flows of Four M Corporation and subsidiaries  for the year ended July 31,  1993,
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                          /s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
                                          KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
 
Stamford, Connecticut
October 29, 1993
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
                                     ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        JULY 31,       JULY 31,
                                                                          1994           1995
                                                                      -------------  -------------    APRIL 30,
                                                                                                        1996
                                                                                                    -------------
                                                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                   <C>            <C>            <C>
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents.........................................  $   1,900,000  $   1,226,000  $   1,949,000
  Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of
   $1,542,000, $1,778,000 and $1,368,000 (Note 6)...................     26,570,000     22,867,000     21,997,000
  Notes, advances and other receivables.............................      1,752,000      1,452,000      1,460,000
  Inventories (Notes 4 and 6).......................................     18,683,000     15,110,000     11,019,000
  Deferred income taxes (Note 8)....................................      3,400,000      2,001,000      1,825,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
    TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS............................................     52,305,000     42,656,000     38,250,000
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
 (Notes 5 and 6)....................................................     36,536,000     27,044,000     34,977,000
Goodwill and other intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of
 $602,000, $546,000 and $647,000....................................      1,362,000      1,007,000        987,000
Other assets (Note 11)..............................................      3,730,000      2,430,000      3,040,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                      $  93,933,000  $  73,137,000  $  77,254,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
 
                                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities..........................  $  35,194,000  $  24,703,000  $  21,167,000
  Current maturities of long-term debt (Notes 6 and 7)..............      8,208,000      3,449,000      4,158,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
    TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES.......................................     43,402,000     28,152,000     25,325,000
Long-term debt, less current maturities (Note 6)....................     36,332,000     29,918,000     33,279,000
Subordinated debt, less current maturities (Note 7).................      7,773,000      1,080,000       --
Deferred income taxes (Note 8)......................................      4,700,000      3,663,000      4,410,000
Minority interest (Note 9)..........................................        180,000        326,000       --
Other liabilities...................................................        268,000      1,349,000        847,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
    TOTAL LIABILITIES...............................................     92,655,000     64,488,000     63,861,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTES 10, 11 AND 12)
STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY:
  Common stock, $.125 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized;
   7,229,770 shares issued and 6,815,867 outstanding................        904,000        904,000        904,000
  Additional paid-in capital........................................        117,000        117,000        117,000
  Retained earnings.................................................      1,219,000      8,590,000     13,334,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                          2,240,000      9,611,000     14,355,000
  Less treasury stock, at cost (413,903 shares).....................        962,000        962,000        962,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
    TOTAL STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY......................................      1,278,000      8,649,000     13,393,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                      $  93,933,000  $  73,137,000  $  77,254,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND RETAINED EARNINGS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    NINE MONTHS     NINE MONTHS
                                                YEARS ENDED JULY 31,                   ENDED           ENDED
                                   ----------------------------------------------    APRIL 30,       APRIL 30,
                                        1993            1994            1995            1995            1996
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                                                                            (UNAUDITED)
 
<S>                                <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
NET SALES........................  $  214,936,000  $  228,563,000  $  271,994,000  $  213,723,000  $  164,736,000
COST OF GOODS SOLD...............     192,208,000     205,025,000     232,154,000     181,870,000     141,973,000
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
    GROSS PROFIT.................      22,728,000      23,538,000      39,840,000      31,853,000      22,763,000
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
SELLING, GENERAL AND
 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.........      21,813,000      22,018,000      19,703,000      15,810,000      11,664,000
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
    INCOME FROM OPERATIONS.......         915,000       1,520,000      20,137,000      16,043,000      11,099,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest expense...............      (4,948,000)     (5,448,000)     (5,607,000)     (4,672,000)     (2,697,000)
  Gain on closure/sale of
   subsidiary (Note 3)...........       3,906,000        --              --              --              --
  (Loss) gain on sale of assets
   and other (Note 3)............        (255,000)        126,000       1,927,000       1,761,000        --
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
    INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE
     PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR
     INCOME TAXES, MINORITY
     INTEREST AND EXTRAORDINARY
     GAIN ON EARLY RETIREMENT OF
     DEBT........................        (382,000)     (3,802,000)     16,457,000      13,132,000       8,402,000
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME
 TAXES (NOTE 8)..................         453,000        (325,000)      5,483,000       4,350,000       3,658,000
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
    INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE MINORITY
     INTEREST AND EXTRAORDINARY
     GAIN ON EARLY RETIREMENT OF
     DEBT........................        (835,000)     (3,477,000)     10,974,000       8,782,000       4,744,000
MINORITY INTEREST (NOTE 9).......        --              (180,000)       (146,000)       --              --
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE IN
 METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR TAXES
 ON INCOME (NOTE 8)..............        --               381,000        --              --              --
EXTRAORDINARY GAIN ON EARLY
 RETIREMENT OF DEBT (NOTES 6 AND
 7)..............................        --              --             2,219,000       2,219,000        --
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
NET INCOME (LOSS)................        (835,000)     (3,276,000)     13,047,000      11,001,000       4,744,000
RETAINED EARNINGS, BEGINNING OF
 PERIOD..........................       5,330,000       4,495,000       1,219,000       1,219,000       8,590,000
DISTRIBUTION (NOTE 3)............        --              --            (5,676,000)     (5,676,000)       --
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
RETAINED EARNINGS, END OF
 PERIOD..........................  $    4,495,000  $    1,219,000  $    8,590,000  $    6,544,000  $   13,334,000
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
                                   --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               NINE MONTHS   NINE MONTHS
                                                              YEARS ENDED JULY 31,                ENDED         ENDED
                                                     ---------------------------------------    APRIL 30,     APRIL 30,
                                                        1993         1994          1995           1995           1996
                                                     -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------  ------------
                                                                                                      (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                  <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income (loss)................................  $  (835,000) $(3,276,000) $  13,047,000  $  11,001,000   $4,744,000
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net
   cash provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization..................    5,294,000    5,276,000      5,245,000      3,990,000    2,852,000
    Allowance for doubtful accounts................      --           678,000        467,000        441,000     (331,000)
    Gain on sale/closure of subsidiary.............   (3,906,000)     --          (1,618,000)    (1,618,000)    (166,000)
    Gain from debt forgiveness.....................      --          (381,000)    (2,393,000)    (2,393,000)      --
    Non-cash interest expense......................    1,355,000    1,123,000        499,000        499,000       --
    Loss (gain) on sale of fixed assets............      182,000     (830,000)        32,000         32,000      168,000
    Deferred income taxes..........................     (209,000)    (600,000)      (312,000)      (822,000)     930,000
    Change in assets and liabilities, net of
     effects of acquisitions and disposals:
      Accounts, notes and other receivables........      158,000   (5,061,000)    (4,273,000)    (6,909,000)    (542,000)
      Inventories..................................      (35,000)  (1,194,000)   (10,594,000)   (10,897,000)   3,752,000
      Other assets, net of other liabilities.......       87,000     (387,000)       275,000     (1,535,000)  (1,398,000)
      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities.....    6,769,000    9,446,000     (2,592,000)     3,146,000   (2,690,000)
                                                     -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------  ------------
      NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING
       ACTIVITIES..................................    8,860,000    4,794,000     (2,217,000)    (5,065,000)   7,319,000
                                                     -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------  ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Capital expenditures.............................   (3,935,000)  (3,916,000)    (3,690,000)    (2,950,000)  (4,281,000)
  Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries...............      --         1,401,000      1,618,000      1,618,000      898,000
  Proceeds from sale or exchange of fixed assets...      121,000      174,000        397,000        397,000      679,000
  Payment for acquisitions, net of cash acquired...       93,000   (6,601,000)      --             --             --
  Payment related to subsidiary spin-off, net of
   common stock sold...............................      --           --            (300,000)      (300,000)      --
  Loans made to employees, net of payments.........     (414,000)    (184,000)      --             --             --
                                                     -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------  ------------
      NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES........   (4,135,000)  (9,126,000)    (1,975,000)    (1,235,000)  (2,704,000)
                                                     -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------  ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Net short-term borrowings........................   (5,127,000)   3,428,000       --             --           (495,000)
  Payments to pre-petition creditors...............     (720,000)    (274,000)      (180,000)      (180,000)      --
  Secured term, mortgage, equipment and other
   borrowings......................................    5,500,000    7,446,000      9,094,000      6,454,000       --
  Repayments of long-term debt.....................   (3,494,000)  (5,418,000)    (5,396,000)    (1,195,000)  (3,397,000)
                                                     -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------  ------------
      NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING
       ACTIVITIES..................................   (3,841,000)   5,182,000      3,518,000      5,079,000   (3,892,000)
                                                     -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------  ------------
TOTAL (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH
 EQUIVALENTS.......................................      884,000      850,000       (674,000)    (1,221,000)     723,000
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD.....      166,000    1,050,000      1,900,000      1,900,000    1,226,000
                                                     -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------  ------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD...........  $ 1,050,000  $ 1,900,000  $   1,226,000  $     679,000   $1,949,000
                                                     -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------  ------------
                                                     -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------  ------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
  Cash paid during the period for:
    Interest.......................................  $ 3,372,000  $ 4,015,000  $   4,822,000  $   3,005,000   $2,930,000
    Income taxes, net of refunds...................      234,000    1,080,000      6,052,000      1,678,000    1,990,000
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON NON-CASH INVESTING
 ACTIVITIES:
  Purchase of equipment under capital leases.......      --           --            --             --          7,623,000
  Non-cash distribution and other..................      --         1,262,000      5,676,000      5,676,000       --
</TABLE>
 
          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    BUSINESS
 
    Four  M  Corporation  and  subsidiaries  ("Four  M"  or  the  "Company") are
manufacturers of corrugated paper, rolled  paper and other paper products,  such
as  cartons, displays,  partitions and, prior  to the distribution  of The Fonda
Group, Inc. ("Fonda") (see Note 3), paper cups and plates. The Company uses  the
trade name Box USA to conduct its business activities.
 
    PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
 
    The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  accounts  of  Four M
Corporation and its subsidiaries. All of the capital stock of Four M is owned by
its Chairman  of the  Board  and Chief  Executive  Officer, Dennis  Mehiel  (the
"Stockholder"). Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
 
    INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
 
    The  financial statements as of April 30, 1996 and for the nine months ended
April 30, 1995 and 1996 are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, include
all adjustments (consisting only of  normal recurring adjustments and  accruals)
which  the Company considers necessary for  a fair presentation of the operating
results and cash  flows for  that period. Results  for interim  periods are  not
necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.
 
    INVENTORIES
 
    Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market.
 
    PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property,   plant  and  equipment  are  stated  at  cost,  less  accumulated
depreciation. Depreciation is based on estimated useful lives of the assets  and
is  provided using the straight-line method.  For income tax purposes, statutory
accelerated methods of depreciation are used.
 
    GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES
 
    Goodwill and  other intangibles  principally  relate to  the excess  of  the
purchase  price of certain  acquisitions over the  fair value of  the net assets
acquired and  are  being  amortized  over  their  estimated  useful  lives,  not
exceeding a 40-year period, using the straight-line method.
 
    REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
    Revenue is recognized when products are shipped.
 
    INCOME TAXES
 
    Deferred  taxes are provided on the  differences between the basis of assets
and liabilities  for  financial reporting  and  income tax  purposes  using  the
statutory  rates enacted for  future periods. A  consolidated federal income tax
return is filed. State income tax returns are filed separately.
 
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
    For purposes  of the  statement of  cash flows,  the Company  considers  all
highly  liquid debt  instruments purchased  with an  original maturity  of three
months or less to be cash equivalents.
 
    RECLASSIFICATIONS
 
    Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform with the  1995
presentation.
 
    ESTIMATES
 
    The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions    that    affect    the   reported    amounts    of    assets   and
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets  and liabilities at the date  of
the  financial  statements and  the reported  amounts  of revenues  and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
    LONG-LIVED ASSETS
 
    As prescribed  in  Statement  of Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  121,
"Accounting for the Impairment of Long-lived Assets and for Long-lived Assets to
be Disposed Of," long-lived assets are required to be adjusted to net realizable
value  if, in  the opinion  of management,  there is  a permanent  diminution in
value. The adoption of this pronouncement does not have a significant impact  on
the Company's financial statements.
 
    FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
    The  carrying  value  of  financial  instruments  including  cash,  accounts
receivable,  notes,  advances  and   other  receivables  and  accounts   payable
approximate  fair  value because  of the  relatively  short maturities  of these
instruments. The carrying value of long term debt, including the current portion
and subordinated  debt,  approximate fair  value  based upon  market  rates  for
similar instruments.
 
2.  CREDIT RISK
    Financial   instruments   which   potentially   subject   the   Company   to
concentrations of credit risk consist principally of temporary cash  investments
and  trade receivables. The  Company places its  temporary cash investments with
financial institutions having high credit ratings. Concentrations of credit risk
with respect  to  trade receivables  are  limited due  to  the large  number  of
customers  comprising the Company's  customer base, and  their dispersion across
many different  geographical regions.  At  July 31,  1995,  the Company  had  no
significant  concentrations of credit risk. No single customer accounted for 10%
or more of net sales during any of the reported periods.
 
3.  ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS
 
    ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
 
    The Company entered into  an agreement on November  1, 1995, as amended,  to
acquire  substantially  all  the assets  and  liabilities of  St.  Joe Container
Company for approximately  $160 million.  On May  30, 1996,  the Company  issued
senior secured notes for $170 million to finance the purchase.
 
    TIMBERLINE PACKAGING, INC.
 
    In  August 1995, the Company sold  its 67% interest in Timberline Packaging,
Inc. The sale resulted in a gain of approximately $166,000.
 
    THE FONDA GROUP, INC.
 
    In March 1995,  Fonda concluded a  purchase agreement with  the Scott  Paper
Company  to acquire certain net assets and the business of its Scott Foodservice
Division for approximately $30  million in cash plus  the assumption of  certain
liabilities.
 
    In March 1995, the stock of Fonda was distributed to the Stockholder, except
for  3.5%  which was  distributed  to a  creditor as  described  in Note  7. The
distribution to the Stockholder amounted to 96.5% of the net assets of Fonda  as
of March 31, 1995.
 
    Accordingly,  the results  of operations  of Fonda  are not  included in the
financial statements after March 31, 1995.
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
3.  ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS (CONTINUED)
    The accounts of Fonda as of and for  the years ended July 31, 1993 and  1994
and  for the  eight months ended  March 31,  1995 are summarized  as follows (in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              JULY 31,         MARCH 31,
                                                                        --------------------  -----------
                                                                          1993       1994        1995
                                                                        ---------  ---------  -----------
<S>                                                                     <C>        <C>        <C>
Net sales.............................................................    $61,079    $61,839     $42,413
Operating income......................................................      2,835      1,788       1,352
Net (loss) income.....................................................        960        251         (57 )
Total assets..........................................................     23,598     24,668      33,332
Stockholder's equity..................................................      3,717      5,977       5,882
</TABLE>
 
    FIBER PARTITION PRODUCTS
 
    Effective March 20, 1995, the Company disposed of certain assets relating to
its fiber partition  products which resulted  in a gain  before income taxes  of
approximately $1,618,000.
 
    CONSOLIDATING PACKAGING CORPORATION, DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION
 
    On  January 5,  1994, the  Company acquired  certain assets  of Consolidated
Packaging  Corporation,  Debtor-in-Possession   (the  "CPC  Acquisition").   The
purchase  price was approximately $5,285,000.  Assets acquired included accounts
receivable,  inventories,  equipment  and  certain  real  estate  and  leasehold
interests.  The assets were transferred to certain subsidiaries. These financial
statements reflect  the  operations  of  those subsidiaries  from  the  date  of
acquisition.
 
    Effective  July  31, 1994,  the Company  disposed of  certain of  the assets
purchased in the  CPC Acquisition, resulting  in a gain  before income taxes  of
approximately $622,000.
 
    In  November 1994, the  Company sold certain  additional assets purchased in
the CPC Acquisition, consisting of substantially all of the inventory,  property
and  equipment  and certain  tangible assets  of Four  M Manufacturing  Group of
Somerset, Inc. The sale  resulted in a loss  of approximately $73,000 which  was
recorded in 1994.
 
    GRAND CORRUGATED CONTAINER CORPORATION
 
    On  May  31,  1993,  one of  the  Company's  subsidiaries,  Grand Corrugated
Container Corporation, ceased operations. Title to substantially all of  Grand's
assets was transferred to the respective creditors holding security interests in
the  assets in satisfaction  of the related obligations.  In connection with the
closure of this subsidiary, the Company realized a gain of $3,906,000.
 
4.  INVENTORIES
    Inventories consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      JULY 31,
                                                            ----------------------------
                                                                1994           1995
                                                            -------------  -------------    APRIL 30,
                                                                                          -------------
                                                                                              1996
                                                                                          -------------
                                                                                           (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                         <C>            <C>            <C>
Raw materials.............................................  $  12,453,000  $  10,710,000  $   7,894,000
Work-in-process...........................................        570,000        632,000        562,000
Finished goods............................................      5,660,000      3,768,000      2,563,000
                                                            -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                              $18,683,000    $15,110,000  $11,019,000
                                                            -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                            -------------  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
5.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
    Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       JULY 31,
                                                  LIVES IN   ----------------------------
                                                    YEARS        1994           1995
                                                  ---------  -------------  -------------    APRIL 30,
                                                                                           -------------
                                                                                               1996
                                                                                           -------------
                                                                                            (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                               <C>        <C>            <C>            <C>
Land and buildings..............................     20      $  12,797,000  $   9,107,000  $   8,675,000
Machinery and equipment.........................    3-20        42,107,000     31,819,000     41,622,000
Leasehold improvements..........................    5-10         1,942,000      1,362,000      1,384,000
Furniture and fixtures..........................      5          3,275,000      2,987,000      2,825,000
Autos and trucks................................      5            318,000        306,000        457,000
                                                             -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                60,439,000     45,581,000     54,963,000
 
Less: accumulated depreciation..................                23,903,000     18,537,000     19,986,000
                                                             -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                               $36,536,000    $27,044,000  $34,977,000
                                                             -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                             -------------  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    Depreciation expense was  approximately $5,060,000, $5,014,000,  $4,887,000,
$2,549,000  and $2,540,000 for the years ended  July 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 and
the nine months ended April 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
 
    Property, plant  and equipment  includes property  under capital  leases  as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         JULY 31,            APRIL 30,
                                                                --------------------------  ------------
                                                                    1994          1995          1996
                                                                ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                                            (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                             <C>           <C>           <C>
Building......................................................  $  2,217,000  $    --       $    --
Equipment.....................................................     2,489,000     1,170,000     8,117,000
Less: accumulated depreciation................................     1,614,000       311,000       386,000
                                                                ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                $  3,092,000  $    859,000  $  7,731,000
                                                                ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
6.  LONG-TERM DEBT
    Long-term debt consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      JULY 31,              APRIL 30,
                                                            ----------------------------  -------------
                                                                1994           1995           1996
                                                            -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                                           (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                         <C>            <C>            <C>
Revolving credit agreements(a)............................    $18,900,000    $16,110,000    $15,297,000
Term loans(b).............................................     12,173,000      9,913,000      8,922,000
Mortgages (weighted average rate as of
 April 30, 1996 7.8%).....................................      2,778,000      2,620,000      2,498,000
Pre-petition creditors (discounted at 9%)(c)..............        795,000        275,000       --
Other.....................................................      5,190,000      2,857,000      2,048,000
                                                            -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                               39,836,000     31,775,000     28,765,000
Capital lease obligations (Note 10).......................      2,204,000        592,000      7,592,000
                                                            -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                               42,040,000     32,367,000     36,357,000
Less: current portion.....................................      5,708,000      2,449,000      3,078,000
                                                            -------------  -------------  -------------
Long-term debt............................................    $36,332,000    $29,918,000    $33,279,000
                                                            -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                            -------------  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(a) Revolving  credit agreements are secured by certain machinery and equipment,
    accounts receivable  and inventories  and  are limited  to 85%  of  eligible
    receivables    and    up    to   60%    of    eligible    inventories.   The
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
6.  LONG-TERM DEBT (CONTINUED)
    loans mature at various dates through 1998 and are automatically renewed for
    one year terms unless  terminated. Interest rates at  April 30, 1996  varied
    from  prime plus 2 1/4% to  prime plus 2 3/4%. The  prime rate was 8 1/2% at
    April 30, 1996. At April 30,  1996, the Company had available  approximately
    $14,149,000  of additional credit  under these agreements.  On May 30, 1996,
    the Company  negotiated a  new Credit  Facility with  similar terms  in  the
    amount of $80.0 million.
 
(b) Term  loans are secured by property, plant  and equipment and are payable in
    monthly installments  over seven  years through  2002 at  interest rates  of
    prime plus 2 3/4% at April 30, 1996.
 
(c) In   1995,  Four   M  assumed  certain   outstanding  pre-petition  creditor
    liabilities from Fonda aggregating $870,000.  The liability of $870,000  was
    settled for $455,000, resulting in an extraordinary gain of $241,000, net of
    income taxes.
 
    The  Company is subject to certain financial covenants, the most restrictive
of which  limits  capital expenditures.  The  Company has  obtained  waivers  of
non-compliance with this covenant at July 31, 1995.
 
    Long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations, is payable as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                        <C>
1997.....................................................................................  $   2,129,000
1998.....................................................................................     17,328,000
1999.....................................................................................      1,848,000
2000.....................................................................................      1,354,000
2001.....................................................................................      1,334,000
Thereafter...............................................................................      4,772,000
                                                                                           -------------
                                                                                           $28,765,000
                                                                                           -------------
                                                                                           -------------
</TABLE>
 
7.  SUBORDINATED DEBT
    Subordinated debt consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       JULY 31,
                                                              ---------------------------   APRIL 30,
                                                                  1994           1995          1996
                                                              -------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                                           (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>           <C>
Debt with Warrants(a):
  Face value................................................  $   4,000,000  $  2,080,000  $  1,080,000
  Accretion to redemption value.............................      1,760,000       --            --
  Deferred interest.........................................      2,013,000       --            --
Debentures(b)...............................................      2,500,000       --            --
                                                              -------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                 10,273,000     2,080,000     1,080,000
Less: current portion.......................................      2,500,000     1,000,000     1,080,000
                                                              -------------  ------------  ------------
Long-term subordinated debt.................................  $   7,773,000  $  1,080,000  $    --
                                                              -------------  ------------  ------------
                                                              -------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(a) In  January 1990, the Company  borrowed $4,000,000 (the "Subordinated Debt")
    from a lender  (the "Holder") and  issued a warrant  (the "Warrant") to  the
    Holder  to  purchase 513,000  shares of  its common  stock. Interest  on the
    Warrant was accreted such that at March 31, 1995, the Warrant had a value of
    $2,184,000. In  March  1995,  the  Subordinated  Debt  was  restructured  as
    follows:  (i) the  Company distributed  35 shares  (3.5%) of  the issued and
    outstanding stock of Fonda to the Holder  (see Note 3), in exchange for  the
    cancellation  of  a  portion of  the  outstanding principal  balance  of the
    Subordinated Debt; and  (ii) in consideration  of the Holder's  surrendering
    the   Warrants,  and  in  satisfaction  of  the  remaining  portion  of  the
    Subordinated  Debt  and  interest  accrued  thereon,  payments   aggregating
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
7.  SUBORDINATED DEBT (CONTINUED)
    $4,000,000  were made, with a final payment of $1,080,000 to be made on July
    31, 1996, together with interest accrued  thereon. As a result, the  Company
    recognized  an extraordinary gain of $1,978,000 which represented the excess
    of the recorded  value of  the Warrant settled  less $206,000,  representing
    3.5% of the net assets of Fonda at March 31, 1995.
 
(b) On  July 31,  1987, the Company  borrowed $3,000,000 from  an investor, with
    interest at 12%, payable quarterly commencing in the first quarter of fiscal
    year 1991,  and  with equal  annual  principal payments  beginning  in  1993
    through  1995.  In April  of 1992,  $2,500,000 of  principal payments  and a
    portion of future interest payments were deferred. In August 1994, the terms
    of the debentures evidencing such borrowings were modified and, as a result,
    principal payments  aggregating  $1,911,000  were made  and  the  rights  to
    convert  the debentures into 890,000 shares of common stock were terminated.
    The balance was paid during 1995.
 
8.  TAXES PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME (RECOVERIES)
    Components of provision (benefit) for income taxes are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       APRIL 30,
                                                             JULY 31,                     1995
                                               -------------------------------------  ------------
                                                  1993        1994          1995
                                               ----------  -----------  ------------  (UNAUDITED)    APRIL 30,
                                                                                                        1996
                                                                                                    ------------
                                                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                            <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>
Current:
  Federal....................................    $199,000  $   --       $  4,675,000  $  4,603,000  $  2,428,000
  State......................................     429,000      275,000     1,120,000       569,000       300,000
                                               ----------  -----------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                  628,000      275,000     5,795,000     5,172,000     2,728,000
                                               ----------  -----------  ------------  ------------  ------------
Deferred:
  Federal....................................    (153,000)    (481,000)     (250,000)     (712,000)      821,000
  State......................................     (22,000)    (119,000)      (62,000)     (110,000)      109,000
                                               ----------  -----------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                 (175,000)    (600,000)     (312,000)     (822,000)      930,000
                                               ----------  -----------  ------------  ------------  ------------
Provision (benefit) for income taxes before
 extraordinary item..........................     453,000     (325,000)    5,483,000     4,350,000     3,658,000
                                               ----------  -----------  ------------  ------------  ------------
Taxes on extraordinary item..................      --          --            174,000       174,000       --
                                               ----------  -----------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                 $453,000    $(325,000)   $5,657,000    $4,524,000    $3,658,000
                                               ----------  -----------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                               ----------  -----------  ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
    Deferred income  taxes  reflect  the tax  effect  of  temporary  differences
between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax
purposes. Deferred tax assets (liabilities) result from temporary differences as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            JULY 31,
                                                                  ----------------------------
                                                                      1994           1995
                                                                  -------------  -------------    APRIL 30,
                                                                                                -------------
                                                                                                    1996
                                                                                                -------------
                                                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                               <C>            <C>            <C>
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable......................  $     587,000  $     751,000  $     520,000
Capitalized inventory costs.....................................        768,000        762,000        628,000
Accrued salaries and benefits...................................        849,000        299,000        380,000
Other...........................................................        206,000        189,000        297,000
Net operating loss carryover....................................        990,000       --             --
                                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
Gross deferred tax assets.......................................      3,400,000      2,001,000      1,825,000
Property, plant and equipment...................................     (4,700,000)    (3,663,000)    (4,410,000)
                                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
Net deferred tax liabilities....................................    $(1,300,000)   $(1,662,000)   $(2,585,000)
                                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                  -------------  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
8.  TAXES PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME (RECOVERIES) (CONTINUED)
    The  effective  tax  rate  was different  than  the  federal  statutory rate
primarily due to state income taxes  being charged on a separate company  basis,
the  non-deductibility of  goodwill amortization  and the  use of  net operating
losses which arose in the prior year.
 
    During 1994,  the Company  adopted the  provisions of  Financial  Accounting
Standards  Board Statement No. 109, "Accounting  for Income Taxes" ("FASB 109").
The cumulative effect of this change in method of accounting for taxes on income
has been  reported  as  of  the  beginning  of  the  1994  fiscal  year  in  the
consolidated statement of operations.
 
    During  1993, the Company accounted for income taxes under the provisions of
Financial Accounting Standards  Board Statement No.  96, "Accounting for  Income
Taxes."
 
9.  MINORITY INTEREST
    Minority  interest  represents  the minority  stockholders'  investment plus
their proportionate share of the income or loss of the respective subsidiary.
 
10. LEASES
    The  Company  leases  several  facilities  and  certain  equipment  used  in
connection  with  its  manufacturing  operations.  Future  minimum  payments for
capital leases and  noncancellable operating  leases with  initial or  remaining
terms of one year or more are:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              CAPITAL       OPERATING
YEAR ENDING APRIL 30,                                                         LEASES         LEASES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                        <C>            <C>
1997.....................................................................  $   1,828,000  $   3,779,000
1998.....................................................................      1,796,000      3,489,000
1999.....................................................................      1,734,000      2,933,000
2000.....................................................................      1,611,000      2,328,000
2001.....................................................................      1,609,000      1,900,000
Thereafter...............................................................      2,143,000     12,332,000
                                                                           -------------  -------------
Total minimum lease payments.............................................     10,721,000  $  26,761,000
                                                                                          -------------
                                                                                          -------------
Less: amount representing interest.......................................      3,129,000
                                                                           -------------
Present value of capital lease obligations...............................  $   7,592,000
                                                                           -------------
                                                                           -------------
</TABLE>
 
    Rent   expense   under  operating   leases  was   approximately  $4,997,000,
$4,984,000, $4,613,000, $3,460,000 and $3,206,000  for the years ended July  31,
1993,  1994 and  1995 and  for the nine  months ended  April 30,  1995 and 1996,
respectively.
 
11. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
    The Stockholder is an owner of entities from which the Company rents certain
property, plant and equipment. Rent expense  for the years ended July 31,  1993,
1994  and  1995 and  for  the nine  months  ended April  30,  1995 and  1996 was
$883,000, $1,120,000, $929,000, $697,000 and $771,000, respectively. Included in
lease commitments at April  30, 1996 are  approximately $16,589,000 relating  to
operating leases with these entities.
 
    The  Stockholder  is part  owner  in an  entity  to which  the  Company sold
$15,000,000, $3,300,000 and $1,351,000 for the  years ended July 31, 1993,  1994
and  for  the nine  months ended  April  30, 1996,  respectively. There  were no
material sales to this entity for the year  ended July 31, 1995 or for the  nine
months ended April 30, 1995.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
11. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)
    The  Company had  outstanding notes and  loans receivable  from officers and
employees in the amount  of $1,264,000, $1,474,000 and  $1,605,000, at July  31,
1994  and 1995 and April 30, 1996,  respectively, all of which were non-interest
bearing. These notes and loans are classified as other assets.
 
    An officer of the Company owns a minority interest in a subsidiary which had
sales of $5,884,000, $7,558,000, $13,579,000, $10,061,000 and $1,398,000 for the
years ended July 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 and for the nine months ended April 30,
1995 and 1996, respectively.
 
12. COMMITMENT AND CONTINGENCIES
 
    PURCHASE COMMITMENTS
 
    The Company has commitments to purchase paperboard inventory from four major
vendors. The total commitment is for  the purchase of 160,000 tons of  inventory
through  December 2001. The prices  per ton will be  based on market rates, less
applicable rebates.
 
    LITIGATION
 
    The Company is involved in various  legal actions and claims arising in  the
ordinary course of its business. Management believes that current litigation and
claims  will be resolved without any  material effect on the Company's financial
position or results of operations.
 
    SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLANS
 
    The Company  has  two  defined contribution  savings  and  investment  plans
covering  most of its non-union employees with at least one year of service. One
plan does not provide  for matching of employee  contributions. Under the  other
plan,  employee  contributions up  to 6%  of  their salary  are matched  at 20%.
Expenses incurred under both plans  amounted to approximately $70,000,  $81,000,
$107,000,  $82,000 and $50,000 for the years ended July 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995,
and the nine months ended April 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
 
    PENSION PLANS
 
    The Company  has  a  defined  contribution plan  for  its  union  employees.
Contributions are made by the Company at a defined rate per hour worked. Expense
incurred  under  these  plans  amounted  to  approximately  $518,000,  $431,000,
$67,000, $43,000 and $57,000 for  the years ended July  31, 1993, 1994 and  1995
and the nine months ended April 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
 
    STOCK APPRECIATION UNIT PLAN
 
    On  September 8,  1993, the  Company's Board  of Directors  approved a Stock
Appreciation Unit Plan (the "Plan"). Pursuant  to the Plan units may be  granted
to  key  employees at  the discretion  of  the Chief  Executive Officer  and the
non-employee directors of the Company. Units awarded under the Plan are  subject
to  the vesting and redemption terms of  the Plan. Employees may elect to redeem
vested units awarded under the Plan. Units  to be redeemed will be paid in  cash
over  a period  of time  at an amount  based on  earnings and  increases in book
value.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
The Board of Directors
St. Joe Container Company:
 
    We have audited the accompanying statements of financial position of St. Joe
Container  Company as of December 31, 1994  and 1995, and the related statements
of operations, cash flows  and changes in  equity for each of  the years in  the
three-year  period ended December  31, 1995. These  financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express  an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
    We  conducted  our audits  in  accordance with  generally  accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to  obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also  includes
assessing  the  accounting principles  used  and significant  estimates  made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement  presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In  our opinion, the financial statements  referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of St. Joe Container Company as
of December 31, 1994 and  1995, and the results of  its operations and its  cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1995, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
    As  disclosed in  note 3(f) to  the financial statements,  St. Joe Container
Company changed its method of accounting  for income taxes effective January  1,
1993  to  adopt the  provisions of  the  Financial Accounting  Standards Board's
Statement of  Financial Accounting  Standards (SFAS)  No. 109,  "Accounting  for
Income  Taxes." As disclosed in note 3(g), St. Joe Container Company changed its
method of accounting for  investments to adopt the  provisions of the  Financial
Accounting  Standards Board's SFAS No.  115, "Accounting for Certain Investments
in Debt and Equity Securities" at December 31, 1993.
 
                                          /s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
                                          KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
 
Jacksonville, Florida
February 12, 1996
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                        STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
                           DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1995
 
                                     ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               1994        1995
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
                                                                                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                         <C>         <C>
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents...............................................................  $    2,220       1,143
  Accounts receivable.....................................................................      29,885      28,566
  Inventories.............................................................................      24,910      36,012
  Prepaid and other assets................................................................         957         886
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
      TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS................................................................      57,972      66,607
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
Investments and other assets:
  Other investments.......................................................................       2,977       3,088
  Other assets............................................................................         118         174
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
      TOTAL INVESTMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS..................................................       3,095       3,262
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
Property, plant and equipment, net........................................................      45,395      37,306
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
      TOTAL ASSETS........................................................................  $  106,462     107,175
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
 
                                              LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable........................................................................  $    8,257       5,372
  Accrued reserves........................................................................       1,851       1,659
  Property and other taxes................................................................         521         602
  Accrued liabilities.....................................................................         463         522
  Notes payable to banks..................................................................       5,400      --
  Long-term debt due within one year......................................................       1,185      --
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
      TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES...........................................................      17,677       8,155
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
Accrued reserves..........................................................................       1,693       1,939
Long-term debt due after one year.........................................................       2,401      --
Deferred income taxes.....................................................................       5,639       4,459
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
      TOTAL LIABILITIES...................................................................      27,410      14,553
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
EQUITY:
  Equity in net assets....................................................................      77,302      90,798
  Net unrealized gain on marketable equity securities.....................................       1,750       1,824
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
                                                                                                79,052      92,622
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
      TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY........................................................  $  106,462     107,175
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
                                                                                            ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                            STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  1993        1994        1995
                                                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                     (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                            <C>         <C>         <C>
NET SALES....................................................................  $  237,539     283,902     326,713
COST OF SALES................................................................     227,401     270,913     299,907
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.................................      20,806      23,493      23,184
                                                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
    OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)..................................................     (10,668)    (10,504)      3,622
                                                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest income............................................................          69          99         110
  Interest expense...........................................................        (388)       (408)       (373)
  Gain on sale of property...................................................      --          --           1,816
  Other, net.................................................................         (23)        (79)     --
                                                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                     (342)       (388)      1,553
                                                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
Income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in
 accounting principle........................................................     (11,010)    (10,892)      5,175
Provision for income taxes:
  Current....................................................................      (3,532)     (3,412)      2,983
  Deferred...................................................................        (273)       (448)     (1,149)
                                                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
    TOTAL PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES.........................................      (3,805)     (3,860)      1,834
                                                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle.....      (7,205)     (7,032)      3,341
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle for income taxes.........        (184)     --          --
                                                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
    NET INCOME (LOSS)........................................................  $   (7,389)     (7,032)      3,341
                                                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                            STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      1993       1994       1995
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                        (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                <C>         <C>        <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income (loss)..............................................................  $   (7,389)    (7,032)     3,341
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash used in operating
   activities:
    Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle..........................         184     --         --
    Depreciation.................................................................       7,823      7,845      7,837
    Gain on sale of property.....................................................      --         --         (1,816)
    Decrease in deferred income taxes............................................        (273)      (448)    (1,149)
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable........................................................         389     (8,681)     1,319
      Inventories................................................................      (2,625)     2,097    (11,102)
      Prepaid and other assets...................................................         152        (55)       (53)
      Accounts payable...........................................................          42      3,441     (2,885)
      Accrued liabilities........................................................        (382)       165         59
      Property and other taxes...................................................         (11)        12         81
      Accrued reserves...........................................................        (278)       594         54
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
        CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES........................................      (2,368)    (2,062)    (4,314)
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Purchases of property, plant and equipment.....................................      (5,412)    (7,574)      (905)
  Proceeds from sale of property.................................................      --         --          2,973
  Purchases of available for sale investments....................................         (50)       (99)    --
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
        CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES..........................      (5,462)    (7,673)     2,068
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Net change in notes payable to banks...........................................       1,200      4,200     (5,400)
  Repayment of long-term debt....................................................      (1,126)    (1,182)    (3,586)
  Changes in intercompany accounts...............................................       6,629      6,152     10,155
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
        CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES....................................       6,703      9,170      1,169
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS........................................      (1,127)      (565)    (1,077)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD.................................       3,912      2,785      2,220
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD.......................................  $    2,785      2,220      1,143
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
  Cash paid during the year for interest.........................................  $      381        408        351
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ----------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                         STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                1993         1994         1995
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                                                    (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                          <C>          <C>          <C>
Common stock...............................................................  $     4,900        4,900        4,900
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
Additional paid in capital.................................................  $   110,919      110,919      110,919
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
Retained deficit:
  Balance at beginning of year.............................................  $   (96,420)    (103,809)    (110,841)
  Net income (loss)........................................................       (7,389)      (7,032)       3,341
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
  Balance at end of year...................................................  $  (103,809)    (110,841)    (107,500)
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
Intercompany accounts:
  Balance at beginning of year.............................................  $    59,543       66,172       72,324
  Net change...............................................................        6,629        6,152       10,155
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
  Balance at end of year...................................................  $    66,172       72,324       82,479
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
Unrealized gain on marketable equity securities:
  Balance at beginning of year.............................................  $   --             1,743        1,750
  Increase in net unrealized gain, net of tax effect.......................      --                 7           74
  Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle for investments......        1,743      --           --
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
  Balance at end of year...................................................  $     1,743        1,750        1,824
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
(1) NATURE OF OPERATIONS
    St.  Joe  Container Company  (SJCC), a  wholly owned  subsidiary of  St. Joe
Forest Products  Company (SJFP),  is engaged  in the  manufacture of  corrugated
containers. SJCC operates sixteen production facilities which are located in the
eastern   half  of  the  United  States.  Corrugated  containers  are  typically
manufactured to customer order. SJCC supplies manufacturers and distributors  in
the food and beverage (approximately 31% of revenues for the year ended December
31,  1995),  paper  and  printing (approximately  21%)  and  rubber  and plastic
industries (approximately 32%) among others.
 
(2) BASIS OF PRESENTATION
    The accompanying financial  statements include all  of the relevant  assets,
liabilities,  revenues and expenses  attributable to the  container operation of
SJCC. Certain  of the  assets and  liabilities are  under contract  for sale  as
defined  in the asset  purchase agreement between St.  Joe Paper Company (SJPC),
SJFP, SJCC, Florida  Coast Paper Company,  L.L.C. and Four  M Corporation  dated
November 1, 1995.
 
(3) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    (A)  ESTIMATES
 
    The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions  that  affect the  reported amounts  of  assets and  liabilities and
disclosure of contingent  assets and liabilities  at the date  of the  financial
statements  and  the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
    (B)  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
    For purposes  of the  statement of  cash flows,  cash and  cash  equivalents
include  cash on hand,  bank demand accounts,  money market accounts, remarketed
certificates  of  participation  and   repurchase  agreements  having   original
maturities of three months or less.
 
    (C)  INVENTORIES
 
    Inventories   are  stated  at  the  lower  of  cost  or  market.  Costs  for
manufactured paper products  and associated raw  materials are determined  under
the  last-in,  first-out  (LIFO)  method.  Costs  for  substantially  all  other
inventories are determined under the first  in, first out (FIFO) or the  average
cost method.
 
    (D)  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Depreciation  is computed  using both straight-line  and accelerated methods
over the useful lives of various assets.
 
    (E)  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
    The fair value of investments differs from cost as disclosed in note 4.
 
    (F)  INCOME TAXES
 
    SJCC's results of operations are  included in the consolidated U.S.  federal
and  Florida income tax returns of SJPC.  In other states, SJCC files a separate
return. The  tax provisions  and deferred  tax liabilities  presented have  been
determined as if SJCC was a stand-alone business filing separate returns, except
to  the extent that  an operating loss can  be utilized by  SJPC, the benefit is
allocated to SJCC. Current tax liabilities  or benefits are paid to or  refunded
by SJPC, the parent company.
 
    SJCC  follows the asset and liability  method of accounting for income taxes
in accordance with Statement  of Financial Accounting  Standards (SFAS) No.  109
"Accounting  for  Income  Taxes."  Under  SFAS  109,  deferred  tax  assets  and
liabilities are  recognized  for the  future  tax consequences  attributable  to
differences
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                        DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
(3) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
between  the  financial  statement  carrying  amounts  of  existing  assets  and
liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and  liabilities
are  measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the
years in  which those  temporary differences  are expected  to be  recovered  or
settled.  Under SFAS 109, the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a
change in tax  rates is recognized  in income  in the period  that includes  the
enactment  date.  Effective  January 1,  1993,  SJCC  adopted SFAS  109  and has
reported the cumulative effect  of that change in  the method of accounting  for
income taxes of ($184) in the 1993 statement of operations.
 
    (G)  INVESTMENTS
 
    Investments  consist  of  common  stocks,  which  are  classified  as  other
investments. SJCC  adopted  the provisions  of  SFAS No.  115,  "Accounting  for
Certain  Investments in Debt and Equity  Securities" at December 31, 1993. Under
SFAS   115,   SJCC    classifies   its   marketable    equity   securities    as
available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value and
unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related income tax, are excluded
from earnings and are reported as a separate component of equity until realized.
A  decline in the fair value of  any available-for-sale security below cost that
is deemed  other  than  temporary  is  charged  to  earnings  resulting  in  the
establishment  of a new cost  basis for the security.  Realized gains and losses
for securities classified as available-for-sale are included in earnings and are
derived using the  specific identification  method for determining  the cost  of
securities sold.
 
(4) INVESTMENTS
    Investments  at  December  31  consist of  marketable  equity  securities as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     FAIR     GROSS UNREALIZED
                                                                          COST       VALUE      HOLDING GAIN
                                                                        ---------  ---------  -----------------
<S>                                                                     <C>        <C>        <C>
1994..................................................................  $     266      2,977          2,711
1995..................................................................  $     266      3,088          2,822
</TABLE>
 
(5) INVENTORIES
    Inventories as of December 31 consist of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      1994       1995
                                                                                    ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                                 <C>        <C>
Manufactured paper products and associated raw materials..........................  $  17,918     29,769
Materials and supplies............................................................      6,992      6,243
                                                                                    ---------  ---------
                                                                                    $  24,910     36,012
                                                                                    ---------  ---------
                                                                                    ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The replacement  cost  of manufactured  paper  products and  associated  raw
material  inventories was in excess of LIFO stated cost by approximately $26,824
as of December  31, 1995 ($18,439  in 1994). During  1994, inventory  quantities
were reduced, resulting in a LIFO liquidation that decreased net loss by $646.
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                        DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
(6) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
    Property, plant and equipment, at cost, as of December 31 consists of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             ESTIMATED
                                                                                               USEFUL
                                                                        1994        1995        LIFE
                                                                     ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                                                  <C>         <C>         <C>
Land...............................................................  $      857         803      --
Land improvements..................................................       1,873       1,792      20
Buildings..........................................................      27,966      26,278      45
Machinery and equipment............................................     103,790     104,095    12-30
Office equipment...................................................       2,859       2,678      10
Autos and trucks...................................................       1,958       2,007     3-6
Construction in progress...........................................         632         160      --
                                                                     ----------  ----------
                                                                        139,935     137,813
Accumulated depreciation...........................................      94,540     100,507
                                                                     ----------  ----------
                                                                     $   45,395      37,306
                                                                     ----------  ----------
                                                                     ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
(7) INCOME TAXES
    Total  income tax expense  (benefit) for the years  ended December 31, 1993,
1994 and 1995 was allocated as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              1993       1994       1995
                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>
Income (loss) from continuing operations..................................  $  (3,805)    (3,860)     1,834
Equity, for recognition of unrealized gain on marketable equity
 securities...............................................................        957          4         37
                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                            $  (2,848)    (3,856)     1,871
                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Income tax expense (benefit) attributable  to income (loss) from  continuing
operations  differed from the amount computed  by applying the statutory federal
income tax rate to pre-tax income (loss) as a result of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              1993       1994       1995
                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>
Tax at the statutory federal rate.........................................  $  (3,854)    (3,812)     1,811
State income taxes (net of federal benefit)...............................        (49)       (48)        23
Adjustment to deferred tax assets and liabilities for enacted changes in
 tax laws and rates.......................................................         98     --         --
                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                            $  (3,805)    (3,860)     1,834
                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                        DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
(7) INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    The tax  effects of  temporary  differences that  give rise  to  significant
portions  of deferred  tax assets and  deferred tax liabilities  at December 31,
1994 and 1995, are presented below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         1994       1995
                                                                                       ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                                    <C>        <C>
Deferred tax liabilities:
  Property, plant and equipment, principally due to differences in depreciation......  $   5,275      4,377
  Unrealized gain on marketable equity securities....................................        961        998
                                                                                       ---------  ---------
      Total gross deferred tax liabilities...........................................      6,236      5,375
                                                                                       ---------  ---------
Deferred tax assets:
  Current:
    Accrued expenses.................................................................        656        588
  Noncurrent:
    Accrued reserves.................................................................        597        916
    State net operating loss carryforward............................................      6,371      6,034
                                                                                       ---------  ---------
  Gross noncurrent deferred tax assets...............................................      6,968      6,950
  Valuation allowance................................................................      6,371      6,034
                                                                                       ---------  ---------
  Net noncurrent deferred tax assets.................................................        597        916
                                                                                       ---------  ---------
      Net deferred tax assets........................................................      1,253      1,504
                                                                                       ---------  ---------
      Net deferred tax liability.....................................................  $   4,983      3,871
                                                                                       ---------  ---------
                                                                                       ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Based on the timing of reversal of future taxable amounts and SJPC's history
of reporting taxable income, SJCC believes that the deferred tax assets will  be
realized  and a valuation allowance is not considered necessary except for those
resulting from the net  operating loss carryforward  available for state  income
taxes. Because of SJCC's history of reporting tax losses in certain states, SJCC
believes  that  substantially  all  carryforwards  will  not  be  realized  and,
accordingly, has recorded a valuation allowance equal to the entire amount. This
valuation allowance was $6,371 and $6,034  at December 31, 1994 and 1995,  which
increased  $188 and decreased  $337 in 1994 and  1995, respectively. The current
deferred tax asset of $656  and $588 is recorded in  other current assets as  of
December 31, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
(8) PENSION AND RETIREMENT PLANS
    Substantially   all  of  SJCC's   employees,  along  with   other  SJPC  and
subsidiaries eligible employees, participate in  SJPC pension plans. During  the
past  three years,  the assets  of the SJPC  pension plan  have exceeded benefit
obligations under such  plans, resulting  in pension  income under  SFAS No.  87
"Employers'  Accounting for Pensions." SJPC has an Employee Stock Ownership Plan
(ESOP) for the purpose of purchasing stock of SJPC for the benefit of  qualified
employees.  Contributions  to the  ESOP are  limited to  .5% of  compensation of
employees covered under the ESOP. No assets of the SJPC pension plan or the ESOP
will be transferred as a result  of the asset purchase agreement. No  allocation
of  benefit or  expense from  the pension plans  or ESOP  has been  made to SJCC
during the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995.
 
    SJPC also has other  defined contribution plans  which, in conjunction  with
the  ESOP, cover substantially all its  salaried employees. Contributions are at
the employees' discretion and are matched  by SJPC up to certain limits.  SJCC's
expense  for these defined contribution plans was  $365 in 1993 and $380 in 1994
and
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                        DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
(8) PENSION AND RETIREMENT PLANS (CONTINUED)
1995. Pursuant  to the  asset  purchase agreement,  the  assets of  the  defined
contribution  plans attributable to  transferred SJCC employees  may be paid out
immediately to the employee, left in the  plans or rolled over into a  qualified
plan of the buyer, if such plan exists.
 
(9) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
    Intercompany  due to  and due  from balances between  SJCC and  SJPC and its
affiliates have been included  in equity. The net  intercompany due to SJPC  was
$72,324   and  $82,479  at  December  31,   1994  and  1995,  respectively.  The
intercompany transactions described below may or  may not be indicative of  what
such  transactions would have  been had SJCC operated  either as an unaffiliated
entity or in affiliation with another entity.
 
    An allocation of costs of overhead  of SJPC is included in selling,  general
and administrative expenses. SJPC provides services for SJCC in treasury, taxes,
benefits  administration  and  legal  support and  other  financial  systems and
support. SJCC was billed approximately $931 annually for such services in  1993,
1994 and 1995.
 
    Purchases  from SJFP, the parent of SJCC, amounted to approximately $87,015,
$97,691 and  $126,410 representing  approximately 251,000,  248,000 and  238,000
tons for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively. Pricing
for these transactions was based on the PULP & PAPER WEEK Price Watch: Paper and
Paperboard.  In addition, SJFP purchases  both linerboard and corrugating medium
for SJCC from outside suppliers. The price  paid by SJFP for this rollstock  was
negotiated  with each supplier. SJCC  was charged for the  rollstock on the same
basis as purchases from SJFP.
 
(10)CONTINGENCIES
    SJCC is involved  in litigation on  a number  of matters and  is subject  to
certain  claims which arise in the normal  course of business, none of which, in
the opinion of  management, is  expected to have  a material  adverse effect  on
SJCC's financial position or results of operations.
 
    SJCC  has retained certain  self-insurance risks with  respect to losses for
third party liability, property  damage and group  health insurance provided  to
employees.
 
    SJCC  is subject to costs arising out of environmental laws and regulations,
which include obligations to remove or  limit the effects on the environment  of
the  disposal or release of certain wastes or substances at various sites. It is
SJCC's policy to accrue and charge against earnings environmental cleanup  costs
when  it  is  probable that  a  liability has  been  incurred and  an  amount is
reasonably estimable. As  assessments and cleanups  proceed, these accruals  are
reviewed   and  adjusted,  if  necessary,   as  additional  information  becomes
available.
 
    SJCC is currently a  party to, or involved  in, legal proceedings  involving
environmental  matters such as alleged discharges into  water or soil. It is not
possible to quantify future  environmental costs because  many issues relate  to
actions  by third parties or  changes in environmental regulation. Environmental
liabilities are paid  over an extended  period and the  timing of such  payments
cannot  be  predicted  with  any  confidence.  Based  on  information  presently
available, management believes that the ultimate disposition of currently  known
matters will not have a material effect on the financial position, liquidity, or
results  of operations  of SJCC.  Aggregate environmental  related accruals were
$300 and $750 as of December 31, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                   UNAUDITED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
                                 MARCH 31, 1996
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                 <C>
                                            ASSETS
 
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents.......................................................   $     871
  Accounts receivable.............................................................      28,837
  Inventories.....................................................................      30,128
  Prepaid and other assets........................................................         687
                                                                                    -----------
    TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS..........................................................      60,523
                                                                                    -----------
 
Investments and other assets:
  Other investments...............................................................       3,113
  Other assets....................................................................         128
                                                                                    -----------
    TOTAL INVESTMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS............................................       3,241
 
Property, plant and equipment, net................................................      35,298
                                                                                    -----------
    TOTAL ASSETS..................................................................   $  99,062
                                                                                    -----------
                                                                                    -----------
 
                                    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable................................................................   $   6,092
  Accrued liabilities.............................................................       3,656
                                                                                    -----------
    TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES.....................................................       9,748
 
Accrued reserves..................................................................       1,939
Deferred income taxes.............................................................       4,234
                                                                                    -----------
    TOTAL LIABILITIES.............................................................      15,921
 
EQUITY:
  Equity in net assets............................................................      81,318
  Net unrealized gain on marketable equity securities.............................       1,823
                                                                                    -----------
                                                                                        83,141
                                                                                    -----------
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY..................................................   $  99,062
                                                                                    -----------
                                                                                    -----------
</TABLE>
 
           See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements.
 
                                      F-25
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                       UNAUDITED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                   THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             1995         1996
                                                                                          -----------  -----------
                                                                                           (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                       <C>          <C>
NET SALES...............................................................................  $    83,093       71,886
COST OF SALES...........................................................................       72,675       66,576
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES............................................        6,044        6,438
                                                                                          -----------  -----------
  OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)...............................................................        4,374       (1,128)
 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Interest income.......................................................................           35      --
  Interest expense......................................................................         (168)     --
  Other, net............................................................................           14            1
                                                                                          -----------  -----------
                                                                                                 (119)           1
                                                                                          -----------  -----------
Income (loss) before income taxes.......................................................        4,255       (1,127)
Provision for income taxes:
  Current...............................................................................        1,695         (175)
  Deferred..............................................................................         (187)        (224)
                                                                                          -----------  -----------
    TOTAL PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES....................................................        1,508         (399)
                                                                                          -----------  -----------
    NET INCOME (LOSS)...................................................................  $     2,747         (728)
                                                                                          -----------  -----------
                                                                                          -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
           See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements.
 
                                      F-26
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                       UNAUDITED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                   THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1995 AND 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               1995       1996
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
                                                                                                 (DOLLARS IN
                                                                                                  THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                          <C>        <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income (loss)........................................................................  $   2,747       (728)
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation...........................................................................      2,008      1,945
    Decrease in deferred income taxes......................................................       (187)      (224)
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable..................................................................     (2,918)      (271)
      Inventories..........................................................................     (3,296)     5,884
      Prepaid and other assets.............................................................       (149)       245
      Accounts payable.....................................................................      1,923        720
      Accrued liabilities and reserves.....................................................      1,254        873
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
        CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES..............................................      1,382      8,444
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net of disposals.............................       (372)        63
  Purchases of available for sale investments..............................................        (26)       (25)
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
        CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES....................................       (398)        38
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Repayment of long-term debt..............................................................        (84)    --
  Changes in intercompany accounts.........................................................     (1,529)    (8,754)
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
        CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES..................................................     (1,613)    (8,754)
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS..................................................       (629)      (272)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD...........................................      2,220      1,143
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD.................................................  $   1,591        871
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
  Cash paid during the period for interest.................................................  $     120     --
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
                                                                                             ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
           See accompanying notes to unaudited financial statements.
 
                                      F-27
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
                    NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
1.  In  the  opinion  of  St. Joe  Container  Company  (SJCC),  the accompanying
    unaudited financial statements contain  all adjustments (consisting of  only
    normal  recurring  accruals)  necessary  to  present  fairly  the  financial
    position as of March 31, 1996 and  the results of operations and cash  flows
    for the three month periods ended March 31, 1995 and 1996.
 
2.  The  accompanying financial statements  include all of  the relevant assets,
    liabilities, revenues and expenses attributable to the container  operations
    of  SJCC. Certain of the assets and  liabilities are under contract for sale
    as defined in  the asset purchase  agreement between St.  Joe Paper  Company
    ("SJPC"),  St.  Joe Forest  Products Company  ("SJFP"), SJCC,  Florida Coast
    Paper Company, L.L.C. and Four M Corporation dated November 1, 1995.
 
3.  The results of operations for the  three month periods ended March 31,  1995
    and  1996 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected
    for the full year.
 
4.  Inventories as of March 31, 1996 consist of:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                           <C>
Manufactured paper products and associated raw materials....................   $  28,733
Materials and supplies......................................................       1,395
                                                                              -----------
                                                                               $  30,128
                                                                              -----------
                                                                              -----------
</TABLE>
 
5.  Intercompany due to  and due  from balances between  SJCC and  SJPC and  its
    affiliates  have been included  in equity. The net  intercompany due to SJPC
    was $74,505 at March 31, 1996. The intercompany transactions described below
    may or may not be indicative of  what such transactions would have been  had
    SJCC  operated  either  as an  unaffiliated  entity or  in  affiliation with
    another entity.
 
    An allocation of costs of overhead  of SJPC is included in selling,  general
    and  administrative expenses. SJPC  provides services for  SJCC in treasury,
    taxes, benefits administration and legal support and other financial systems
    and support. SJCC  was billed approximately  $233 for such  services in  the
    three month periods ended March 31, 1995 and 1996.
 
    Purchases  from SJFP, the parent of  SJCC, amounted to approximately $30,161
    and $27,245 representing approximately 62,000 and 56,000 tons for the  three
    month periods ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, respectively. Pricing for these
    transactions  was based  on the  PULP &  PAPER WEEK  Price Watch:  Paper and
    Paperboard. In  addition, SJFP  purchases  both linerboard  and  corrugating
    medium  for SJCC  from outside  suppliers. The price  paid by  SJFP for this
    rollstock was  negotiated  with each  supplier.  SJCC was  charged  for  the
    rollstock on the same basis as purchases from SJFP.
 
6.  SJCC  is involved  in litigation on  a number  of matters and  is subject to
    certain claims which arise in the normal course of business, none of  which,
    in  the opinion of management, is expected to have a material adverse effect
    on SJCC's financial position or results of operations.
 
    SJCC has retained certain  self-insurance risks with  respect to losses  for
    third-party  liability, property damage and  group health insurance provided
    to employees.
 
                                      F-28
<PAGE>
                           ST. JOE CONTAINER COMPANY
              NOTES TO UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
    6. (Continued)
 
    SJCC is subject to costs arising out of environmental laws and  regulations,
    which  include obligations to remove or limit the effects on the environment
    of the disposal or release of certain wastes or substances at various sites.
    It is  SJCC's policy  to accrue  and charge  against earnings  environmental
    cleanup  costs when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and an
    amount is reasonably estimable. As  assessments and cleanups proceed,  these
    accruals  are reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, as additional information
    becomes available.
 
    SJCC is currently a party to,  or involved in, legal proceedings,  involving
    environmental  matters such as alleged discharges  into water or soil. It is
    not possible  to quantify  future environmental  costs because  many  issues
    relate  to actions by third parties  or changes in environmental regulation.
    Environmental liabilities are paid over an extended period and the timing of
    such payments cannot be predicted with any confidence. Based on  information
    presently  available, management  believes that the  ultimate disposition of
    currently known matters  will not have  a material effect  on the  financial
    position,   liquidity,  or   results  of   operations  of   SJCC.  Aggregate
    environmental related accruals were $750 as of March 31, 1996.
 
                                      F-29
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
 
    NO  PERSON  HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED  TO GIVE  ANY  INFORMATION OR  TO  MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN  OR
MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  DOES  NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER  TO  SELL  OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN  OFFER TO  BUY ANY SECURITIES  OTHER THAN  THE SECURITIES  TO
WHICH  IT RELATES OR  ANY OFFER TO SELL  OR THE SOLICITATION OF  AN OFFER TO BUY
SUCH SECURITIES IN  ANY CIRCUMSTANCES  IN WHICH  SUCH OFFER  OR SOLICITATION  IS
UNLAWFUL.  NEITHER THE DELIVERY  OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR  ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER
SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES,  CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT  THERE HAS BEEN  NO
CHANGE  IN  THE  AFFAIRS  OF THE  COMPANY  SINCE  THE DATE  HEREOF  OR  THAT ANY
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   PAGE
                                                 ---------
<S>                                              <C>
Available Information..........................          i
Prospectus Summary.............................          1
Risk Factors...................................         10
The Exchange Offer.............................         15
The Acquisition................................         22
Capitalization.................................         23
Selected Historical Financial Data.............         24
Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed
  Financial Data...............................         25
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
  Financial Condition and Results of
  Operations...................................         33
Industry Overview..............................         38
Business.......................................         40
Management.....................................         50
Security Ownership.............................         54
Related Party Transactions.....................         54
Description of New Notes.......................         55
Description of Credit Facility.................         78
Plan of Distribution...........................         79
Legal Matters..................................         80
Experts........................................         80
Index to Financial Statements..................        F-1
</TABLE>
 
                               FOUR M CORPORATION
 
                             OFFER TO EXCHANGE ITS
                              12% SERIES B SENIOR
                             SECURED NOTES DUE 2006
                           WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED
                            UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
                             FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS
                                  OUTSTANDING
                              12% SERIES A SENIOR
                             SECURED NOTES DUE 2006
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
 
                             ---------------------
 
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
                                     -------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 20.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
    Section  2-148 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "MGCL") provides
that a  Maryland  corporation may  indemnify  any present  or  former  director,
officer,  employee or agent of the corporation (i) against judgments, penalties,
fines, settlements, and reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with
any proceeding to  which they are  made a party  by reason of  their service  in
those  capacities, unless  it is  established that  the act  or omission  of the
director, officer, employee or agent was  material to the matter giving rise  to
the  proceeding and  (a) was  committed in bad  faith or  (b) was  the result of
active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) the director, officer, employee or  agent
actually  received an improper personal benefit  in money, property or services,
or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director, officer, employee
or agent had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.
 
    The MGCL permits a corporation to pay or reimburse, in advance of the  final
disposition  of a  proceeding, reasonable  expenses (including  attorney's fees)
incurred by a  present or  former director, officer,  employee or  agent made  a
party to the proceeding by reason of his service in that capacity, provided that
the  corporation shall have received (a)  a written affirmation by the director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation  of his good faith belief that  he
has   met  the  standard  of  conduct   necessary  for  indemnification  by  the
corporation; and (b)  a written undertaking  by or  on his behalf  to repay  the
amount  paid  or  reimbursed  by  the  corporation  if  it  shall  ultimately be
determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
 
    In addition,  the MGCL  permits the  charter of  a Maryland  corporation  to
include a provision limiting the liability of its directors, officers, employees
or  agents of the corporation to the  corporation and its stockholders for money
damages, subject to specified restrictions. The Company's Charter contains  such
a  provision.  The law  does not,  however, permit  the liability  of directors,
officers, employees  or agents  of the  corporation to  the corporation  or  its
stockholders  to be limited to the extent that  (1) it is proved that the person
actually received an improper personal benefit or (2) a judgment or other  final
adjudication  is entered in  a proceeding based  on a finding  that the person's
action, or failure to act was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the
proceeding; and was (a) committed in bad  faith or (b) the result of active  and
deliberate dishonesty.
 
    The  Company's Charter provides  that directors shall  be indemnified to the
maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, as such laws may be amended from  time
to time, including the advance of expenses under the procedures provided by such
laws; and that officers may be indemnified to such extent as shall be authorized
by  the Board of Directors and permitted  by the MGCL. The Company may indemnify
other employees and agents in any manner consistent with the MGCL.
 
    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities  Act
of  1933,  as amended  (the "Securities  Act"), may  be permitted  to directors,
officers and controlling  persons of  the registrant pursuant  to the  foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the  Securities and Exchange  Commission such indemnification  is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities  Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In
the  event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
the payment  by the  registrant of  expenses  incurred or  paid by  a  director,
officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person  in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by  controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether
such  indemnification  by  it  is  against public  policy  as  expressed  in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 21.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL SCHEDULES.
 
    (a) Exhibits.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                             DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
- ---------  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>
2.1        Form of Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 1, 1995, among Four M Corporation (the
           "Company"), St. Joe Forest Products Company, St. Joe Container Company, St. Joe Paper Company and
           Florida Coast Paper Company, L.L.C. ("Florida Coast").**
3.1        Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.**
3.2        Certificate of Incorporation of Box USA Group, Inc.**
3.3        Certificate of Incorporation of Four M Paper Corporation.**
3.4        Certificate of Incorporation of Page Packaging Corporation.**
3.5        Certificate of Incorporation of Box USA, Inc.**
3.6        Certificate of Incorporation of Four M Manufacturing Group of Georgia, Inc.**
3.7        By-laws of the Company.**
3.8        By-laws of Box USA Group, Inc.**
3.9        By-laws of Four M Paper Corporation.**
3.10       By-laws of Page Packaging Corporation.**
3.11       By-laws of Box USA Inc.**
3.12       By-laws of Four M Manufacturing Group of Georgia, Inc.**
4.1        Indenture, dated as of May 30, 1996, between the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National
           Association (the "Trustee").**
4.2        Form of 12% Series A and Series B Senior Secured Notes, dated as of May 30, 1996 (incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 4.1).**
4.3        Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the Company, the Guarantors and the
           Initial Purchaser.**
4.4        Security Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, between the Company and the Trustee.**
4.5        Subsidiary Security Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the Guarantors and the Trustee.**
4.6        Contribution Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee.**
4.7        Drop Down Notes, dated as of May 30, 1996, executed by each of the Guarantors.**
4.8        Drop Down Note Security Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, Guarantors and the Company.**
4.9        Guaranty, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the Guarantors and the Trustee.**
4.10       Company Pledge Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, between the Company and the Trustee.**
4.11       Subsidiary Pledge Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the Guarantors and the Trustee.**
4.12       Warrant Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.**
5.1        Opinion of Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel ("Kramer, Levin").**
10.1       Output Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the Company, Florida Coast and Stone
           Container Corporation ("Stone").**
10.2       Financing and Security Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the Company, the Guarantors and the
           Trustee.**
10.3       Subordinated Credit Facility, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the Company, Florida Coast and Stone.**
10.4       Indemnification Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, between the Company and Florida
           Coast.**
12.1       Statement re computation of ratios.**
21.1       Subsidiaries of the registrant.**
23(a)      Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP.*
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>        <C>
23(b)      Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.*
23(c)      Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.*
23(d)      Consent of Kramer, Levin (to be contained in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).**
24.1       Power of Attorney (incorporated by reference in the signature pages).*
25.1       Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association, as
           trustee.**
27.1       Financial Data Schedule.*
99.1       Form of Letter of Transmittal.**
99.2       Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.**
99.3       Form of Exchange Agent Agreement.**
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 *  Filed herewith.
 
**  To be filed by amendment.
 
    (b) Financial Statement Schedule
        (i) Schedule II -- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
 
    Schedules other  than that  listed above  has been  omitted because  of  the
absence  of conditions under which they  are required or because the information
required is set forth in the financial statements or the notes thereof.
 
ITEM 22.  UNDERTAKING.
 
    (a)Insofar as indemnification for  liabilities arising under the  Securities
       Act  of  1933 may  be permitted  to  directors, officers  and controlling
persons of the registrant  pursuant to the  foregoing provisions, or  otherwise,
the  registrant  has been  advised that  in  the opinion  of the  Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is  against public policy as  expressed
in  the Act  and is,  therefore, unenforceable.  In the  event that  a claim for
indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than  the  payment  by  the
registrant  of expenses incurred  or paid by a  director, officer or controlling
person of  the registrant  in the  successful  defense of  any action,  suit  or
proceeding)  is  asserted by  such director,  officer  or controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless  in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to  a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and  will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
    (b)The  undersigned registrant hereby undertakes  to respond to requests for
       information  that  is  incorporated  by  reference  into  the  prospectus
pursuant  to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13  of this Form, within one business day of
receipt of such request, and to  send the incorporated documents by first  class
mail  or  other equally  prompt means.  This  includes information  contained in
documents  filed  subsequent  to  the  effective  date  of  the  Exchange  Offer
Registration Statement through the date of responding to the request.
 
    (c)The  undersigned registrant  hereby undertakes  to supply  by means  of a
       post-effective amendment all  information concerning  a transaction,  and
the  company being acquired  involved therein, that  was not the  subject of and
included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement when it became effective.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant has duly
caused this registration statement  or amendment to be  signed on its behalf  by
the  undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York, on
July 12, 1996.
 
                                          FOUR M CORPORATION
 
                                          By:          /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
 
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                        Dennis Mehiel
                                             CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND DIRECTOR
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW ALL MEN  BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person  whose signature  appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Harvey L. Friedman, Michael S. Nelson and
Shari Krouner his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone,
with  full powers of substitution  and resubstitution, for him  and in his name,
place and stead, in  any and all  capacities, to sign any  or all amendments  to
this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other  documents  in  connection  therewith, with  the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting  alone,
full  power  and  authority to  do  and perform  each  and every  act  and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in  and about the premises, as fully for  all
intents  and purposes as  he might or  could do in  person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
    Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of   the  Securities  Act  of  1933,   this
registration  statement or amendment has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                                     <S>                                       <C>
                      SIGNATURE                                         TITLE(S)                       DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------  ---------------
 
                  /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Chairman of the Board and Director         July 12, 1996
                    Dennis Mehiel                        (Principal Executive Officer)
 
                   /s/ CHRIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Executive Vice President, Chief            July 12, 1996
                     Chris Mehiel                        Operating Officer and Director
 
               /s/ TIMOTHY D. MCMILLIN                  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
     -------------------------------------------         Officer and Director (Principal           July 12, 1996
                 Timothy D. McMillin                     Accounting Officer)
 
                 /s/ CLINTON G. AMES
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                   Clinton G. Ames
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   James Armenakis
 
                /s/ LAWRENCE A. BISHOP
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                  Lawrence A. Bishop
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   Samuel B. Guren
 
                    /s/ JOHN NEVIN
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                      John Nevin
 
                   /s/ THOMAS ULEAU
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                     Thomas Uleau
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant has  duly
caused  this registration statement or  amendment to be signed  on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York,  on
July 12, 1996.
 
                                          BOX USA GROUP, INC.
 
                                          By:          /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
 
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                        Dennis Mehiel
                                             CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND DIRECTOR
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW  ALL MEN  BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person  whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Harvey L. Friedman, Michael S. Nelson and
Shari Krouner his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone,
with full powers of  substitution and resubstitution, for  him and in his  name,
place  and stead, in  any and all capacities,  to sign any  or all amendments to
this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents  in  connection  therewith, with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission,  granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone,
full power  and  authority to  do  and perform  each  and every  act  and  thing
requisite  and necessary to be done in and  about the premises, as fully for all
intents and purposes as  he might or  could do in  person, hereby ratifying  and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
    Pursuant   to  the  requirements  of  the   Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration statement or amendment has been signed by the following persons  in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                                     <S>                                       <C>
                      SIGNATURE                                         TITLE(S)                       DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------  ---------------
 
                  /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Chairman of the Board and Director         July 12, 1996
                    Dennis Mehiel                        (Principal Executive Officer)
 
                   /s/ CHRIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Executive Vice President, Chief            July 12, 1996
                     Chris Mehiel                        Operating Officer and Director
 
               /s/ TIMOTHY D. MCMILLIN                  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
     -------------------------------------------         Officer and Director (Principal           July 12, 1996
                 Timothy D. McMillin                     Accounting Officer)
 
                 /s/ CLINTON G. AMES
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                   Clinton G. Ames
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   James Armenakis
 
                /s/ LAWRENCE A. BISHOP
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                  Lawrence A. Bishop
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   Samuel B. Guren
 
                    /s/ JOHN NEVIN
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                      John Nevin
 
                   /s/ THOMAS ULEAU
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                     Thomas Uleau
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant has duly
caused this registration statement  or amendment to be  signed on its behalf  by
the  undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York, on
July 12, 1996.
 
                                          FOUR M PAPER CORPORATION
 
                                          By:          /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
 
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                        Dennis Mehiel
                                             CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND DIRECTOR
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW ALL MEN  BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person  whose signature  appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Harvey L. Friedman, Michael S. Nelson and
Shari Krouner his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone,
with  full powers of substitution  and resubstitution, for him  and in his name,
place and stead, in  any and all  capacities, to sign any  or all amendments  to
this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other  documents  in  connection  therewith, with  the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting  alone,
full  power  and  authority to  do  and perform  each  and every  act  and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in  and about the premises, as fully for  all
intents  and purposes as  he might or  could do in  person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
    Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of   the  Securities  Act  of  1933,   this
registration  statement or amendment has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                                     <S>                                       <C>
                      SIGNATURE                                         TITLE(S)                       DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------  ---------------
 
                  /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Chairman of the Board and Director         July 12, 1996
                    Dennis Mehiel                        (Principal Executive Officer)
 
                   /s/ CHRIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Executive Vice President, Chief            July 12, 1996
                     Chris Mehiel                        Operating Officer and Director
 
               /s/ TIMOTHY D. MCMILLIN                  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
     -------------------------------------------         Officer and Director (Principal           July 12, 1996
                 Timothy D. McMillin                     Accounting Officer)
 
                 /s/ CLINTON G. AMES
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                   Clinton G. Ames
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   James Armenakis
 
                /s/ LAWRENCE A. BISHOP
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                  Lawrence A. Bishop
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   Samuel B. Guren
 
                    /s/ JOHN NEVIN
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                      John Nevin
 
                   /s/ THOMAS ULEAU
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                     Thomas Uleau
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant has  duly
caused  this registration statement or  amendment to be signed  on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York,  on
July 12, 1996.
 
                                          PAGE PACKAGING CORPORATION
 
                                          By:          /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
 
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                        Dennis Mehiel
                                             CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND DIRECTOR
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW  ALL MEN  BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person  whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Harvey L. Friedman, Michael S. Nelson and
Shari Krouner his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone,
with full powers of  substitution and resubstitution, for  him and in his  name,
place  and stead, in  any and all capacities,  to sign any  or all amendments to
this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents  in  connection  therewith, with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission,  granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone,
full power  and  authority to  do  and perform  each  and every  act  and  thing
requisite  and necessary to be done in and  about the premises, as fully for all
intents and purposes as  he might or  could do in  person, hereby ratifying  and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
    Pursuant   to  the  requirements  of  the   Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration statement or amendment has been signed by the following persons  in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                                     <S>                                       <C>
                      SIGNATURE                                         TITLE(S)                       DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------  ---------------
 
                  /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Chairman of the Board and Director         July 12, 1996
                    Dennis Mehiel                        (Principal Executive Officer)
 
                   /s/ CHRIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Executive Vice President, Chief            July 12, 1996
                     Chris Mehiel                        Operating Officer and Director
 
               /s/ TIMOTHY D. MCMILLIN                  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
     -------------------------------------------         Officer and Director (Principal           July 12, 1996
                 Timothy D. McMillin                     Accounting Officer)
 
                 /s/ CLINTON G. AMES
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                   Clinton G. Ames
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   James Armenakis
 
                /s/ LAWRENCE A. BISHOP
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                  Lawrence A. Bishop
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   Samuel B. Guren
 
                    /s/ JOHN NEVIN
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                      John Nevin
 
                   /s/ THOMAS ULEAU
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                     Thomas Uleau
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant has duly
caused this registration statement  or amendment to be  signed on its behalf  by
the  undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York, on
July 12, 1996.
 
                                          BOX USA, INC.
 
                                          By:          /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
 
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                        Dennis Mehiel
                                             CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND DIRECTOR
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW ALL MEN  BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person  whose signature  appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Harvey L. Friedman, Michael S. Nelson and
Shari Krouner his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone,
with  full powers of substitution  and resubstitution, for him  and in his name,
place and stead, in  any and all  capacities, to sign any  or all amendments  to
this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other  documents  in  connection  therewith, with  the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting  alone,
full  power  and  authority to  do  and perform  each  and every  act  and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in  and about the premises, as fully for  all
intents  and purposes as  he might or  could do in  person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
    Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of   the  Securities  Act  of  1933,   this
registration  statement or amendment has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                                     <S>                                       <C>
                      SIGNATURE                                         TITLE(S)                       DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------  ---------------
 
                  /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Chairman of the Board and Director         July 12, 1996
                    Dennis Mehiel                        (Principal Executive Officer)
                   /s/ CHRIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Executive Vice President, Chief            July 12, 1996
                     Chris Mehiel                        Operating Officer and Director
 
               /s/ TIMOTHY D. MCMILLIN                  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
     -------------------------------------------         Officer and Director (Principal           July 12, 1996
                 Timothy D. McMillin                     Accounting Officer)
 
                 /s/ CLINTON G. AMES
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                   Clinton G. Ames
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   James Armenakis
 
                /s/ LAWRENCE A. BISHOP
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                  Lawrence A. Bishop
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   Samuel B. Guren
 
                    /s/ JOHN NEVIN
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                      John Nevin
 
                   /s/ THOMAS ULEAU
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                     Thomas Uleau
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant has  duly
caused  this registration statement or  amendment to be signed  on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York,  on
July 12, 1996.
 
                                          FOUR M MANUFACTURING GROUP OF GEORGIA,
                                          INC.
 
                                          By:          /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
 
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                        Dennis Mehiel
                                             CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND DIRECTOR
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW  ALL MEN  BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person  whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints each of Harvey L. Friedman, Michael S. Nelson and
Shari Krouner his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone,
with full powers of  substitution and resubstitution, for  him and in his  name,
place  and stead, in  any and all capacities,  to sign any  or all amendments to
this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents  in  connection  therewith, with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission,  granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone,
full power  and  authority to  do  and perform  each  and every  act  and  thing
requisite  and necessary to be done in and  about the premises, as fully for all
intents and purposes as  he might or  could do in  person, hereby ratifying  and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
    Pursuant   to  the  requirements  of  the   Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration statement or amendment has been signed by the following persons  in
the capacities and on the date indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                                     <S>                                       <C>
                      SIGNATURE                                         TITLE(S)                       DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------  ---------------
 
                  /s/ DENNIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Chairman of the Board and Director         July 12, 1996
                    Dennis Mehiel                        (Principal Executive Officer)
 
                   /s/ CHRIS MEHIEL
     -------------------------------------------        Executive Vice President, Chief            July 12, 1996
                     Chris Mehiel                        Operating Officer and Director
 
               /s/ TIMOTHY D. MCMILLIN                  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
     -------------------------------------------         Officer and Director (Principal           July 12, 1996
                 Timothy D. McMillin                     Accounting Officer)
 
                 /s/ CLINTON G. AMES
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                   Clinton G. Ames
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   James Armenakis
 
                /s/ LAWRENCE A. BISHOP
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                  Lawrence A. Bishop
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July   , 1996
                   Samuel B. Guren
 
                    /s/ JOHN NEVIN
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                      John Nevin
 
                   /s/ THOMAS ULEAU
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                   July 12, 1996
                     Thomas Uleau
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
                              RELATING TO SCHEDULE
 
Board of Directors and Stockholder
Four M Corporation and Subsidiaries
 
    The  audit referred to in our report  to Four M Corporation and Subsidiaries
dated September 22, 1995 which is contained in the Prospectus constituting  part
of  this Registration Statement included the  audit of the Schedule listed under
Item 21(b) for each  of the two years  in the period ended  July 31, 1995.  This
Financial  Statement Schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this Financial Statement Schedule
based on our audits.
 
    In our opinion, such Schedule presents fairly, in all material respects, the
information set forth therein for each of the two years in the period ended July
31, 1995.
 
                                            /S/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
                                          BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
 
September 22, 1995
 
                                      S-1
<PAGE>
                                                                     SCHEDULE II
 
                      FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          COLUMN C
                                              --------------------------------
                                  COLUMN B               ADDITIONS                                       COLUMN E
                                ------------  --------------------------------       COLUMN D        ----------------
           COLUMN A              BALANCE AT   CHARGED TO       CHARGED TO       -------------------   BALANCE AT END
- ------------------------------  BEGINNING OF   COST AND      OTHER ACCOUNTS-       DEDUCTIONS -             OF
DESCRIPTION                        PERIOD      EXPENSES         DESCRIBE             DESCRIBE             PERIOD
- ------------------------------  ------------  -----------  -------------------  -------------------  ----------------
<S>                             <C>           <C>          <C>                  <C>                  <C>
Year ended July 31, 1993
 Allowance for doubtful
 accounts.....................  $  1,970,000   $ 809,0000          --              $     612,000(1)    $  2,167,000
Year ended July 31, 1994     
 Allowance for doubtful
 accounts.....................  $  2,167,000   $  599,000          --              $   1,224,000(1)    $  1,542,000
Year ended July 31, 1995
 Allowance for doubtful
 accounts.....................  $  1,542,000   $  575,000          --              $     339,000(1)    $  1,778,000
</TABLE>
 
(1) Amounts written off
 
                                      S-2
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                               DESCRIPTION                                               PAGE
- ---------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------
<S>        <C>                                                                                                <C>
2.1        Form  of Asset Purchase  Agreement, dated as of  November 1, 1995, among  Four M Corporation (the
           "Company"), St. Joe Forest Products Company, St. Joe Container Company, St. Joe Paper Company and
           Florida Coast Paper Company, L.L.C. ("Florida Coast").**.........................................
3.1        Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.**...................................................
3.2        Certificate of Incorporation of Box USA Group, Inc.**............................................
3.3        Certificate of Incorporation of Four M Paper Corporation.**......................................
3.4        Certificate of Incorporation of Page Packaging Corporation.**....................................
3.5        Certificate of Incorporation of Box USA, Inc.**..................................................
3.6        Certificate of Incorporation of Four M Manufacturing Group of Georgia, Inc.**....................
3.7        By-laws of the Company.**........................................................................
3.8        By-laws of Box USA Group, Inc.**.................................................................
3.9        By-laws of Four M Paper Corporation.**...........................................................
3.10       By-laws of Page Packaging Corporation.**.........................................................
3.11       By-laws of Box USA Inc.**........................................................................
3.12       By-laws of Four M Manufacturing Group of Georgia, Inc.**.........................................
4.1        Indenture, dated as of  May 30, 1996,  between the Company and  Norwest Bank Minnesota,  National
           Association (the "Trustee").**...................................................................
4.2        Form of 12% Series A and Series B Senior Secured Notes, dated as of May 30, 1996 (incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 4.1).**.....................................................................
4.3        Registration  Rights Agreement, dated as  of May 30, 1996, among  the Company, the Guarantors and
           the Initial Purchaser.**.........................................................................
4.4        Security Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, between the Company and the Trustee.**.............
4.5        Subsidiary Security  Agreement,  dated  as  of  May  30,  1996,  among  the  Guarantors  and  the
           Trustee.**.......................................................................................
4.6        Contribution  Agreement, dated  as of  May 30, 1996,  among the  Company, the  Guarantors and the
           Trustee.**.......................................................................................
4.7        Drop Down Notes, dated as of May 30, 1996, executed by each of the Guarantors.**.................
4.8        Drop Down Note Security Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, Guarantors and the Company.**.......
4.9        Guaranty, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the Guarantors and the Trustee.**......................
4.10       Company Pledge Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, between the Company and the Trustee.**.......
4.11       Subsidiary Pledge Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the Guarantors and the Trustee.**...
4.12       Warrant Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.**....
5.1        Opinion of Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel ("Kramer, Levin").**................................
10.1       Output Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 30,  1996, among the Company, Florida Coast and  Stone
           Container Corporation ("Stone").**...............................................................
10.2       Financing and Security Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1996, among the Company, the Guarantors and
           the Trustee.**...................................................................................
10.3       Subordinated  Credit Facility,  dated as of  May 30, 1996,  among the Company,  Florida Coast and
           Stone.**.........................................................................................
10.4       Indemnification Reimbursement  Agreement, dated  as of  May  30, 1996,  between the  Company  and
           Florida Coast.**.................................................................................
12.1       Statement re computation of ratios.**............................................................
21.1       Subsidiaries of the registrant.**................................................................
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                               DESCRIPTION                                               PAGE
- ---------  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------
<S>        <C>                                                                                                <C>
23(a)      Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP.*....................................................................
23(b)      Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.*...............................................................
23(c)      Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.*...............................................................
23(d)      Consent of Kramer, Levin (to be contained in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).**................
24.1       Power of Attorney (incorporated by reference in the signature pages).*...........................
25.1       Form  T-1  Statement  of  Eligibility  and  Qualification  of  Norwest  Bank  Minnesota, National
           Association, as trustee.**.......................................................................
27.1       Financial Data Schedule.*........................................................................
99.1       Form of Letter of Transmittal.**.................................................................
99.2       Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.**.........................................................
99.3       Form of Exchange Agent Agreement.**..............................................................
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 *  Filed herewith.
 
**  To be filed by amendment.

<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 23(A)
 
                             CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT
                          CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Board of Directors and Shareholder of
  FOUR M CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
    We  hereby consent to the use in  the Prospectus constituting a part of this
Registration Statement of our report dated September 22, 1995 (except for Note 3
for which the date is November 1, 1995), relating to the consolidated  financial
statements  of Four M  Corporation and subsidiaries, which  is contained in that
Prospectus, and of our report dated September 22, 1995 relating to the Schedule,
which is contained in Part II of the Registration Statement.
 
    We also  consent  to  the  reference to  us  under  the  headings  "Selected
Historical Financial Data" and "Experts" in the Prospectus.
 
                                          /S/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
                                          BDO SEIDMAN, LLP
 
Valhalla, New York
July 10, 1996

<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 23(B)
 
                             CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT
                          CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
The Board of Directors
Four M Corporation:
 
    We  consent to the use of our report included herein and to the reference to
our firm under the headings  "Selected Historical Financial Data" and  "Experts"
in the Prospectus.
 
                                          /S/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
                                          KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
 
Stamford, Connecticut
July 10, 1996

<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 23(C)
 
                             CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT
                          CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
The Board of Directors
St. Joe Container Company:
 
    We  consent to  the inclusion  of our report  dated February  12, 1996, with
respect to the statements of financial position of St. Joe Container Company  as
of  December 31, 1994 and  1995, and the related  statements of operations, cash
flows and changes in equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 1995, which report  appears in the Form  S-4 of Four M  Corporation
dated July 12, 1996 and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts"
in  the Form S-4 of Four M Corporation dated July 12, 1996. Our report refers to
changes in the method of accounting for income taxes and investments.
 
                                          /s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
                                          KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
 
Jacksonville, Florida
July 10, 1996

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS, CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND RETAINED EARNINGS AND
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001018219
<NAME> FOUR M CORP., BOX USA GROUP, INC. FOUR M PAPER CORP., PAGE PKG. CORP.,
BOX USA, INC., FOUR M MFG GROUP OF GA, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1995             JUL-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1995             AUG-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1995             APR-30-1996
<CASH>                                           1,226                   1,949
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   24,625                  23,365
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,778                   1,368
<INVENTORY>                                     15,110                  11,019
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                42,656                  38,250
<PP&E>                                          45,581                  54,963
<DEPRECIATION>                                  18,537                  19,986
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  73,137                  77,254
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           28,152                  25,325
<BONDS>                                         32,673                  34,126
                                0                       0
                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                           904                     904
<OTHER-SE>                                       7,745                  12,489
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    73,137                  77,254
<SALES>                                        271,994                 164,736
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0                       0
<CGS>                                          232,154                 141,973
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  232,154                 141,973
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   575                     325
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             (5,607)                 (2,697)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 16,457                   8,402
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,483                   3,658
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             20,137                  11,099
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                  2,219                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,047                   4,744
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>


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