WESTVACO CORP
S-3/A, 1999-12-01
PAPER MILLS
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 1999
                                  Post Effective Amendment No. 2 (No. 333-79267)
                                                      Registration No. 333-91635
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                              --------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                                AMENDMENT NO. 2
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              --------------------
                              WESTVACO CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



            Delaware                                299 Park Avenue
(State or other jurisdiction of                   New York, New York
incorporation or organization)         (Address of principal executive offices)

           13-1466285                                   10172
       (I.R.S. Employer                              (Zip Code)
      Identification No.)

                                  212-688-5000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

               JOHN W. HETHERINGTON, Vice President and Secretary
                              WESTVACO CORPORATION
                                 299 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10171
                                  212-318-5280
          (Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                              --------------------
                                   Copies to:

                          Wendell L. Willkie, II, Esq.
                              Senior Vice President
                               and General Counsel
                              Westvaco Corporation
                                 299 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10171

                            Gerard M. Meistrell, Esq.
                             Cahill Gordon & Reindel
                                 80 Pine Street
                            New York, New York 10005

                              --------------------
     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time
to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement as determined by
market conditions.
                              --------------------
     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. |_|

     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are being offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. |X|

     If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. |_|

     If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. |_|

     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. |_|


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

================================================================================================================================
                                                              Proposed                 Proposed
                                      Amount                   maximum                 maximum
   Title of each class of              to be               offering price             aggregate                 Amount of
securities to be registered       registered (1)            per unit (2)        offering price (1) (2)     registration fee (3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>                          <C>                  <C>                         <C>
Debt Securities...........         $800,000,000                 100%                 $800,000,000                $166,800
================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Includes $200,000,000 of securities being carried over from Registration
     Statement No. 333-79267.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee.

(3)  Pursuant to Rule 457(o), the registration fee has been calculated on the
     basis of the maximum aggregate offering price of the securities listed.
     Does not include the registration fee previously paid with respect to
     $200,000,000 of debt securities of Westvaco Corporation covered by
     Registration Statement No. 333-79267 being carried over to this
     Registration Statement.

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

     Pursuant to Rule 429, the prospectus included in this Registration
Statement also relates to $200,000,000 of debt securities registered and
remaining unissued under Registration Statement No. 333-79267 previously filed
by Westvaco Corporation, with respect to which the filing fee has previously
been paid to the Commission. Such Registration Statement is accordingly amended
to reflect the information contained herein. In the event that any of such
previously registered debt securities are offered prior to the effective date of
this Registration Statement, the amount of such debt securities will not be
included in any prospectus hereunder. The amount of debt securities being
registered, together with the remaining securities registered under Registration
Statement No. 333-79267, represents the maximum amount of securities which are
expected to be offered for sale.


     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>


                              Westvaco Corporation

                                 Debt Securities

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


     By this prospectus, we may offer up to $800,000,000 of debt securities.
Market conditions at the time these securities are sold will determine the
prices and terms of these securities.


     Each issue of securities under this prospectus may have a different
aggregate principal amount, maturity date, public offering price, interest rate
or rates, timing of interest payments, provisions for redemption, sinking fund
requirements, and other variable terms. The specific terms of each offering of
debt securities under this prospectus will be included in an accompanying
prospectus supplement.

     This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of offered securities
unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus
and the accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

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

     Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

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

     We may sell securities under this prospectus to or through underwriters. We
may also sell these securities directly to other purchasers or through agents.

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


                The date of this prospectus is November 30, 1999.


                                       2
<PAGE>


                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to "incorporate by
reference" the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to those documents. The
information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus,
and information that we file later with the Securities and Exchange Commission
will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by
reference the documents of Westvaco listed below and any future filings made
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, until we sell all of the
securities. A document will be incorporated by reference on the date it is
filed.

     o    Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998.

     o    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31,
          1999.

     o    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30,
          1999.

     o    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31,
          1999.

     o    Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 5, 1999.

     o    Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 12, 1999.

     o    Current Report on Form 8-K dated November November 18, 1999.

     o    Definitive proxy statement, dated December 28, 1998, and additional
          proxy materials, dated February 1, 1999.

     You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at the following address: Mr. John W. Hetherington, Vice
President and Secretary, Westvaco Corporation, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New
York 10171, telephone (212) 318-5280.

     You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not
authorized any other person to provide you with different information. We are
not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is
not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this
prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as information we previously
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by reference,
is accurate as of the date on the front of those documents only.


                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our filings are
available to the public over the Internet at the Securities and Exchange
Commission's web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any
document we file at the Securities and Exchange Commission's public reference
rooms at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549; 7 World Trade Center,
New York, New York 10048; and Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite
1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Please call the Securities and Exchange
Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference
rooms.

     This prospectus is a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 and the
related amendments and exhibits filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. This prospectus does not contain all of the information in the
registration statement. Please refer to the registration statement and its
exhibits for further information regarding Westvaco and the offered securities.

                                       3
<PAGE>


                                   THE COMPANY

     Westvaco Corporation is one of the major producers of paper and paperboard
in the United States. It converts paper and paperboard into a variety of
end-products, manufactures a variety of specialty chemicals, produces lumber,
sells timber from its timberlands and is engaged in land development. In Brazil,
it is a major producer of paperboard and corrugated packaging for the markets of
that country and also operates a folding carton plant. Westvaco also has a
folding carton plant in the Czech Republic. Westvaco exports products from the
United States, Brazil and the Czech Republic to other countries throughout the
world.

     Westvaco was incorporated in 1899 under the laws of Delaware as the West
Virginia Pulp and Paper Company; its name was changed to Westvaco Corporation on
March 3, 1969. The principal executive offices of Westvaco are located at 299
Park Avenue, New York, New York 10171, and its telephone number at that address
is 212-688-5000. Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires,
the term "Westvaco" refers to Westvaco Corporation and its consolidated
subsidiaries.


                        SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     The following is a summary of certain financial information of Westvaco and
its consolidated subsidiaries. With the exception of the inclusion of the ratios
of earnings to fixed charges, the following amounts were derived from Westvaco's
consolidated financial statements and other financial data contained in its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998 and its
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 1999 (see
"Documents Incorporated by Reference").

                (In thousands, except per share data and ratios)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                             Nine Months
                                                                    Year Ended October 31,                  Ended July 31
                                               -------------------------------------------------        ------------------------
                                         1994        1995          1996          1997         1998          1998        1999
                                      ----------  ------------  ------------ ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------

<S>                                   <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Sales............................     $ 2,607,474  $ 3,272,447   $ 3,045,450  $ 2,982,288  $ 2,885,917  $ 2,154,126  $ 2,030,398
Net income.......................         103,606      280,836       212,156      162,700      132,013       98,796       87,503
Net income per share of
  common stock--Basic.............           1.03         2.78*         2.09         1.60         1.30         0.97         0.87
Net Income per share of
  common stock--Diluted...........           1.03         2.76*         2.07         1.58         1.30         0.97         0.87
Ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges........................           2.25x        4.90x         3.73x        2.67x        2.27x        2.26x        2.17x
</TABLE>

- ----------

*    The 1995 fiscal year includes an extraordinary charge of $.02 per share for
     the extinguishment of higher interest rate debt.

     For the purpose of computing the consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed
charges (1) earnings have been calculated by adding income taxes and fixed
charges (excluding capitalized interest) to net income before the extraordinary
charge and the cumulative effect of accounting changes, and (2) fixed charges
comprise the total of interest charges and a portion of rentals determined to be
representative of the interest factor.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     Except as otherwise set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement
relating to an offering of the Securities, the net proceeds from the sale of the
Securities being offered will be added to Westvaco's general corporate funds and
will be available for future capital outlays, for working capital purposes and
for the repayment of existing debt.




                                       4
<PAGE>


                            DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

     The Securities are to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of March 1,
1983 (the "Indenture"), between Westvaco and The Bank of New York (formerly
known as Irving Trust Company), as Trustee (the "Trustee"), a copy of which is
filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. The following summaries of
certain provisions of the Indenture do not purport to be complete and are
subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions
of the Indenture, including the definitions therein of certain terms. Wherever
particular Sections or defined terms of the Indenture are referred to, it is
intended that such Sections or defined terms shall be incorporated herein by
reference. The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the
Securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms
of the Securities offered by any prospectus supplement (the "Offered
Securities") and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply
to the Securities so offered, will be described in the prospectus supplement
relating to such Offered Securities.


General

     The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Securities
which may be issued thereunder and provides that Securities may be issued from
time to time in one or more series. The Securities will be unsecured obligations
of Westvaco.

     Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to the particular
series of Securities offered thereby for the following terms of the Offered
Securities:

     o    the title of the Offered Securities;

     o    any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Securities;

     o    the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate
          principal amount thereof) at which the Offered Securities will be
          issued;

     o    the date or dates on which the Offered Securities will mature;

     o    the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum at which
          the Offered Securities will bear interest, if any;

     o    the date from which such interest, if any, on the Offered Securities
          will accrue, the dates on which such interest, if any, will be
          payable, the date on which payment of such interest, if any, will
          commence and the Regular Record Dates for such Interest Payment Dates,
          if any;

     o    the ranking of the Offered Securities relative to any and all other
          securities of Westvaco theretofore issued;

     o    the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the
          Offered Securities will, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund
          provisions, or may, pursuant to any optional sinking fund or to any
          purchase fund provisions, be redeemed by Westvaco, and the other
          detailed terms and provisions of such sinking and/or purchase funds;

     o    the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the
          Offered Securities may, pursuant to any optional redemption
          provisions, be redeemed at the option of Westvaco or of the Holder
          thereof and the other detailed terms and provisions of such optional
          redemption; and

     o    any other terms of the series (which will not be inconsistent with the
          provisions of the indenture).

     Unless otherwise indicated in the related prospectus supplement, principal
of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities will be payable,
and the transfer of the Securities will be registrable, at the office of the
Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, except that, at the
option of Westvaco, interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of
the person entitled thereto as it appears on the Security Register. (Sections
301, 305, 1002)

                                       5
<PAGE>

     Unless otherwise indicated in the related prospectus supplement, the
Securities will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons and in
denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. No service charge will
be made for any transfer or exchange of the Securities, but Westvaco may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
payable in connection therewith. (Sections 302, 305)

     Securities may be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities to be sold
at a substantial discount below their principal amount. Special federal income
tax and other considerations applicable thereto will be described in the
prospectus supplement relating thereto.

     The Indenture does not contain any covenants or other provisions which
would afford Holders of Securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged
transaction involving Westvaco.


Restrictive Covenants

     Limitations on Liens. The Indenture provides that so long as any of the
Securities are outstanding Westvaco will not, and will not permit any Domestic
Subsidiary (as defined) to, issue, assume or guarantee any debt for money
borrowed (herein referred to as "Debt") if such Debt is secured by any mortgage,
security interest, pledge or other lien (herein referred to as a "mortgage")
upon any Principal Property (as defined) of Westvaco or any Domestic Subsidiary
or any shares of stock or indebtedness of any Domestic Subsidiary, whether owned
at the date of the Indenture or thereafter acquired, without effectively
securing the Securities equally and ratably with such Debt. The foregoing
restriction does not apply to:

          (1) mortgages on any property acquired, constructed or improved after
     the date of the Indenture which are created or assumed within 120 days
     after such acquisition, construction or improvement (or within six months
     thereafter pursuant to a firm commitment for financing arrangements entered
     into within such 120 day period) to secure or provide for the payment of
     the purchase price or cost thereof incurred after the date of the
     Indenture, or existing mortgages on property acquired, provided such
     mortgages shall not apply to any property theretofore owned by Westvaco or
     a Domestic Subsidiary other than theretofore unimproved real property;

          (2) mortgages existing on any property acquired from a corporation
     merged with or into Westvaco or a Domestic Subsidiary;

          (3) mortgages on property of any corporation existing at the time it
     becomes a Domestic Subsidiary;

          (4) mortgages securing Debt owed by a Domestic Subsidiary to Westvaco
     or to another Domestic Subsidiary;

          (5) mortgages in favor of governmental bodies to secure advance or
     other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure
     indebtedness incurred to finance the purchase price or cost of constructing
     or improving the property subject to such mortgages;

          (6) mortgages on timberlands in connection with an arrangement under
     which Westvaco or a Domestic Subsidiary is obligated to cut or pay for
     timber in order to provide the secured party with a specified amount of
     money, however determined; or

          (7) mortgages for extending, renewing or replacing Debt secured by any
     mortgage referred to in the foregoing clauses (1) to (6) inclusive or in
     this clause or any mortgages existing on the date of the Indenture. Such
     restriction does not apply to the issuance, assumption or guarantee by
     Westvaco or any Domestic Subsidiary of Debt secured by a mortgage which
     would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restriction up to an aggregate
     amount which, together with all other secured Debt (not including secured
     Debt permitted under the foregoing exceptions) and the Value (as defined)
     of Sale and Lease-back Transactions existing at such time (other than Sale
     and Lease-back Transactions the proceeds of which have been applied to the
     retirement of Securities or of certain long-term indebtedness or to the
     purchase of other Principal Property, and other than Sale and Lease-back
     Transactions in which the property involved would have been permitted to be
     mortgaged under clause (1) above), does not exceed 5% of Consolidated Net
     Tangible Assets (as defined). (Section 1005)

                                       6
<PAGE>

     Limitation on Sale and Lease-back Transactions. Sale and Lease-back
Transactions by Westvaco or any Domestic Subsidiary of any Principal Property
are prohibited (except for temporary leases for a term, including renewals, of
not more than three years and except for leases between Westvaco and a Domestic
Subsidiary or between Domestic Subsidiaries) unless:

     o    Westvaco or such Domestic Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Debt
          secured by a mortgage on the property to be leased without securing
          the Securities pursuant to clause (1) under "Limitations on Liens" or

     o    the value thereof would be an amount permitted under the last sentence
          under "Limitations on Liens" or

     o    Westvaco applied an amount equal to the fair value of such property

               (a) to the retirement of Securities (other than pursuant to any
          sinking fund obligations applicable to such Securities),

               (b) to the retirement of certain long-term indebtedness of
          Westvaco or a Domestic Subsidiary or

               (c) to the purchase of Principal Property (other than that
          involved in such Sale and Lease-back Transaction). (Section 1006)


Events of Default

     The following are Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to
Securities of any series:

     o    failure to pay principal of or any premium on any Security of that
          series when due;

     o    failure to pay any interest on any Security of that series when due,
          continued for 30 days;

     o    failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of
          any Security of that series;

     o    failure to perform any other covenant of Westvaco in the Indenture
          (other than a covenant included in the Indenture solely for the
          benefit of a series of Securities other than that series), continued
          for 60 days after written notice as provided in the Indenture;

     o    certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization and

     o    any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that
          series. (Section 501)

     If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the Holders of at
least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that
series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series
are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as
may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the Securities of that
series to be due and payable immediately. At any time after a declaration of
acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made, but before
a judgment or decree based on acceleration has been obtained, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities of that series
may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration. (Section
502)

     The Indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the Trustee during
default to act with the required standard of care, the Trustee will be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the
request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders shall have
offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. (Section 603) Subject to such
provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series will have
the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of that series. (Section 512)

                                       7
<PAGE>

     No Holder of any Security of any series will have any right to institute
any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder,
unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of
a continuing Event of Default with respect to Securities of that series and also
unless the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request, and
offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as
trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority
in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a direction
inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such
proceeding within 60 days. (Section 507) However, the Holder of any Security
will have an absolute right to receive payment of the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest on such Security on or after the due dates expressed in
such Security and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.
(Section 508)

     Westvaco is required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement as to
performance by Westvaco of certain of its obligations under the Indenture and as
to any default in such performance. (Section 1007)


Modification and Waiver

     Modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made by Westvaco and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of 66 2/3% in aggregate principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such
modification or amendment. However, no such modification or amendment may,
without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:

     o    change the stated maturity date of the principal of, or any
          installment of principal or interest on, any Security;

     o    reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest on, any
          Security;

     o    reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security
          payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

     o    change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or any
          premium or interest on, any Security;

     o    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment
          on or with respect to any Security; or

     o    reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Securities of
          any series the consent of whose Holders is required for modification
          or amendment of the Indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain
          provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults.
          (Section 902)

     The Holders of 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of each series may, on behalf of all Holders of Securities of that
series, waive, insofar as that series is concerned, compliance by Westvaco with
certain restrictive provisions of the Indenture. (Section 1008) The Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each
series may, on behalf of all Holders of Securities of that series, waive any
past default under the Indenture with respect to Securities of that series,
except a default in the payment of principal or any premium or interest or in
respect of a provision which under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of that series
affected.
(Section 513)


Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

     Westvaco may consolidate or merge with or into, or transfer its assets
substantially as an entirety to, any corporation organized under the laws of any
domestic jurisdiction, provided that the successor corporation assumes
Westvaco's obligations on the Securities and under the Indenture, that after
giving effect to the transaction no Event of Default, and no event which, after
notice or lapse of time, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred
and be continuing, and that certain other conditions are met.
(Section 801)




                                       8
<PAGE>


Concerning the Trustee

     Westvaco maintains banking relationships with the Trustee in the ordinary
course of its business. Borrowings totalling $500,000,000 are available to
Westvaco under its Credit Agreement with a group of banks that includes the
Trustee. There are no borrowings currently outstanding under this Credit
Agreement. The Trustee is also the trustee under the indentures pursuant to
which Westvaco's publicly held senior debt securities were issued. The Trustee
is also the trustee and a money manager under Westvaco's employee retirement
plans.


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Westvaco may sell Securities to or through underwriters, and also may sell
Securities directly to other purchasers or through agents.

     The distribution of the Securities may be effected from time to time in one
or more transactions at a fixed price or prices (which may be changed from time
to time), at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to
such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Each prospectus
supplement will describe the method of distribution of the Securities offered
thereby.

     In connection with the sale of the Securities, underwriters may receive
compensation from Westvaco or from purchasers of Securities for whom they may
act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. The
underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of
Securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act of 1933 and
any discounts or commissions received by them and any profit on the resale of
Securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions
under such Act. Any such underwriter will be identified and any such
compensation will be described in the prospectus supplement.

     If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, Westvaco will authorize the
underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase Securities
from Westvaco at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus
supplement pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts providing for payment and
delivery on the date stated in the prospectus supplement. Each such contract
will be for an amount not less than, and unless Westvaco otherwise agrees, the
aggregate principal amount of Securities sold pursuant to such contracts shall
not be more than, the respective amounts stated in the prospectus supplement.
Institutions with whom such contracts, when authorized, may be made include
commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment
companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other institutions, but
shall in all cases be subject to the approval of Westvaco. Delayed Delivery
Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that the purchase by an
institution of the Securities covered thereby shall not at the time of delivery
be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which
such institution is subject.

     The Underwriting Agreement entered into with respect to any Securities sold
through underwriters provides that the obligations of the underwriter or
underwriters will be subject to certain conditions precedent and that the
underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the Securities covered by the
applicable prospectus supplement if any are purchased.

     Westvaco has agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain
civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

     In connection with this offering, the underwriters may over-allot or effect
transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a
level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such
stabilizing if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.


                                 LEGAL OPINIONS

     The legality of the Securities offered hereby will be passed upon for
Westvaco by Wendell L. Willkie, II, Esq., Senior Vice President and General
Counsel of Westvaco and for the Underwriters by Cahill Gordon & Reindel (a
partnership including a professional corporation), New York, New York. Mr.
Willkie is the beneficial owner of shares of Westvaco's common stock held in
trust under Westvaco's Savings and Investment Plan. He is also the recipient of
stock options granted by Westvaco.


                                       9
<PAGE>

                                     EXPERTS

     The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by
reference to Westvaco's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1998 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of
said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.





                                       10
<PAGE>



                 PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.   Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.*

     Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.......    $166,800
     Printing and engraving....................................      60,000
     Trustee's fee and expenses................................       8,000
     Accounting services.......................................      11,000
     Rating agency fees........................................     320,000
     Miscellaneous.............................................       9,200
                                                                   --------
          Total................................................    $575,000
                                                                   ========
     ----------
     *  All amounts shown are estimates, other than the registration fee.


Item 15.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, Section 145, as
amended, permits the registrant to indemnify any person "who was or is a party
or is threatened to be made a party" to any proceeding by his relationship to
the registrant "if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests" of the registrant. Expenses may
be paid in advance and insurance may be carried by the registrant.

     Article II, Section 14 of the registrant's Bylaws provides as follows:

          Each director, officer and employee, past or present, of the
     Corporation, and each person who serves or may have served at the request
     of the Corporation as a director, officer or employee of another
     corporation and their respective heirs, administrators and executors, shall
     be indemnified by the Corporation in accordance with, and to the fullest
     extent provided by, the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the
     State of Delaware as it may from time to time be amended. Each agent of the
     Corporation and each person who serves or may have served at the request of
     the Corporation as an agent of another corporation, or as an employee or
     agent of any partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may, in
     the discretion of the Board of Directors, be indemnified by the Corporation
     to the same extent as provided herein with respect to directors, officers
     and employees of the Corporation.

     The registrant has purchased an insurance policy insuring officers and
directors of the registrant against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, and insuring the registrant against any
payment which it is obligated to make to such persons under the indemnification
provisions of its Bylaws.

     Reference is made to Section 6 of the Underwriting Agreement filed as
Exhibit (1) to this Registration Statement.




                                      II-1
<PAGE>


Item 16.   Exhibits.

(1)  Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to the Debt Securities (to be filed
     by amendment).

(4)(a) Form of Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1983, between Westvaco
     Corporation and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated by reference
     to Exhibit 2 to registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No.
     1-3013) dated January 24, 1984).

(4)(b) Proposed form of Debt Security (incorporated by reference to pages 13
     through 19 of Exhibit 2 to registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
     (File No. 1-3013) dated January 24, 1984).


(5)  Opinion of Wendell L. Willkie, II, Esq.*

(12) Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.*

(23)(a) Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.*

(23)(b) Consent of Wendell L. Willkie, II, Esq.*

(24) Power of Attorney of certain officers and directors.*

(25) Statement of eligibility of trustee on Form T-1.*

*  Filed previously with the initial filing of this Registration Statement


Item 17.   Undertakings.

     (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

               (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
          Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
          after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
          recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
          aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
          in the registration statement;

               (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
          plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
          statement or any material change to such information in the
          registration statement; provided, however, that the undertakings set
          forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph shall not apply if the
          information required to be included in such post-effective amendments
          is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
          section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
          that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.


                                      II-2
<PAGE>

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.

     (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or 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.

     (i) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

          (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
     of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
     of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in
     a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
     (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
     registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

          (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
     Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
     prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
     the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
     time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.


                                      II-3
<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of New York, and the State of New York, on the 30th day of November, 1999.



                               WESTVACO CORPORATION
                                   (Registrant)



                               By: /S/ JOHN A. LUKE, JR.
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   (John A. Luke, Jr., Chairman, President
                                    and Chief Executive Officer)





                                      S-1
<PAGE>



     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 Signature                                 Title                                        Date

<S>                                            <C>                                             <C>
/S/ JOHN A. LUKE, JR.                          Chairman, President, Chief Executive            November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------       Officer and Director
            John A. Luke, Jr.


                     *                         Executive Vice President and Director           November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------
        Rudolph G. Johnstone, Jr.


/S/ KAREN R. OSAR                              Senior Vice President (Principal                November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------       Financial Officer)
              Karen R. Osar


/S/ JAMES E. STOVEKEN, JR.                     Senior Vice President and Comptroller
- ----------------------------------------       (Principal Accounting Officer)                  November 30, 1999
          James E. Stoveken, Jr.


                     *                         Director                                        November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------
           Samuel W. Bodman III


                     *                         Director                                        November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------
          W.L. Lyons Brown, Jr.


                     *                         Director                                        November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------
           Michael E. Campbell


                     *                         Director                                         November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------
         Dr. Thomas W. Cole, Jr.



                                      S-2
<PAGE>


                     *                         Director                                         November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------
          David L. Hopkins, Jr.


                     *                         Director                                         November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------
             Douglas S. Luke


                     *                         Director                                         November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------
            William R. Miller


                     *                         Director                                         November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------
              Jane L. Warner


                     *                         Director                                         November 30, 1999
- ----------------------------------------
           Richard A. Zimmerman
</TABLE>


*BY: /S/JOHN A. LUKE, JR.
     -----------------------------------
             John A. Luke, Jr.
             Attorney-In-Fact



                                      S-3
<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibits

(1)  Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to the Debt Securities (to be filed
     by amendment)

(4)(a) Form of Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1983, between Westvaco
     Corporation and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated by reference
     to Exhibit 2 to registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No.
     1-3013) dated January 24, 1984)

(4)(b) Proposed form of Debt Security (incorporated by reference to pages 13
     through 19 of Exhibit 2 to registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
     (File No. 1-3013) dated January 24, 1984)


(5)  Opinion of Wendell L. Willkie, II, Esq.*

(12) Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.*

(23)(a) Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.*

(23)(b) Consent of Wendell L. Willkie, II, Esq.*

(24) Power of Attorney of certain officers and directors.*

(25) Statement of eligibility of trustee on Form T-1.*

*    Filed previously with the initial filing of this Registration Statement






                                                                   Exhibit 23(a)


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated November 16, 1998 relating to the
financial statements, which appears in the 1998 Annual Report to Shareholders,
which is incorporated by reference in Westvaco Corporation's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1998. We also consent to the reference
to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC

New York, New York
December 1, 1999





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