WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES INC
424B2, 1998-05-13
PAPER MILLS
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                                                                 Rule 424 (b)(2)
                                                      Registration No. 333-32647

            PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED OCTOBER 7, 1997

                                  $300,000,000

                           WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.

                           Medium-Term Notes, Series C
                Due From 9 Months to 30 Years From Date of Issue

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

         Willamette Industries, Inc. (the "Company") may offer from time to time
its  Medium-Term  Notes,  Series C (the "Notes"),  due from 9 months to 30 years
from the date of issue,  as selected by the initial  purchaser  and agreed to by
the Company.  The aggregate  initial public  offering price of the Notes offered
hereby will be limited to  $300,000,000,  but such limit is subject to reduction
as a result of the sale by the Company of other Debt  Securities as described in
the accompanying Prospectus dated October 7, 1997 (the "Basic Prospectus").

         Interest  on the Fixed  Rate  Notes  will be payable on each May 15 and
November  15 and at  maturity,  unless  otherwise  specified  in the  applicable
Pricing Supplement. Interest on the Floating Rate Notes will be payable monthly,
quarterly,  semiannually,  annually or otherwise as specified in the  applicable
Pricing Supplement,  and at maturity. The interest rate or manner of determining
the interest rate and initial  interest rate, as applicable,  for each Note will
be  established  by the  Company at the date of  issuance  and will be set forth
therein and specified in the applicable  Pricing  Supplement.  Unless  otherwise
specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement,  each Note will bear interest at
a fixed rate (a "Fixed  Rate  Note") or at a  floating  rate (a  "Floating  Rate
Note")  determined by reference to the CD Rate,  Commercial Paper Rate,  Federal
Funds Rate,  LIBOR,  Prime Rate or Treasury  Rate,  as adjusted by the Spread or
Spread Multiplier, if any, applicable to such Note.

         The  Notes,   when  issued,   will  be  unsecured  and   unsubordinated
obligations  of the Company and will rank  equally and ratably with other senior
unsecured  indebtedness of the Company.  The Notes will not be redeemable at the
option of the Company prior to their Stated Maturity unless otherwise  specified
in  the  applicable  Pricing  Supplement.  Unless  otherwise  specified  in  the
applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will be issued in fully registered form
in denominations of $1,000 or in any greater amount that is an integral multiple
of $1,000. See "Description of the Notes."

         Notes will be issued in  book-entry  form and  represented  by a global
Note (a "Book-Entry Note") registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository
Trust  Company,  as  depositary  (the  "Depositary").  Beneficial  interests  in
Book-Entry  Notes will be shown on, and transfers  thereof will be effected only
through,  records  maintained by the Depositary  (with respect to  participants'
interests)  and its  participants  or persons  that may hold  interests  through
participants (with respect to beneficial owners'  interests).  Notes will not be
issuable in certificated form except under the limited  circumstances  described
in the accompanying Basic Prospectus.  See "Description of the Notes--Book-Entry
System"  herein  and  "Description  of  the  Debt   Securities--Book-Entry  Debt
Securities" in the Basic Prospectus.

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

  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 SUPPLEMENT, ANY
            PRICING SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
                     TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

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

<TABLE>
                                   Price to          Agents' Discounts             Proceeds to the
                                   Public(1)         and Commissions(2)             Company(2)(3)
                                   ---------         ------------------             -------------
<S>                               <C>                <C>                       <C>
Per Note..........................   100%               .125%-.750%                99.875%-99.250%
Total(4)..........................$300,000,000       $375,000-$2,250,000       $299,625,000-$297,750,000
</TABLE>

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

(1)   Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Price
      to Public will be 100% of the principal amount.
<PAGE>
(2)   The  Company  will pay the  Agents a  commission  of from  .125% to .750%,
      depending on maturity,  of the principal  amount of any Notes sold through
      them as agents (or sold to such Agents as  principal in  circumstances  in
      which no other  discount is agreed).  The Company has agreed to  indemnify
      the Agents against certain  liabilities,  including  liabilities under the
      Securities Act of 1933. See "Supplemental Plan of Distribution."

(3)   Before  deducting  other  expenses  payable by the  Company,  estimated at
      $310,000, including reimbursement of certain of the Agents' expenses.

(4)   Assuming no reduction in the aggregate  initial  public  offering price of
      the Notes offered hereby as a result of the sale of other Debt  Securities
      as described in the accompanying Basic Prospectus.

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

         Offers to  purchase  the Notes are  being  solicited,  on a  reasonable
efforts basis,  from time to time by the Agents on behalf of the Company.  Notes
may be sold to the  Agents on their  own  behalf at  negotiated  discounts.  The
Company  reserves  the right to sell the Notes  directly on its own behalf.  The
Company also  reserves  the right to  withdraw,  cancel or modify the offer made
hereby without  notice.  No  termination  date for the offering of the Notes has
been  established.  The Company may also sell Notes to an Agent as principal for
resale to investors and other purchasers at varying prices related to prevailing
market  prices at the time of resale to be  determined  by such  Agent or, if so
agreed,  at a fixed public offering price.  The Company or the Agents may reject
any order as a whole or in part. See "Supplemental Plan of Distribution."

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.           J.P. MORGAN & CO.            SALOMON SMITH BARNEY

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

             The date of this Prospectus Supplement is May 13, 1998.
<PAGE>
CERTAIN PERSONS  PARTICIPATING  IN THE OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS  THAT
STABILIZE,  MAINTAIN  OR  OTHERWISE  AFFECT  THE PRICE OF THE  NOTES,  INCLUDING
OVER-ALLOTMENT,  STABILIZING AND SHORT-COVERING  TRANSACTIONS IN SUCH NOTES, AND
THE  IMPOSITION  OF A  PENALTY  BID,  IN  CONNECTION  WITH THE  OFFERING.  FOR A
DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION."

                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

         The  Selected  Consolidated  Financial  Data  below  should  be read in
conjunction with the more detailed information appearing in the Company's annual
report  on Form  10-K  for the year  ended  December  31,  1997,  and the  other
documents  available as described  under  "Available  Information"  in the Basic
Prospectus.  The Selected Consolidated Financial Data for each of the five years
ended  December 31, 1997 have been derived  from audited  financial  statements,
certain of which are incorporated by reference herein. The Selected Consolidated
Financial  Data for the  three-month  periods  ended March 31, 1997 and 1998 are
derived from unaudited  financial  statements and, in the opinion of management,
include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary
to present fairly the data for such periods.  Results for the three-month period
ended March 31, 1998 are not necessarily  indicative of the results for the full
year.

<TABLE>
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                                                              Three Months Ended
                                                       Year Ended December 31,                                     March 31,
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1993          1994         1995           1996         1997             1997          1998
                                       ----          ----         ----           ----         ----             ----          ----
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       (Dollars in thousands)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary of Earnings:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>           <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>        
  Net sales........................ $2,622,237    $3,007,949   $3,873,575     $3,425,173   $3,438,664    $  855,192   $   900,075
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Cost of sales....................  2,191,448     2,456,437    2,777,735      2,798,282    2,967,180       745,896       775,823
                                     ---------     ---------    ---------      ---------    ---------     ---------       -------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Gross Profit...................    430,789       551,512    1,095,840        626,891      471,484       109,296       124,252
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Selling and administrative
    expenses.......................    174,413       184,699      201,784        231,862      245,319        59,663        62,741
                                     ---------     ---------    ---------      ---------    ---------     ---------      --------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Operating Earnings.............    256,376       366,813      894,056        395,029      226,165        49,663        61,511
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Interest expense.................     63,290        71,513       71,050         92,804      116,990        29,143        30,572
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Other income (expense)...........     (3,918)       (6,377)         798          3,861        2,088           686         2,773
                                     ---------     ---------    ---------      ---------    ---------     ---------      --------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings before taxes..........    189,168       288,923      823,804        306,086      111,263        21,206        33,712
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Provision for income taxes.......     78,500       111,300      309,000        114,000       38,300         7,889        11,631
                                     ---------     ---------    ---------      ---------    ---------     ---------      --------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Earnings before accounting
     changes.......................    110,668       177,623      514,804        192,086       72,963        13,317        22,081
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Accounting changes...............     26,364            --           --             --           --            --            --
                                     ---------     ---------    ---------      ---------    ---------     ---------      --------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net earnings...................  $ 137,032    $  177,623   $  514,804     $  192,086   $   72,963    $   13,317     $  22,081
                                     =========    ==========   ==========     ==========   ==========    ==========     =========
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance Sheet Data:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Working capital..................  $ 157,576    $  138,528   $  359,258     $  289,134   $  308,093    $  286,957     $ 280,041
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Long-term debt (noncurrent
    portion).......................    941,710       915,797      790,210      1,766,917    1,916,001     1,775,525     1,919,563
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Stockholders' equity.............  1,257,870     1,387,865    1,846,890      1,976,281    1,994,480     1,972,468     1,999,831
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Total assets.....................  2,804,553     3,033,398    3,413,555      4,720,681    4,811,055     4,700,851     4,894,841
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
  Charges(a).......................       3.06          4.25        10.83           3.68         1.63          1.51          1.74
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

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

(a)      For the purposes of computing the ratio,  "earnings"  consist of income
         before taxes plus fixed charges.  "Fixed  charges"  consist of interest
         expense  plus  one-third  of  rent  expense  (which  is  deemed  to  be
         representative of an interest factor).

                                       S-2
<PAGE>
                            DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

         The  following  description  of  the  particular  terms  of  the  Notes
(referred to in the Basic Prospectus as the "Offered  Securities")  supplements,
and to the  extent  inconsistent  therewith  replaces,  the  description  of the
general  terms  and  provisions  of the Debt  Securities  set forth in the Basic
Prospectus, to which description reference is hereby made. The following summary
of certain  provisions  of the Notes  does not  purport  to be  complete  and is
qualified in its entirety by  reference to the actual  provisions  of the Notes,
the Indenture and the applicable  Pricing  Supplement.  The terms and conditions
set forth  herein  will apply to each Note  unless  otherwise  specified  in the
applicable Pricing Supplement  delivered herewith.  Capitalized terms used below
that are not defined herein or in the Basic Prospectus have the meaning assigned
to them in the Indenture.

GENERAL

         The Notes  constitute a single series for purposes of the Indenture and
may be issued in an aggregate  principal amount of up to  $300,000,000,  none of
which has been  issued at the date of this  Prospectus  Supplement,  subject  to
reduction  as a result of the sale by the  Company of other Debt  Securities  as
described in the Basic  Prospectus.  The Indenture  does not limit the aggregate
principal  amount of Debt  Securities  that may be issued  thereunder,  and Debt
Securities may be issued  thereunder  from time to time in one or more series up
to the aggregate  principal  amount from time to time  authorized by the Company
for each series.  The Company may, from time to time, without the consent of the
holders of the Notes, provide for the issuance of Notes or other Debt Securities
under the Indenture in addition to the  $300,000,000  aggregate  initial  public
offering  price of the Notes offered  hereby.  The Notes will be  denominated in
U.S.  dollars and issued in fully  registered  form only,  in  denominations  of
$1,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral  multiple of $1,000.
The Notes will be unsecured unsubordinated  obligations of the Company that will
rank on a parity with all other  senior  unsecured  indebtedness  of the Company
from time to time outstanding and will not be subject to any sinking fund.

         The Notes are being offered on a continuous  basis.  Unless  previously
redeemed, Notes will mature on any day (each, a "Stated Maturity") from 9 months
to 30 years from the date of issue,  as selected by the  initial  purchaser  and
agreed to by the Company.  Unless otherwise  specified in the applicable Pricing
Supplement,  Floating  Rate Notes will  mature on an Interest  Payment  Date (as
defined below).

         Interest  rates  offered by the Company  with  respect to the Notes may
differ  depending upon,  among other things,  the aggregate  principal amount of
Notes purchased in any single transaction.  Interest rates or formulas and other
terms of the Notes are subject to change by the Company  from time to time,  but
no such change will  affect any Note  already  issued or as to which an offer to
purchase had been accepted by the Company.

         The Notes may be subject  to  redemption  at the option of the  Company
prior to maturity as set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement.

         The  Indenture   provision  in  respect  of  defeasance   and  covenant
defeasance described under "Description of the Debt  Securities--Defeasance  and
Covenant Defeasance" in the Basic Prospectus is applicable to the Notes.

         Except  as  set  forth  under  "Book-Entry   System"  below  and  under
"Description of the Debt  Securities--Book-Entry  Debt  Securities" in the Basic
Prospectus,  the Notes will be issued only as  Book-Entry  Notes and will not be
registrable  in the name of any person other than the Depositary or its nominee.
So  long  as the  Depositary  or its  nominee  is the  registered  owner  of any
Book-Entry  Note,  the  Depositary  or its nominee,  as the case may be, will be
considered  the sole  owner or Holder of the

                                      S-3
<PAGE>
Book-Entry  Note for all purposes  under the  Indenture.  Payments of principal,
premium (if any) and interest on Notes  registered in the name of the Depositary
or its nominee will be made in immediately  available funds to the Depositary or
its  nominee,  as the case may be, as the  registered  Holder of the  Book-Entry
Notes  representing  such Notes.  The Company expects that the Depositary,  upon
receipt of any  payment of  principal  of,  premium,  if any, or interest on any
Book-Entry  Notes, will immediately  credit, on its book-entry  registration and
transfer  system,   the  accounts  of  participants  with  payments  in  amounts
proportionate to their respective  beneficial interests in the principal or face
amount of such Book-Entry  Notes as shown on the records of the Depositary.  The
Company also  expects  that  payments by  participants  to owners of  beneficial
interests in a Book-Entry Note held through such  participants  will be governed
by  standing  instructions  and  customary  practices,  as is now the case  with
securities held for customer  accounts  registered in "street name," and will be
the sole responsibility of such participants.

         As used in this  Prospectus  Supplement,  "Business Day" means (a) with
respect to any Notes other than LIBOR  Notes,  any day that is not a Saturday or
Sunday and that is not a day on which banking institutions or trust companies in
New York City are authorized or obligated by law,  regulation or executive order
to close and (b) with respect to any LIBOR  Notes,  any such day which is also a
day on which  dealings in deposits in U.S.  dollars are transacted in the London
interbank market.

         The covenant  provisions of the Indenture  described  under the caption
"Description  of the Debt  Securities--Certain  Covenants of the Company" in the
Basic Prospectus are applicable to the Notes.

INTEREST AND INTEREST RATE

         Each Note will  bear  interest  from its date of issue or from the last
date to which  interest has been paid or duly provided for at the fixed rate per
annum stated, or at the rate per annum calculated  pursuant to the interest rate
formula set forth,  therein and in the applicable Pricing Supplement,  until the
principal thereof is paid or made available for payment.

         Each Note will bear interest at either (a) the fixed rate  specified in
the applicable Pricing Supplement or (b) a variable rate determined by reference
to the interest rate basis  specified in the applicable  Pricing  Supplement (i)
plus or minus the Spread,  if any, or (ii) multiplied by the Spread  Multiplier,
if any (in either case as specified in the applicable Pricing  Supplement).  The
"Spread"  is the number of basis  points  specified  in the  applicable  Pricing
Supplement as being applicable to the interest rate basis for such Floating Rate
Note, and the "Spread Multiplier" is the percentage  specified in the applicable
Pricing  Supplement  as being  applicable  to the  interest  rate basis for such
Floating  Rate Note.  If specified in the  applicable  Pricing  Supplement,  any
Floating Rate Note also may have either or both of the following:  (a) a maximum
numerical  interest rate limitation,  or ceiling,  on the rate of interest which
may accrue during any interest period; and (b) a minimum numerical interest rate
limitation,  or floor,  on the rate of  interest  which may  accrue  during  any
interest period.

         The applicable  Pricing  Supplement  relating to a Fixed Rate Note will
designate  a fixed rate of interest  per annum  payable on such Fixed Rate Note.
The  applicable  Pricing  Supplement  relating  to a  Floating  Rate  Note  will
designate one of the following  interest rate bases for such Floating Rate Note:
(a) the CD Rate (a "CD Rate Note"); (b) the Commercial Paper Rate (a "Commercial
Paper Rate Note"); (c) the Federal Funds Rate (a "Federal Funds Rate Note"); (d)
LIBOR (a "LIBOR  Note");  (e) the  Prime  Rate (a "Prime  Rate  Note");  (f) the
Treasury Rate (a "Treasury Rate Note"); or (g) such other interest rate basis as
is set forth in such Pricing  Supplement.  The "Index Maturity" for any Floating
Rate Note is the period to maturity of the  instrument or obligation  from which
the interest rate basis is calculated,  as specified in the  applicable  Pricing
Supplement.  The interest  rate on the Notes will in no event be higher than the
maximum  rate  permitted  by New York law as the same may be  modified by United
States law of general application.

                                       S-4
<PAGE>
         Interest on Notes will be payable on the  applicable  Interest  Payment
Dates,  upon  redemption  and at  maturity.  Unless  otherwise  specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, the "Interest Payment Dates" for Fixed Rate Notes
will be May 15 and November 15 of each year.  If any  Interest  Payment Date for
any Fixed Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business  Day,  the  payment of
principal or interest shall be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day,
and no interest on such  payment  shall accrue for the period from and after the
Interest  Payment  Date to the  date  of such  payment  on the  next  succeeding
Business Day. Unless otherwise  specified in the applicable  Pricing  Supplement
and except as provided  below,  the "Interest  Payment  Dates" for Floating Rate
Notes  will be, in the case of  Floating  Rate  Notes  with a weekly or  monthly
Interest Reset Date, the third Wednesday of each month or the third Wednesday of
March, June, September and December of each year, as specified in the applicable
Pricing Supplement; in the case of Floating Rate Notes with a quarterly Interest
Reset Date, the third Wednesday of March,  June,  September and December of each
year; in the case of Floating Rate Notes with a semi-annual Interest Reset Date,
the third  Wednesday of the two months of each year  specified in the applicable
Pricing  Supplement;  and in the case of  Floating  Rate  Notes  with an  annual
Interest  Reset  Date,  the  third  Wednesday  of  the  month  specified  in the
applicable  Pricing  Supplement.  If any Interest  Payment Date for any Floating
Rate Note would  otherwise  be a day that is not a Business  Day with respect to
such  Floating Rate Note,  such Interest  Payment Date shall be postponed to the
next day that is a Business  Day,  except that in the case of a LIBOR  Note,  if
such  Business  Day is in the next  succeeding  calendar  month,  such  Interest
Payment Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.

         Interest  payable on any  Interest  Payment Date will be payable to the
person in whose name such Note is registered at the close of business (which, in
the case of Book-Entry  Notes,  shall be the  Depositary)  (a) unless  otherwise
specified  in the  applicable  Pricing  Supplement,  on the May 1 or  November 1
(whether  or not a  Business  Day),  as the case  may be,  next  preceding  such
Interest  Payment  Date in the  case of a Fixed  Rate  Note,  or (b) on the 15th
calendar  day  (whether  or not a Business  Day) next  preceding  such  Interest
Payment  Date in the case of a  Floating  Rate Note (in each case,  the  "Record
Date"); provided,  however, that interest payable at maturity will be payable to
the person to whom principal shall be payable (which,  in the case of Book-Entry
Notes,  shall be the  Depositary).  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  first
interest  payment  on a Note  originally  issued  between a Record  Date and the
Interest  Payment  Date  relating to such Record Date or on an Interest  Payment
Date will be made on the Interest  Payment Date  following  the next  succeeding
Record Date to the registered owner on such next Record Date.

         Interest  payments  on Notes will  include  accrued  interest  from and
including  the date of issue or from and  including  the last date in respect of
which interest has been paid or made available for payment,  as the case may be,
to, but excluding, the Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity, as the case
may be.  With  respect to any  Floating  Rate  Note,  accrued  interest  will be
calculated by multiplying the principal  amount of such Floating Rate Note by an
accrued interest factor. Such accrued interest factor will be computed by adding
the interest  factors  calculated  for each day in the period for which  accrued
interest is being  calculated.  The interest factor (expressed as a decimal) for
each such day will be computed by dividing the  interest  rate  (expressed  as a
decimal)  applicable to such day by the actual number of days in the year in the
case of Treasury Rate Notes and by 360 in the case of CD Rate Notes,  Commercial
Paper Rate Notes, Federal Funds Rate Notes, LIBOR Notes and Prime Rate Notes.

         With respect to any Floating Rate Note,  the interest rate in effect on
each day will be, (i) if such day is an Interest  Reset Date,  the interest rate
determined as of the Interest  Determination Date (as defined below) immediately
preceding such Interest Reset Date or, (ii) if such day is not an Interest Reset
Date,  the  interest  rate  determined  as of the  Interest  Determination  Date
immediately  preceding the most recent  Interest  Reset Date,  subject in either
case to any maximum or minimum interest rate limitation referred to above and to
any adjustment by a Spread or a Spread Multiplier  referred to above;  provided,
however,  that the interest rate in effect for the period from the date of issue
to the first  Interest  Reset Date with  respect  to a  Floating  Rate Note (the
"Initial Interest Rate") will be specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement.

FIXED RATE NOTES

         Fixed  Rate  Notes  will  bear  interest  from the date of issue at the
annual  interest  rate  or  rates  specified  on  the  face  thereof  and in the
applicable Pricing Supplement.  Interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

                                      S-5
<PAGE>
FLOATING RATE NOTES

         The rate of interest on each  Floating  Rate Note will be reset weekly,
monthly,  quarterly,  semi-annually or annually (each an "Interest Reset Date"),
as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement.  The Interest Reset Date will
be as follows:  in the case of Floating  Rate Notes  (other than  Treasury  Rate
Notes) which reset weekly,  Wednesday of each week; in the case of Treasury Rate
Notes which reset  weekly,  Tuesday of each week;  in the case of Floating  Rate
Notes which reset  monthly,  the third  Wednesday of each month;  in the case of
Floating Rate Notes which reset quarterly,  the third Wednesday of March,  June,
September  and  December;  in the  case  of  Floating  Rate  Notes  which  reset
semi-annually,  the third  Wednesday of the two months of each year specified in
the applicable Pricing Supplement;  and in the case of Floating Rate Notes which
reset  annually,  the third Wednesday of the month of each year specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement. Each such adjusted rate will be applicable on and
after the Interest Reset Date to which it relates,  to, but not  including,  the
next succeeding  Interest Reset Date or until the Stated Maturity or the date of
redemption or repayment,  as the case may be. If any Interest Reset Date for any
Floating  Rate Note would  otherwise  be a day that is not a  Business  Day with
respect to such Floating Rate Note,  such Interest Reset Date shall be postponed
to the next day that is a Business Day, except that in the case of a LIBOR Note,
if such Business Day is in the next  succeeding  calendar  month,  such Interest
Reset Date shall be the  immediately  preceding  Business  Day. If any  Interest
Reset Date for a Treasury Rate Note would  otherwise be a day on which  Treasury
bills (as defined  below) are  auctioned,  then such  Interest  Reset Date shall
instead be the first Business Day immediately following such auction date.

         The interest rate  pertaining  to each Interest  Reset Date will be the
rate  determined  on or as of the  "Interest  Determination  Date." The Interest
Determination  Date  pertaining  to an  Interest  Reset Date for CD Rate  Notes,
Commercial  Paper Rate Notes,  Federal  Funds Rate Notes,  LIBOR Notes and Prime
Rate Notes will be the second  Business Day preceding  such Interest Reset Date.
The  Interest  Determination  Date  pertaining  to an Interest  Reset Date for a
Treasury Rate Note will be the day of the week in which such Interest Reset Date
falls on which Treasury  bills are normally sold at auction.  Treasury bills are
normally sold at auction on the Monday of each week,  unless that day is a legal
holiday,  in which case the auction is normally held on the  following  Tuesday,
except that the auction may be held on the preceding Friday.  If, as a result of
a legal holiday, an auction is so held on the preceding Friday, such Friday will
be the Interest  Determination  Date  pertaining to the Interest  Reset Date for
Treasury Rate Notes occurring in the next succeeding week.

         Unless otherwise  specified in the applicable Pricing  Supplement,  the
"Calculation  Date"  pertaining  to an Interest  Determination  Date will be the
earlier of (i) the tenth calendar day after such Interest Determination Date or,
if any such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding  Business Day or (ii)
the Business Day immediately  preceding the applicable  Interest Payment Date or
the Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

         All percentages resulting from any calculation with respect to Floating
Rate Notes will be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage
point, with five  one-millionths  of a percentage point rounded upward;  and all
dollar amounts used in or resulting from any such calculation will be rounded to
the nearest cent, with one-half cent rounded upward.

         Unless otherwise  provided in the applicable  Pricing  Supplement,  The
Chase Manhattan Bank will be the  calculation  agent (the  "Calculation  Agent")
with respect to the Floating  Rate Notes.  Upon the request of the holder of any
Floating Rate Note, the Calculation Agent will provide the interest rate then

                                      S-6
<PAGE>
in effect and, if determined,  the interest rate which will become  effective on
the next  Interest  Reset Date with  respect  to such  Floating  Rate Note.  The
Calculation Agent's determination of any interest rate will be final and binding
in the absence of manifest error.

The  applicable  Pricing  Supplement  for a Floating  Rate Note will specify the
interest rate basis and the Spread,  if any, or Spread  Multiplier,  if any, and
the maximum or minimum  interest  rate  limitation,  if any,  applicable to such
Note. In addition,  such Pricing  Supplement  will define or  particularize  the
following terms, if applicable:  Index Maturity, Initial Interest Rate, Interest
Payment Dates, Interest Determination Dates, and Interest Reset Dates.

         CD Rate Notes

         CD Rate  Notes  will  bear  interest  at the CD Rate  plus or minus the
Spread, if any, or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier,  if any, as specified in
the CD Rate Notes and in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The CD Rate for each
Interest  Reset Date will be  calculated as of the Interest  Determination  Date
pertaining to such Interest Reset Date.

         Unless otherwise  specified in the applicable Pricing  Supplement,  "CD
Rate" means,  with respect to an Interest  Determination  Date, the rate on that
date for negotiable certificates of deposit having the applicable Index Maturity
as  published  by the  Board of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve  System  in
"Statistical  Release  H.15(519),  Selected  Interest  Rates," or any  successor
publication   of  the  Board  of  Governors  of  the  Federal   Reserve   System
("H.15(519)") under the heading "CDs (Secondary Market)." In the event that such
rate is not published prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Calculation
Date  pertaining to such Interest  Determination  Date, then the CD Rate will be
the rate on such Interest  Determination  Date for  negotiable  certificates  of
deposit having the applicable Index Maturity as published by the Federal Reserve
Bank  of New  York  in its  daily  statistical  release,  "Composite  3:30  p.m.
Quotations for U.S. Government  Securities" or any successor  publication of the
Federal  Reserve  Bank of New York  ("Composite  Quotations")  under the heading
"Certificates  of  Deposit."  If by 3:00  p.m.,  New  York  City  time,  on such
Calculation  Date,  such rate is not published in either  H.15(519) or Composite
Quotations,  then  the CD Rate on such  Interest  Determination  Date  shall  be
calculated  by the  Calculation  Agent and shall be the  arithmetic  mean of the
secondary  market offered  rates,  as of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such
Interest Determination Date, of three leading nonbank dealers of negotiable U.S.
dollar  certificates  of deposit in New York City  selected  by the  Calculation
Agent for negotiable certificates of deposit of major United States money market
banks (in the market for  negotiable  certificates  of deposit) with a remaining
maturity  closest to the Index  Maturity  specified  in the  applicable  Pricing
Supplement in a denomination  of U.S.  $5,000,000;  provided,  however,  that if
fewer than three  dealers  selected as  aforesaid by the  Calculation  Agent are
quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the CD Rate will be the CD Rate in effect
on such Interest Determination Date.

         Commercial Paper Rate Notes

         Commercial  Paper Rate Notes will bear interest at the Commercial Paper
Rate plus or minus the Spread,  if any, or multiplied by the Spread  Multiplier,
if any, as specified in the  Commercial  Paper Rate Notes and in the  applicable
Pricing Supplement.  The Commercial Paper Rate for each Interest Reset Date will
be calculated as of the Interest  Determination Date pertaining to such Interest
Reset Date.

         Unless  otherwise  specified  in  the  applicable  Pricing  Supplement,
"Commercial Paper Rate" means, with respect to an Interest  Determination  Date,
the Money  Market  Yield (as defined  below) of the per annum rate  (quoted on a
bank discount  basis) on that date for  commercial  paper having the  applicable
Index  Maturity  as  published  in  H.15(519)  under  the  heading   "Commercial
Paper--Non-Financial."  In the event  that such  rate is not  published  by 9:00
a.m., New York City time, on the  Calculation  Date  pertaining to such Interest
Determination  Date,  then the  Commercial  Paper Rate shall

                                      S-7
<PAGE>
be the Money Market Yield of the rate on that  Interest  Determination  Date for
commercial  paper having the applicable Index Maturity as published in Composite
Quotations under the heading  "Commercial Paper." If by 3:00 p.m., New York City
time,  on  such  Calculation  Date  such  rate is not yet  published  in  either
H.15(519) or Composite  Quotations,  the Commercial Paper Rate for that Interest
Determination Date shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent and shall be the
Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of the offered per annum rates (quoted
on a bank discount  basis) of three leading  dealers of commercial  paper in New
York City  selected by the  Calculation  Agent as of 11:00  a.m.,  New York City
time,  on  that  Interest  Determination  Date,  for  commercial  paper  of  the
applicable  Index Maturity placed for an industrial  issuer whose bond rating is
"AA," or the equivalent,  from a nationally recognized rating agency;  provided,
however,  that  if  fewer  than  three  dealers  selected  as  aforesaid  by the
Calculation  Agent are quoting as mentioned  in this  sentence,  the  Commercial
Paper  Rate  will be the  Commercial  Paper  Rate  in  effect  on such  Interest
Determination Date.

         "Money  Market  Yield"  shall be a yield  (expressed  as a  percentage)
calculated in accordance with the following formula:

                  Money Market  Yield  = D x 360 x 100
                                      ------------
                                      360 - (D x M)

where "D" refers to the applicable per annum rate for commercial  paper,  quoted
on a bank  discount  basis and  expressed  as a  decimal;  and "M" refers to the
actual  number  of days in the  interest  period  for  which  interest  is being
calculated.

         Federal Funds Rate Notes

         Federal  Funds Rate Notes will bear  interest at the Federal Funds Rate
plus or minus the Spread,  if any, or  multiplied by the Spread  Multiplier,  if
any, as specified in the Federal Funds Rate Notes and in the applicable  Pricing
Supplement.  The  Federal  Funds  Rate  for each  Interest  Reset  Date  will be
calculated  as of the Interest  Determination  Date  pertaining to such Interest
Reset Date.

         Unless  otherwise  specified  in  the  applicable  Pricing  Supplement,
"Federal Funds Rate" means, with respect to an Interest  Determination Date, the
rate on that day for Federal  Funds as published in H.15(519)  under the heading
"Federal Funds  (Effective)." In the event that such rate is not published prior
to 9:00 a.m.,  New York City time, on the  Calculation  Date  pertaining to such
Interest  Determination  Date,  then the Federal Funds Rate shall be the rate on
such Interest  Determination Date as published in Composite Quotations under the
heading "Federal  Funds/Effective Rate." If by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on
such  Calculation  Date,  such  rate is not  published  in either  H.15(519)  or
Composite  Quotations,  the  Federal  Funds  Rate  shall  be  calculated  by the
Calculation  Agent and shall be the  arithmetic  mean of the  rates,  as of 9:00
a.m.,  New York City  time,  on such  Interest  Determination  Date for the last
transaction  in overnight  U.S.  dollar  Federal Funds arranged by three leading
brokers  of  Federal  Funds  transactions  in  New  York  City  selected  by the
Calculation Agent; provided,  however, that if fewer than three brokers selected
as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent are quoting as mentioned in this sentence,
the Federal Funds Rate will be the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such Interest
Determination Date.

         LIBOR Notes

         LIBOR Notes will bear  interest  at LIBOR plus or minus the Spread,  if
any, or multiplied by the Spread  Multiplier,  if any, as specified in the LIBOR
Notes and in the applicable  Pricing  Supplement.  LIBOR for each Interest Reset
Date will be calculated on the Interest  Determination  Date  pertaining to such
Interest Reset Date.

                                      S-8
<PAGE>
         Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement,  LIBOR
will be determined by the Calculation Agent as follows:

                  (i) With respect to an Interest Determination Date, LIBOR will
         be  determined  as specified in the  applicable  Pricing  Supplement as
         either (a) the  arithmetic  mean of the offered  rates for  deposits in
         U.S.  dollars having the applicable  Index Maturity,  commencing on the
         second Business Day immediately  following that Interest  Determination
         Date,  which  appear on the Reuters  Screen LIBO Page at  approximately
         11:00 a.m.,  London time,  on that Interest  Determination  Date, if at
         least two such  offered  rates  appear on the Reuters  Screen LIBO Page
         ("LIBOR Reuters"),  or (b) the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having
         the applicable  Index  Maturity,  commencing on the second Business Day
         immediately following that Interest Determination Date, that appears on
         the Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m.,  London time, on that Interest
         Determination Date ("LIBOR  Telerate").  Unless otherwise  indicated in
         the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Reuters Screen LIBO Page" means the
         display  designated  as Page "LIBO" on the Reuters  Monitor  Money Rate
         Service  (or such  other  page as may  replace  the  LIBO  page on that
         service for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates of
         major banks),  and "Telerate Page 3750" means the display designated as
         page "3750" on the Telerate  Service (or such other page as may replace
         the 3750 page on that service or such other  service or services as may
         be nominated  by the British  Bankers'  Association  for the purpose of
         displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits). If
         neither LIBOR Reuters nor LIBOR Telerate is specified in the applicable
         Pricing  Supplement,  LIBOR will be determined as if LIBOR Telerate had
         been specified.  In the case where (a) above applies, if fewer than two
         offered rates appear on the Reuters  Screen LIBO Page,  or, in the case
         where (b) above applies,  if no rate appears on the Telerate Page 3750,
         as  applicable,  LIBOR in respect of that Interest  Determination  Date
         will be determined  as if the parties had specified the rate  described
         in (ii) below.

                  (ii) If fewer than two  offered  rates  appear on the  Reuters
         Screen  LIBO  Page  or no  rate  appears  on  Telerate  Page  3750,  as
         applicable,  the  Calculation  Agent will request the principal  London
         offices of each of four major banks in the London interbank  market, as
         selected by the Calculation  Agent,  to provide the  Calculation  Agent
         with its offered  quotations  for deposits in U.S.  dollars  having the
         applicable Index Maturity to prime banks in the London interbank market
         at  approximately  11:00 a.m.,  London time,  commencing  on the second
         Business Day immediately  following that Interest  Determination  Date,
         and in a principal amount of not less than U.S.  $1,000,000 that in the
         Calculation  Agent's judgment is representative of a single transaction
         in such  market  at such  time.  If at least  two such  quotations  are
         provided,  LIBOR will be the  arithmetic  mean of such  quotations.  If
         fewer  than two  quotations  are  provided,  LIBOR in  respect  of that
         Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of rates quoted
         by three major banks in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent
         at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such LIBOR Interest
         Determination Date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks,
         having the applicable  Index Maturity and in a principal  amount of not
         less than U.S.  $1,000,000 that is in the Calculation  Agent's judgment
         representative  for a single  transaction  in such market at such time;
         provided, however, that if fewer than three banks selected as aforesaid
         by  the  Calculation  Agent  are  quoting  rates  as  mentioned  in the
         foregoing sentences,  the rate of interest in effect for the applicable
         period  will be the  rate  of  interest  in  effect  on  such  Interest
         Determination Date.

         Prime Rate Notes

         Prime Rate Notes will bear interest at the Prime Rate plus or minus the
Spread, if any, or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier,  if any, as specified in
the Prime Rate Notes and in the applicable  Pricing  Supplement.  The Prime Rate
for each Interest Reset Date will be calculated as of the Interest Determination
Date pertaining to such Interest Reset Date.

         Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Prime
Rate" means, with respect to an Interest  Determination Date, the rate set forth
in  H.15(519)  for such date under the 

                                      S-9
<PAGE>
heading "Bank Prime Loan." In the event that such rate is not published prior to
9:00 a.m.,  New York City  time,  on the  Calculation  Date  pertaining  to such
Interest  Determination Date, then the Prime Rate will be the arithmetic mean of
the rates of  interest  publicly  announced  by each bank  that  appears  on the
display  designated as page USPRIME1 on the Reuters  Monitor Money Rates Service
(or such other page as may replace  the  USPRIME1  page on that  service for the
purpose of  displaying  prime rates or base lending rates of major United States
banks)  ("Reuters  Screen  USPRIME1  Page") as such  bank's  prime  rate or base
lending rate as in effect for that Interest  Determination Date as quoted on the
Reuters Screen USPRIME1 Page on that Interest  Determination Date. If fewer than
four such rates  appear on the Reuters  Screen  USPRIME1  Page on such  Interest
Determination  Date,  the Prime  Rate will be the  arithmetic  mean of the prime
rates or base lending rates (quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in
the year divided by a 360-day year) as of the close of business on such Interest
Determination  Date by  three  major  banks  in New York  City  selected  by the
Calculation Agent; provided, however, that if fewer than three banks selected as
aforesaid by the  Calculation  Agent are quoting as mentioned in this  sentence,
the Prime Rate will be the Prime Rate in effect on such  Interest  Determination
Date.

         Treasury Rate Notes

         Treasury  Rate Notes will bear  interest at the  Treasury  Rate plus or
minus the Spread,  if any, or  multiplied by the Spread  Multiplier,  if any, as
specified in the Treasury Rate Notes and in the applicable  Pricing  Supplement.
The Treasury  Rate for each  Interest  Reset Date will be  calculated  as of the
Interest Determination Date pertaining to such Interest Reset Date.

         Unless  otherwise  specified  in  the  applicable  Pricing  Supplement,
"Treasury Rate" means, with respect to an Interest  Determination Date, the rate
on that date for the most  recent  auction of direct  obligations  of the United
States  ("Treasury  bills") having the applicable Index Maturity as published in
H.15(519) under the heading "U.S. Government  Securities/Treasury  Bills/Auction
Average  (Investment)" or, if not so published by 9:00 a.m., New York City time,
on the  Calculation  Date  pertaining to such Interest  Determination  Date, the
auction  average rate  (expressed as a bond equivalent on the basis of a year of
365 or 366 days, as  applicable,  and applied on a daily basis) for such auction
as otherwise  announced by the United States Department of the Treasury.  In the
event that the results of such auction of Treasury  bills having the  applicable
Index Maturity are not published or reported as provided above by 3:00 p.m., New
York City time, on such  Calculation  Date, or if no such auction is held during
such week,  then the Treasury  Rate shall be the rate set forth in H.15(519) for
that Interest  Determination  Date for the specified  Index  Maturity  under the
heading "U.S.  Government  Securities/Treasury  Bills/Secondary  Market." In the
event such rate is not so  published by 3:00 p.m.,  New York City time,  on such
Calculation Date, the Treasury Rate shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent
and shall be a yield to maturity (expressed as a bond equivalent on the basis of
a year of 365 or 366 days, as  applicable,  and applied on a daily basis) of the
arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid rates as of approximately 3:30 p.m.,
New York City  time,  on that  Interest  Determination  Date,  of three  leading
primary United States government securities dealers in New York City selected by
the Calculation Agent for the issue of Treasury bills with a remaining  maturity
closest to the applicable Index Maturity;  provided, however, that if fewer than
three  dealers  selected as  aforesaid by the  Calculation  Agent are quoting as
mentioned  in this  sentence,  the Treasury  Rate will be the  Treasury  Rate in
effect on such Interest Determination Date.

ADDENDUM AND/OR OTHER PROVISIONS

         Any provisions with respect to the Notes,  including the  specification
and  determination  of one or more Interest Rate Bases,  the  calculation of the
interest rate  applicable to a Floating Rate Note,  the Interest  Payment Dates,
the Stated Maturity or any other term relating  thereto,  may be modified and/or
supplemented as specified under "Other  Provisions" on the face thereof or in an
Addendum relating thereto, if so specified on the face thereof.  Such provisions
will be described in the applicable Pricing Supplement.

                                      S-10
<PAGE>
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM

         Upon issuance,  all Book-Entry  Notes having the same date of issuance,
Stated Maturity,  redemption provisions,  if any, Interest Payment Dates and, in
the case of Fixed Rate Notes,  interest  rate,  or, in the case of Floating Rate
Notes,  interest rate basis,  Initial  Interest Rate,  Index Maturity,  Interest
Reset  Dates,  Spread or Spread  Multiplier,  if any,  and  maximum  or  minimum
interest rate  limitation,  if any, will be  represented by a single Global Note
("Global Note"); provided, however, that if by reason of the foregoing, a single
Global Note would exceed  $200,000,000 in aggregate  principal amount,  then one
Global Note will be issued to represent each $200,000,000 of aggregate principal
amount and an  additional  Global Note will be issued to represent any remaining
principal amount.  Each Global Note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The
Depository Trust Company,  New York, New York, as the Depositary,  or such other
depositary as is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement,  and registered
in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary.  Book-Entry  Notes
will not be transferable or exchangeable  for Notes in certificated  form except
under  the  limited  circumstances  described  in  the  Basic  Prospectus  under
"Description of the Debt Securities--Book-Entry Debt Securities."

         The Depositary has advised the Company as follows:  The Depositary is a
limited-purpose  trust  company  organized  under the New York  Banking  Law,  a
"banking  organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member
of the Federal Reserve System,  a "clearing  corporation"  within the meaning of
the New  York  Uniform  Commercial  Code,  and a  "clearing  agency"  registered
pursuant to the  provisions  of Section 17A of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934.  The  Depositary  was  created  to hold  securities  of its  participating
organizations ("participants") and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of
securities  transactions,  such as transfers and pledges, among its participants
in such  securities  through  electronic  book-entry  changes in accounts of the
participants,  thereby  eliminating the need for physical movement of securities
certificates.  The  Depositary's  participants  include  securities  brokers and
dealers (including the Agents),  banks, trust companies,  clearing corporations,
and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own
the Depositary.  Access to the Depositary's  book-entry system is also available
to others,  such as banks,  brokers,  dealers  and trust  companies,  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 DTC only through participants.

         A further  description of the  Depositary's  procedures with respect to
Global Notes is set forth in the Basic Prospectus under "Description of the Debt
Securities--Book-Entry  Debt  Securities."  The  Depositary has confirmed to the
Company that it intends to follow such procedures.

ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT

         If the Company  issues any Notes that will be required to be treated as
having been issued at an original issue discount for federal income tax purposes
(a "Discount  Note"),  the special  federal income tax  consequences  applicable
thereto will be described in the applicable Pricing  Supplement.  Discount Notes
will bear such legend as may be required by any  applicable  law or  regulations
(including proposed regulations), as set forth in such Pricing Supplement.

                        SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         Subject  to the terms  and  conditions  set  forth in the  Distribution
Agreement,  the Notes are being  offered by the  Company on a  continuous  basis
through Goldman,  Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., and Salomon Brothers
Inc (the  "Agents"),  who have  severally  agreed to use  reasonable  efforts to
solicit  purchases of the Notes.  The Company will have the sole right to accept
offers to purchase Notes and may reject any proposed  purchase of Notes in whole
or in part.  Each  Agent  will  have the  right,  in 

                                      S-11
<PAGE>
its discretion  reasonably  exercised,  to reject any proposed offer to purchase
Notes  through  it in whole  or in  part.  The  Company  will  pay each  Agent a
commission  of from .125% to .750% of the principal  amount of Notes,  depending
upon maturity, for sales made through such firm as agent.

         The Company may also sell Notes to the Agents as  principals  for their
own  accounts  at a  discount  to be  agreed  upon at the time of  sale,  or the
purchasing  Agents  may  receive  from the  Company  a  commission  or  discount
equivalent  to that set forth on the cover  page  hereof in the case of any such
principal  transaction in which no other  discount is agreed.  Such Notes may be
resold at prevailing market prices, or at prices related thereto, at the time of
such resale, as determined by the Agents. The Company reserves the right to sell
Notes  directly on its own behalf.  No  commission  will be payable on any Notes
sold directly by the Company.

         In  addition,  the Agents may offer the Notes  they have  purchased  as
principal  to other  dealers.  The  Agents  may sell  Notes to any  dealer  at a
discount and, unless otherwise specified in an accompanying  Pricing Supplement,
such  discount  allowed  to any  dealer  will not be in excess  of the  discount
received by the Agents  from the  Company.  Unless  otherwise  indicated  in the
applicable  Pricing  Supplement,  any Note sold to an Agent as principal will be
purchased by such Agent at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof
less a percentage  equal to the  commission  applicable  to any agency sale of a
Note of identical maturity.  After the initial public offering of Notes that are
to be resold by the  Agents  to  investors  and  other  purchasers,  the  public
offering  price (in the case of Notes to be resold  at a fixed  public  offering
price), concession and discount may be changed.

         In connection  with the offering,  the Agents may purchase and sell the
Notes in the open market.  These  transactions  may include  over-allotment  and
stabilizing  transactions and purchases to cover short positions  created by the
Agents in connection  with the  offering.  Stabilizing  transactions  consist of
certain bids or purchases  for the purpose of  preventing or retarding a decline
in the market  price of the  Notes,  and short  positions  created by the Agents
involve the sale by the Agents of a greater aggregate  principal amount of Notes
than they are required to purchase from the Company in the offering.  The Agents
also  may  impose  a  penalty  bid,  whereby  selling   concessions  allowed  to
broker-dealers  in respect of the Notes sold in the offering may be reclaimed by
the  Agents if such  Notes are  repurchased  by the  Agents  in  stabilizing  or
covering  transactions.  These  activities may stabilize,  maintain or otherwise
affect the market  price of the Notes,  which may be higher  than the price that
might otherwise prevail in the open market, and these activities,  if commenced,
may be  discontinued  at any time.  These  transactions  may be  effected in the
over-the-counter market or otherwise.

         Each Agent,  whether  acting as agent or principal,  and any dealer who
purchases Notes from an Agent and resells them to investors, may be deemed to be
an  "underwriter"  within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933. The Company
has  agreed to  indemnify  each Agent  against  certain  liabilities,  including
liabilities  under the  Securities  Act of 1933.  The Company has also agreed to
reimburse the Agents for certain expenses.

         Each of the Agents engages in transactions with and performs  financing
services for the Company in the ordinary course of business.

         Unless  otherwise  indicated  in  the  applicable  Pricing  Supplement,
payment  of the  purchase  price  of  Notes  will  be  required  to be  made  in
immediately available funds in New York City.

         The Notes are a new issue of  securities  with no  established  trading
market and will not be listed on any securities exchange. Each of the Agents may
from time to time  purchase and sell Notes in the secondary  market,  but is not
obligated to do so, and there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary
market for the Notes or liquidity in the secondary market if one develops.

                                      S-12
<PAGE>
                              VALIDITY OF THE NOTES

         The validity of the Notes  offered  hereby has been passed upon for the
Company by Miller, Nash, Wiener, Hager & Carlsen LLP, Portland,  Oregon, and for
the Agents by Sullivan & Cromwell, Los Angeles, California.  Sullivan & Cromwell
will  rely on  Miller,  Nash,  Wiener,  Hager &  Carlsen  LLP as to all  matters
governed by Oregon law. The opinions of Miller,  Nash,  Wiener,  Hager & Carlsen
LLP and  Sullivan  &  Cromwell  are  conditioned  upon,  and  subject to certain
assumptions regarding, future action required to be taken by the Company and the
Trustee in connection  with the issuance and sale of any  particular  Note,  the
specific  terms of the Notes,  and other matters that may affect the validity of
the Notes but that were not ascertainable on the date of such opinions.

                                      S-13
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS                                                                [LOGO]

                                  $500,000,000

                           WILLAMETTE INDUSTRIES, INC.


                             Senior Debt Securities

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

         Willamette  Industries,  Inc. (the  "Company") may offer,  from time to
time,  unsecured  senior  debt  securities  ("Debt  Securities")  consisting  of
debentures,  notes or other unsecured evidences of indebtedness,  in one or more
series and in amounts,  at prices and on terms to be  determined  at or prior to
the time of sale.

         Specific  terms of the particular  Debt  Securities in respect of which
this Prospectus is delivered (the "Offered  Securities") will be set forth in an
accompanying  Prospectus  Supplement or Supplements,  together with the terms of
the  offering  of the Offered  Securities,  the  initial  price  thereof and the
estimated net proceeds from the sale thereof. The Prospectus Supplement will set
forth with regard to the particular Offered Securities,  without limitation, the
designation,  aggregate principal amount,  denomination,  maturity,  premium, if
any,  exchange,  conversion,  redemption  or sinking  fund  provisions,  if any,
interest  rate  (which  may be  fixed or  variable),  the  time  and  method  of
calculating  interest payments,  put options, if any, public offering price, and
other specific terms of the offering.

         The Company may sell the Offered  Securities  directly,  through agents
designated from time to time or through  underwriters  or dealers.  See "Plan of
Distribution." If any agents, underwriters,  or dealers are involved in the sale
of the Offered Securities,  the names of such agents,  underwriters,  or dealers
and any  applicable  commissions  and discounts will be set forth in the related
Prospectus Supplement.

         This  Prospectus  may  not be  used  to  consummate  sales  of  Offered
Securities unless accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.


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


          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 October 7, 1997.

                                     - 1 -
<PAGE>
         NO PERSON HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY  INFORMATION  OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS,  ANY ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT OR THE DOCUMENTS  INCORPORATED OR DEEMED  INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE HEREIN, AND ANY INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED HEREIN OR
THEREIN MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN  AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE
WILLAMETTE  TRUSTS OR BY ANY AGENT,  DEALER OR UNDERWRITER.  THIS PROSPECTUS AND
ANY ACCOMPANYING  PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION  OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE  SECURITIES IN ANY  CIRCUMSTANCES  IN WHICH
SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION  IS UNLAWFUL.  THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY
PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT AT ANY TIME DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN OR
THEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF SUCH INFORMATION.

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         The  Company  is  subject  to  the  informational  requirements  of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended (the "1934 Act") and in accordance
therewith  files  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "SEC").  Reports,  proxy statements and
other  information  concerning  the Company can be  inspected  and copied at the
SEC's  Public  Reference  Room,   Judiciary  Plaza,  450  Fifth  Street,   N.W.,
Washington,  DC 20549,  as well as the  Regional  Offices  of the SEC at 7 World
Trade  Center,  Suite 1300,  New York,  New York 10048 and  Northwestern  Atrium
Center,  500 West Madison  Street,  Suite 1400,  Chicago,  Illinois  60661-2511.
Copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
SEC at  Judiciary  Plaza,  450 Fifth  Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  DC 20549,  at
prescribed rates. The SEC also maintains a Web site that contains reports, proxy
and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file
electronically  with the SEC.  The  address of such site is  http://www.sec.gov.
Such reports,  proxy  statements and other  information may also be inspected at
the offices of the NYSE,  on which Common Stock is traded,  at 20 Broad  Street,
New York, New York 10005.

         This Prospectus  constitutes a part of a Registration Statement on Form
S-3  (together  with all  amendments  and exhibits  thereto,  the  "Registration
Statement")  filed by the Company and the  Willamette  Trusts with the SEC under
the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act") with respect to
the Offered Securities.  This Prospectus does not contain all of the information
set forth in such Registration Statement,  certain parts of which are omitted in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC.  Reference is made to such
Registration  Statement  and  to  the  exhibits  relating  thereto  for  further
information  with  respect  to the  Company  and  the  Offered  Securities.  Any
statements  contained herein  concerning the provisions of any document filed as
an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement  or  otherwise  filed with the SEC or
incorporated  by  reference  herein are not  necessarily  complete,  and in each
instance  reference  is made to the copy of such  document  so filed  for a more
complete description of the matter involved. Each such statement is qualified in
its entirety by such reference.

         The  Company  will  send  to all  registered  holders  of  the  Offered
Securities  such  annual and other  reports as are sent to its  shareholders  in
conformity with the requirements of the 1934 Act.

                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>
                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following  documents  filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to
the 1934 Act are incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof:

         1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996.

         2. The Company's  quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 31, 1997, and June 30, 1997.

         All documents filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c),
14 or 15(d)  of the 1934 Act  subsequent  to the date  hereof  and  prior to the
termination of the offering of the Offered  Securities  pursuant hereto shall be
deemed to be  incorporated  by reference in this Prospectus or in any Prospectus
Supplement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

         Any statement contained herein or in a document  incorporated or deemed
to be  incorporated  by  reference  in  this  Prospectus  or in  any  Prospectus
Supplement  shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded  for  purposes of this
Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement to the extent that a statement contained
in this Prospectus or in any Prospectus  Supplement or in any other subsequently
filed  document  which also is or is deemed to be  incorporated  by reference in
this  Prospectus or in any  Prospectus  Supplement  modifies or supersedes  such
statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,  except
as so modified or  superseded,  to  constitute a part of this  Prospectus or any
Prospectus Supplement.

         The Company undertakes to provide without charge to each person to whom
a copy of this Prospectus has been  delivered,  upon the written or oral request
of any such person, a copy of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated
herein by reference, other than exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits
are specifically  incorporated by reference into such documents).  Such requests
should be directed to:  Willamette  Industries,  Inc.,  1300 S.W.  Fifth Avenue,
Suite 3800,  Portland,  Oregon  97201,  Telephone:  (503)  227-5581,  Attention:
Investor Relations.

                                   THE COMPANY

         The Company is a diversified,  integrated forest products company which
manufactures  unbleached  paper products,  white paper products,  and wood-based
building  materials at 97 locations located  throughout the United States and in
Ireland.  The  Company  owns or  controls  approximately  1.8  million  acres of
timberland in Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Missouri,  North  Carolina,  Oregon,  South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.

         The Company was  incorporated in Oregon in 1906. Its executive  offices
are located at 1300 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Suite 3800,  Portland,  Oregon 97201, and
its telephone number is (503) 227-5581.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         Unless otherwise  indicated in a Prospectus  Supplement with respect to
the proceeds from the sale of the  particular  Offered  Securities to which such
Prospectus  Supplement  relates,  the  Company  intends to add the net  proceeds
received by it from the sale of Offered  Securities to its general funds,  to be
used for general corporate  purposes,  including capital  expenditures,  working
capital, and repayment of debt.

                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

         The following table sets forth the Company's ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the periods indicated.


<TABLE>
                                          Six Months
                                        Ended June 30,                               Year Ended December 31,            
                                      -------------------        -----------------------------------------------------------------

                                      1997           1996        1996          1995             1994            1993          1992

<S>                                   <C>            <C>         <C>           <C>              <C>             <C>           <C> 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
Charges (1)(2).................       1.59           5.46        3.68          10.83            4.25            3.06          2.56
</TABLE>


(1)      The Company has authority to issue up to 5,000,000  shares of Preferred
         Stock;  there are  currently  no  shares  outstanding  and the  Company
         currently  does  not  have  a  Preferred  Stock  dividend   obligation.
         Therefore,  the  Ratio  of  Combined  Earnings  to  Fixed  Charges  and
         Preferred  Stock  Dividends  is equal to the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
         Charges and is not disclosed separately.

(2)      For  purposes  of  computing  the ratio,  "earnings"  consist of income
         before income taxes,  plus fixed charges.  "Fixed  charges"  consist of
         interest  expense  plus  one-third  of rent  expense  (which  is deemed
         representative of an interest factor).

                       DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

         The particular  terms of the Debt Securities  offered by any Prospectus
Supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to
the Debt  Securities so offered will be described in the  Prospectus  Supplement
relating to such Debt Securities.

         Debt  Securities  may be  issued,  from  time to  time,  in one or more
series. Debt Securities will be issued under an Indenture dated January 30, 1993
(the "Indenture"),  between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee
(the "Trustee").

         The following summary of certain  provisions of the Debt Securities and
the  Indenture  do not  purport  to be  complete  and are  subject  to,  and are
qualified in their  entirety by express  reference to, all the provisions of the
Indenture,   including  the  definitions  therein  of  certain  terms.   Certain
capitalized terms herein are defined in the Indenture.

GENERAL

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

         The  Prospectus  Supplement  relating  to the Offered  Securities  will
specify,  among other things: (1) the title of the Offered  Securities;  (2) any
limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Securities;  (3) the date
or dates on which the  Offered  Securities  will  mature;  (4) the rate or rates
(which may be fixed or variable) per annum at which the Offered  Securities will
bear interest or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined  and
the date from which such  interest  will accrue or the method by which such date
shall be  determined;  (5) the dates on which any such  interest will be payable

                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>
and the Regular Record Dates for such Interest  Payment Dates; (6) the dates, if
any, on which,  and the price or prices at which,  the Offered  Securities  may,
pursuant to any mandatory or optional  sinking fund  provisions,  be redeemed by
the Company and other detailed  terms and provisions of such sinking funds;  (7)
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 the Company or of the Holder  thereof and other detailed terms and
provisions of such optional redemption; (8) the right of the Company, if any, to
defer payment of interest on the Offered  Securities  and the maximum  length of
any such deferral period;  (9) the right of Holders,  if any, to put the Offered
Securities to the Company;  (10) the currency  unit, if other than United States
dollars,  of payment of  principal,  and  premium and  interest,  if any, on the
Offered  Securities;  (11)  the  applicability  of  certain  provisions  of  the
Indenture as described under "Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance";  and (12) any
other terms of the Offered  Securities  (which  terms shall not be  inconsistent
with the Indenture).

         Unless  otherwise  indicated  in  the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating
thereto, the principal of, and any premium or interest,  if any, on, the Offered
Securities will be payable,  and the Offered Securities will be exchangeable and
transfers thereof will be registrable,  at the Place of Payment,  provided that,
at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to
the  address of the  person  entitled  thereto  as it  appears  in the  Security
Register.

         Unless  otherwise  indicated  in  the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating
thereto, the Offered Securities will be issued in United States dollars in fully
registered  form,  without  coupons,  in denominations of $1,000 or any integral
multiple thereof. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of
the Offered Securities,  but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

         For  purposes  of the  descriptions  of the  Debt  Securities,  certain
defined terms have the following meanings:

         "Subsidiary"  of the Company is defined as a corporation  more than 50%
of the outstanding  voting stock of which is owned,  directly or indirectly,  by
the  Company  and/or  one  or  more  Subsidiaries  of the  Company.  "Restricted
Subsidiary"  is defined as a  Subsidiary  of the Company  substantially  all the
property  of which is located,  or  substantially  all the  business of which is
carried on,  within the present 50 states of the United  States or in Canada and
which owns a Principal  Property,  excluding,  however,  any  Subsidiary  of the
Company which is primarily  engaged in the  development and sale or financing of
real  property.  "Principal  Property"  is defined  as (i) any mill,  converting
plant,  manufacturing  plant,  or  other  facility  owned  by the  Company  or a
Restricted  Subsidiary  which is  located  within  the  present 50 states of the
United States or in Canada and the gross book value of which (without  deduction
of any depreciation  reserves) on the date as of which the determination is made
exceeds 1% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets,  and (ii) Timberlands other than
those being held primarily for development or sale; such property, however, will
exclude (a) any  property  which in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the
Company is not of material  importance  to the total  business  conducted by the
Company and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  as an entirety or (b) any portion of a
particular property which is similarly found not to be of material importance to
the use or operation of such  property or (c) any oil, gas or other  minerals or
mineral rights.  "Attributable  Debt" is defined as the total net amount of rent
required  to be paid  during  the  remaining  primary  term of  certain  leases,
discounted at the rate of 15% per annum.  "Consolidated  Net Tangible Assets" is
defined as the aggregate  amount of assets after deducting (i) all  liabilities,
other than deferred income taxes, Funded Debt and shareholders' equity, and (ii)
goodwill and like intangibles, of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries.
"Funded Debt" is defined as all indebtedness for

                                     - 5 -
<PAGE>
money  borrowed  having a  maturity  of more than 12 months  from the date as of
which the  determination  is made (or being  renewable  beyond such  period) and
rental obligations (at the amount capitalized)  payable more than 12 months from
such date under capitalized leases.

Restrictions on Secured Debt

         The Indenture  provides that the Company may not, nor may it permit any
Restricted  Subsidiary to,  create,  assume or guarantee any loan or evidence of
indebtedness for money borrowed  ("Debt") secured by a mortgage,  pledge or lien
("Mortgage")  on any  Principal  Property  of  the  Company  or  any  Restricted
Subsidiary,  or on any  share  of  Capital  Stock  or  Debt  of  any  Restricted
Subsidiary, without securing or causing such Restricted Subsidiary to secure the
Debt Securities equally and ratably with (or, at the Company's option, prior to)
such  secured  Debt,  unless  the  aggregate  amount of all such  secured  Debt,
together  with  all  Attributable  Debt  with  respect  to  sale  and  leaseback
transactions   involving  Principal  Properties  (with  the  exception  of  such
transactions  which are  excluded  as  described  in  "Restrictions  on Sale and
Leaseback  Transactions"  below),  would  not  exceed  10% of  Consolidated  Net
Tangible Assets.

         This  restriction  does not apply to, and there shall be excluded  from
secured Debt in any  computation  under such  restriction,  Debt secured by: (a)
Mortgages on property  of, or on any shares of Capital  Stock of or Debt of, any
corporation   existing  at  the  time  such  corporation  becomes  a  Restricted
Subsidiary,  (b)  Mortgages in favor of the Company or a Restricted  Subsidiary,
(c)  Mortgages  in favor of  governmental  bodies to secure  progress or advance
payments,  (d)  Mortgages on property,  shares of stock or Debt  existing at the
time  of  acquisition   thereof   (including   acquisition   through  merger  or
consolidation)  and purchase money and construction  Mortgages which are entered
into within specified time limits, (e) Mortgages securing  industrial revenue or
pollution  control  bonds,  and (f) any  extension,  renewal or refunding of any
Mortgages referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (e), inclusive.

Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

         The  Indenture  provides  that  neither the Company nor any  Restricted
Subsidiary  may enter  into any sale and  leaseback  transaction  involving  any
Principal  Property,  unless the aggregate amount of all Attributable  Debt with
respect to such sale and leaseback transactions, plus all secured Debt (with the
exception of secured Debt which is excluded as  described  in  "Restrictions  on
Secured Debt" above), would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

         This  restriction  does not apply to, and there shall be excluded  from
Attributable  Debt in any  computation  under  such  restriction,  any  sale and
leaseback  transaction  if (a) the  lease  is for a  period,  including  renewal
rights,  of not in  excess  of  three  years,  (b) the sale or  transfer  of the
Principal  Property is made within a specified  period after its  acquisition or
construction,  (c) the  lease  secures  or  relates  to  industrial  revenue  or
pollution  control  bonds,  (d) the  transaction  is between  the  Company and a
Restricted  Subsidiary or between Restricted  Subsidiaries or (e) the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary, within 180 days after the sale is completed, applies
to the retirement of Funded Debt of the Company or a Restricted  Subsidiary,  or
the purchase of other property  which will  constitute  Principal  Property of a
value at least equal to the value of the Principal  Property  leased,  an amount
not less than the greater of (i) the net  proceeds of the sale of the  Principal
Property leased or (ii) the fair market value of the Principal  Property leased;
provided  that the amount of proceeds to be applied to the  retirement of Funded
Debt shall be reduced by an amount,  if any,  equal to the  principal  amount of
debentures  or  notes  (including  the  Debt  Securities)  of the  Company  or a
Restricted  Subsidiary  surrendered for  cancellation to the applicable  trustee
thereof and the principal  amount of other Funded Debt voluntarily  retired,  in
each case within 180 days after such sale.

                                     - 6 -
<PAGE>
Restrictions on Funded Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries

         The Indenture  provides that the Company may not permit any  Restricted
Subsidiary to create, assume or guarantee any Funded Debt except (i) Funded Debt
owed to the Company or a  Restricted  Subsidiary,  (ii)  Funded Debt  secured by
Mortgages  permitted as described  under  "Restrictions  on Secured Debt," (iii)
Funded Debt of any corporation outstanding at the time such corporation became a
Restricted Subsidiary, (iv) Funded Debt of any person outstanding at the time of
its acquisition, or the acquisition of substantially all its properties, by such
Restricted  Subsidiary,  (v) Funded Debt  incurred in  connection  with  certain
refundings,  (vi)  Funded  Debt  constituting  Attributable  Debt  permitted  as
described under "Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback  Transactions" and (vii) any
other Funded Debt if the  aggregate  principal  amount of all Funded Debt of all
Restricted Subsidiaries permitted under this clause (vii) does not exceed 10% of
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         The following are Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to
the Debt Securities of any series: (a) default in the payment of principal of or
any premium on any Debt  Security  of that  series when due;  (b) default in the
payment of any interest on any Debt  Security of that series when due  continued
for 30 days;  (c) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment,  when due,
in respect of any Debt Security of that series;  (d) default in the  performance
of any other  covenant  of the Company in the  Indenture  (other than a covenant
included  in the  Indenture  solely  for the  benefit  of a  series  of the Debt
Securities  other than that series),  continued for 90 days after written notice
as provided in the Indenture;  (e) certain  events in bankruptcy,  insolvency or
reorganization; and (f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt
Securities of a particular  series. No Event of Default with respect to the Debt
Securities of a particular  series  necessarily  constitutes an Event of Default
with respect to the Debt Securities of any other series.

         If an Event of  Default  with  respect  to the Debt  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
Debt Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Debt
Securities  of that series are original  issue  discount Debt  Securities,  such
portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series)
of all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately.  At
any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Debt 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 principal amount of
the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances,
rescind and annul such acceleration.

         The Indenture  provides that, subject to the duty of the Trustee during
the  continuance  of an Event of 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.
Subject to such provisions for the  indemnification of the Trustee,  the Holders
of a majority in principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Debt  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 Debt Securities of that
series.  The right of a Holder of any Debt  Security to  institute a  proceeding
with respect to the Indenture is subject to certain  conditions  precedent,  but
each Holder has an absolute right to receive payment of principal or premium and
interest, if any, when due and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment.

                                     - 7 -
<PAGE>
         The Company is required to furnish to the Trustee  annually a statement
as to the performance by the Company of its obligations  under the Indenture and
as to any default in such performance.

         The Debt Securities may be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities
to be offered and sold at a substantial  discount below their principal  amount.
Special federal income tax,  accounting and other  considerations  applicable to
any such Original Issue Discount  Securities will be described in any Prospectus
Supplement  relating  thereto.  "Original  Issue  Discount  Security"  means any
security which provides for an amount less than the principal  amount thereof to
be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof as
a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default and the continuation thereof.

BOOK-ENTRY DEBT SECURITIES

         The Debt  Securities  of a series  may be issued in whole or in part in
the form of one or more Global  Securities  (as such term is defined below) that
will be  deposited  with,  or on behalf of, a Depositary  ("Depositary")  or its
nominee identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.  In such a case, one
or more  Global  Securities  will  be  issued  in a  denomination  or  aggregate
denomination  equal  to  the  portion  of  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of
outstanding  Debt  Securities  of the series to be  represented  by such  Global
Security or Global  Securities.  Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in
part for Debt  Securities  in  registered  form,  a Global  Security  may not be
registered for transfer or exchange except as a whole by the Depositary for such
Global  Security  to a  nominee  of  such  Depositary  or by a  nominee  of such
Depositary to such  Depositary or another  nominee of such Depositary or by such
Depositary  or any  nominee  to a  successor  Depositary  or a  nominee  of such
successor Depositary and except in the circumstances described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. The term "Global Security", when used with respect to any
series of Debt Securities, means a Debt Security that is executed by the Company
and  authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to
the  Depositary's  instruction,  which  shall be  registered  in the name of the
Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in
an amount equal to the  aggregate  principal  amount of, all of the  Outstanding
Debt Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the
same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or
dates on which  principal  is due, and  interest  rate or method of  determining
interest.

         The specific  terms of the depositary  arrangement  with respect to any
portion of a series of Debt  Securities to be represented  by a Global  Security
will be described in the applicable Prospectus  Supplement.  The Company expects
that the  following  provisions  will apply to depositary  arrangements.  Unless
otherwise  specified in the applicable  Prospectus  Supplement,  Debt Securities
which are to be  represented  by a Global  Security to be  deposited  with or on
behalf of a Depositary  will be represented by a Global  Security  registered in
the name of such  Depositary  or its  nominee.  Upon the issuance of such Global
Security,  and the  deposit  of such  Global  Security  with or on behalf of the
Depositary  for  such  Global  Security,  the  Depositary  will  credit,  on its
book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of
the Debt  Securities  represented  by such Global  Security  to the  accounts of
institutions   that  have   accounts   with  such   Depositary  or  its  nominee
("participants").  The  accounts  to be  credited  will  be  designated  by  the
underwriters  or agents of such Debt  Securities or, if such Debt Securities are
offered  and  sold  directly  by the  Company,  by  the  Company.  Ownership  of
beneficial  interests in such Global Security will be limited to participants or
Persons that may hold interests  through  participants.  Ownership of beneficial
interests  by  participants  in such Global  Security  will be shown on, and the
transfer of that  ownership  interest  will be effected  only  through,  records
maintained by the Depositary or its nominee for such Global Security.  Ownership
of  beneficial  interests  in such Global  Security by Persons that hold through
participants  will be shown on,  and the  transfer  of that  ownership  interest
within such  participant  will be effected only through,  records  maintained by
such participant.

                                     - 8 -
<PAGE>
The laws of some  jurisdictions  require that certain  purchasers  of securities
take physical  delivery of such securities in  certificated  form. The foregoing
limitations  and  such  laws may  impair  the  ability  to  transfer  beneficial
interests in such Global Securities.

         So long as the Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the
registered  owner of such Global Security,  such Depositary or such nominee,  as
the case may be, will be considered  the sole owner or Holder of the  Securities
represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the Indenture. Unless
otherwise  specified  in  the  applicable  Prospectus   Supplement,   owners  of
beneficial  interests in such Global  Security will not be entitled to have Debt
Securities of the series represented by such Global Security registered in their
names,  will not  receive or be entitled  to receive  physical  delivery of Debt
Securities of such series in  certificated  form and will not be considered  the
Holders thereof for any purposes under the Indenture.  Accordingly,  each Person
owning a beneficial interest in such Global Security must rely on the procedures
of the Depositary and, if such Person is not a participant, on the procedures of
the  participant  through which such Person owns its  interest,  to exercise any
rights of a Holder  under the  Indenture.  The  Company  understands  that under
existing industry practices, if the Company requests any action of Holders or an
owner of a  beneficial  interest  in such  Global  Security  desires to give any
notice  or take any  action a  Holder  is  entitled  to give or take  under  the
Indenture,  the Depositary  would authorize the participants to give such notice
or take such action, and participants  would authorize  beneficial owners owning
through  such  participants  to give such  notice  or take such  action or would
otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

         Principal of and any premium and interest on a Global  Security will be
payable in the manner described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS

         The  Company,  without  the  consent  of  the  Holders  of  any  of the
Outstanding Debt Securities  under the Indenture,  may consolidate with or merge
into, or transfer its assets  substantially  as an entirety to, any  corporation
organized under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction,  and any other person may
consolidate  with,  or merge into,  or transfer its assets  substantially  as an
entirety to the Company  provided  that (i) the successor  corporation  (if any)
assumes  the  Company's  obligations  on  the  Debt  Securities  and  under  the
Indenture,  (ii)  after  giving  effect  to the  transaction  and  treating  any
indebtedness  which  becomes an  obligation  of the Company or a Subsidiary as a
result of such  transaction  as  having  been  incurred  by the  Company  or the
Subsidiary at the time of such  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,  (iii) if as a result of the  transaction  a
Principal  Property  would  become  subject  to a  Mortgage  which  would not be
permitted by the Indenture,  the Debt  Securities  shall be secured equally with
(or  prior  to)  the  indebtedness  secured  thereby,  and  (iv)  certain  other
conditions are met.

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

         The Indenture  provides,  if such  provision is made  applicable to the
Debt  Securities  of any  series  (which  will be  indicated  in the  Prospectus
Supplement)  that the Company may elect either (a) to defease and be  discharged
from any and all  obligations  in respect of the Debt  Securities of such series
(except for certain  obligations  to register  the  transfer or exchange of Debt
Securities of such series, to replace mutilated,  destroyed, lost or stolen Debt
Securities of such series,  to maintain  paying  agencies and to hold moneys for
payment in trust) ("defeasance") or (b) to be released from its obligations with
respect  to the  Debt  Securities  of  such  series  under  certain  restrictive
covenants of the Indenture,  including those described under "Certain  Covenants
of the  Company"  and  "Consolidation,  Merger  and Sale of  Assets"  ("covenant
defeasance"),  and the  occurrence  of an event  described  in clause  (d) under
"Events of Default"

                                     - 9 -
<PAGE>
shall no longer be an Event of Default  with respect to the Debt  Securities  of
such series, in each case, if the Company  deposits,  in trust, with the Trustee
money  and/or  Government  Obligations,  which  through  the payment of interest
thereon and principal  thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money
in an amount sufficient,  without reinvestment,  to pay the principal of and any
premium and interest on the  Outstanding  Debt Securities of such series and any
mandatory  sinking fund payments or analogous  payments in  accordance  with the
terms of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series and the Indenture.  Such
a trust may only be established if, among other things,  (i) no Event of Default
or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become
an Event of Default with respect to such series under the  Indenture  shall have
occurred and be continuing  on the date of such deposit,  (ii) such deposit will
not cause the Trustee to have any  conflicting  interest  with  respect to other
securities of the Company and (iii) the Company shall have  delivered an Opinion
of Counsel to the effect that the Holders  will not  recognize  income,  gain or
loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such  defeasance and will be
subject to federal  income tax on the same amounts,  in the same manner,  and at
the same times as if such defeasance had not occurred.  In the event the Company
exercises its covenant  defeasance option with respect to the Debt Securities of
any series and the Debt  Securities  of such series are declared due and payable
because  of the  occurrence  of any Event of  Default,  the  amount of money and
Government  Obligations  on deposit with the Trustee will be  sufficient  to pay
amounts due on the Debt  Securities  of such series at the time of their  Stated
Maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the Debt  Securities of
such  series  at the  time of the  acceleration  resulting  from  such  Event of
Default. However, the Company will remain liable with respect to such payments.

MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

         Modifications  and  amendments  of the  Indenture  may be  made  by the
Company  and the  Trustee  with the  consent of the  Holders  of a  majority  in
principal  amount of the Outstanding  Debt Securities of each series affected by
such modification or amendment;  provided, however, that no such modification or
amendment  may,  without  the  consent  of the Holder of each  Outstanding  Debt
Security affected thereby,  (a) change the stated maturity date of the principal
of, or any  installment  of  principal  of or  interest,  if any,  on,  any Debt
Security, (b) reduce the principal amount of, or premium or rate of interest, if
any,  on, any Debt  Security,  (c) reduce the amount of principal of an original
issue discount Debt Security payable upon  acceleration of the maturity thereof,
(d) change the place or  currency  of  payment  of  principal  of, or premium or
interest, if any, on, any Debt Security,  (e) impair the right to institute suit
for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any Debt Security,  (f)
change the  provisions for  defeasance or covenant  defeasance  (each as defined
below) made  applicable to any Debt  Security,  or (g) reduce the  percentage in
principal  amount of Outstanding  Debt 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.

         The Holders of a majority in principal  amount of the Outstanding  Debt
Securities  of each series may, on behalf of all Holders of the Debt  Securities
of that series,  waive,  insofar as that series is concerned,  compliance by the
Company with certain restrictive  provisions of the Indenture.  The Holders of a
majority in aggregate  principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Debt Securities of
each series may, on behalf of all Holders of the Debt Securities of that series,
waive any past default under the Indenture  with respect to the Debt  Securities
of that  series,  except a default in the  payment of  principal,  or premium or
interest,  if any,  or in respect of a covenant  or  condition  which  cannot be
waived without the consent of each Holder of the Debt Securities of that series.

REGARDING THE TRUSTEE

         The Company  maintains  deposit  accounts  and conducts  other  banking
transactions  with  The  Chase  Manhattan  Bank in the  ordinary  course  of the
Company's  business.  The Chase  Manhattan  Bank serves as trustee under another
indenture with respect to certain of the Company's other senior debt securities.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The  Company  may  sell  the  Offered  Securities  (i)  to  or  through
underwriters or dealers;  (ii) directly to purchasers;  or (iii) through agents.
The Prospectus  Supplement with respect to the Offered Securities will set forth
the terms of the offering of the Offered Securities, including the name or names
of any  underwriters,  dealers  or agents;  the  purchase  price of the  Offered
Securities  and the  proceeds to the Company  from such sale;  any  underwriting
discounts  and   commissions  or  agency  fees  and  other  items   constituting
underwriters' or agents' compensation; any initial public offering price and any
discounts  or  concessions  allowed  or  reallowed  or paid to  dealers  and any
securities  exchange on which such Offered Securities may be listed. Any initial
public offering price,  discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to
dealers may be changed from time to time.

                                     - 10 -
<PAGE>
         If  underwriters  are used in the sale, the Offered  Securities will be
acquired by the  underwriters  for their own account and may be resold from time
to time in one or more transactions,  including  negotiated  transactions,  at a
fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.
The Offered Securities may be offered to the public either through  underwriting
syndicates  represented by one or more managing  underwriters or directly by one
or more firms acting as  underwriters.  The  underwriter  or  underwriters  with
respect to a  particular  underwritten  offering of Offered  Securities  will be
named  in the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating  to  such  offering  and,  if an
underwriting syndicate is used, the managing underwriter or underwriters will be
set forth on the cover of such Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise set forth
in  the  Prospectus   Supplement  relating  thereto,   the  obligations  of  the
underwriters  to  purchase  the  Offered  Securities  will be subject to certain
conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the
Offered Securities if any are purchased.

         If dealers are utilized in the sale of Offered Securities,  the Company
will sell such Offered Securities to the dealers as principals.  The dealers may
then  resell  such  Offered  Securities  to the public at  varying  prices to be
determined  by such dealers at the time of resale.  The names of the dealers and
the  terms of the  transaction  will be set forth in the  Prospectus  Supplement
relating thereto.

         The Offered  Securities  may be sold directly by the Company or through
agents  designated by the Company from time to time.  Any agent  involved in the
offer or sale of the Offered  Securities in respect to which this  Prospectus is
delivered  will be named,  and any  commissions  payable by the  Company to such
agent will be set forth, in the Prospectus  Supplement relating thereto.  Unless
otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement,  any such agent will be acting
on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

         The  Offered  Securities  may  be  sold  directly  by  the  Company  to
institutional  investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters  within
the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof.  The terms
of any such  sales  will be  described  in the  Prospectus  Supplement  relating
thereto.

         Agents,  dealers and underwriters may be entitled under agreements with
the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain civil liabilities,
including  liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect
to payments which such agents,  dealers or underwriters  may be required to make
in respect thereof. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage
in transactions with, or perform services for the Company in the ordinary course
of business.

         Each series of Offered Securities will be a new issue of securities and
will have no  established  trading  market.  Any  underwriters  to whom  Offered
Securities  are  sold for  public  offering  and sale may make a market  in such
Offered Securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may
discontinue any market making at any time without  notice.The Offered Securities
may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange.  No assurance can be
given that there will be a market for the Offered Securities.

                         VALIDITY OF OFFERED SECURITIES

         The  validity  of the  Offered  Securities  will be passed upon for the
Company by Miller, Nash, Wiener, Hager & Carlsen LLP, Portland, Oregon.

                                     EXPERTS

         The  consolidated  financial  statements of the Company included in the
Company's  annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, have
been  audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,  independent  auditors,  as set forth in
their  report  included  therein  and  incorporated  herein by  reference.  Such
consolidated  financial  statements  are  incorporated  herein by  reference  in
reliance  upon such  report  and upon the  authority  of such firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.

                                     - 11 -
<PAGE>
================================================================================

         No person has been  authorized to give any  information  or to make any
representations  other than those contained in this Prospectus  Supplement,  the
Prospectus or any Pricing  Supplement and, if given or made, such information or
representations  must  not be  relied  upon  as  having  been  authorized.  This
Prospectus  Supplement,  the  Prospectus  and  any  Pricing  Supplement  do  not
constitute  an  offer  to  sell  or the  solicitation  of an  offer  to buy  any
securities other than the securities described herein and therein or an 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  Supplement,  the  Prospectus or any Pricing  Supplement nor any sale
made  hereunder  or  thereunder  shall,  under  any  circumstances,  create  any
implication  that the information  contained  herein or therein is correct as of
any time subsequent to the date of such information.


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


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                              Prospectus Supplement


                                                                          Page


Selected Consolidated Financial Data.......................................S-2
Description of the Notes...................................................S-3
Supplemental Plan of Distribution.........................................S-11
Validity of the Notes.....................................................S-13

                                   Prospectus

Available Information........................................................2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference....................................................................3
The Company..................................................................3
Use of Proceeds..............................................................3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges...........................................4
Description of the Debt Securities...........................................4
Plan of Distribution........................................................10
Validity of Offered Securities..............................................11
Experts.....................................................................11


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                                  $300,000,000



                           Willamette Industries, Inc.



                               Medium-Term Notes,
                                    Series C
                                Due From 9 Months
                                to 30 Years From
                                  Date of Issue



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                                     [LOGO]


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                              Goldman, Sachs & Co.
                                J.P. Morgan & Co.
                              Salomon Smith Barney

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