INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO /NEW/
424B5, 1996-06-03
PAPERBOARD MILLS
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<PAGE>
             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 31, 1996
 
                                  $250,000,000
 
                          International Paper Company
 
                               7% Notes Due 2001
 
INTEREST PAYABLE JUNE 1 AND DECEMBER 1                          DUE JUNE 1, 2001
 
                                 --------------
 
 THE NOTES MAY NOT BE REDEEMED PRIOR TO MATURITY. THE NOTES WILL BE REPRESENTED
 BY  ONE OR  MORE GLOBAL SECURITIES  (AS DEFINED HEREIN)  REGISTERED IN THE
     NAME OF THE NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY ("DTC").  EXCEPT
       AS  PROVIDED HEREIN AND IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS, NOTES
            IN DEFINITIVE FORM WILL NOT BE ISSUED. SEE  "DESCRIPTION
            OF THE NOTES" HEREIN.
 
                                 --------------
 
 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  OR  THE  PROSPECTUS.  ANY  REPRE-
              SENTATION TO  THE CONTRARY  IS A  CRIMINAL  OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             UNDERWRITING
                                                            PRICE TO         DISCOUNTS AND       PROCEEDS TO
                                                           PUBLIC (1)         COMMISSIONS      COMPANY (1)(2)
                                                        -----------------  -----------------  -----------------
<S>                                                     <C>                <C>                <C>
PER NOTE..............................................       99.791%            .6125%            99.1785%
TOTAL.................................................    $249,477,500        $1,531,250        $247,946,250
</TABLE>
 
(1) PLUS ACCRUED INTEREST, IF ANY, FROM JUNE 5, 1996.
 
(2) BEFORE DEDUCTING EXPENSES PAYABLE BY THE COMPANY ESTIMATED AT $50,000.
 
                                 --------------
 
    THE  NOTES ARE  OFFERED BY THE  UNDERWRITERS WHEN,  AS AND IF  ISSUED BY THE
COMPANY, DELIVERED TO  AND ACCEPTED  BY THE  UNDERWRITERS AND  SUBJECT TO  THEIR
RIGHT  TO REJECT ORDERS IN WHOLE OR IN PART. IT IS EXPECTED THAT DELIVERY OF THE
NOTES IN BOOK-ENTRY FORM WILL BE THROUGH THE FACILITIES OF THE DEPOSITORY  TRUST
COMPANY  ON  OR ABOUT  JUNE 5,  1996, AGAINST  PAYMENT IN  IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE
FUNDS.
 
CS First Boston
            Merrill Lynch & Co.
                       J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
                                                            Morgan Stanley & Co.
       Incorporated
 
            THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS MAY 31, 1996.
<PAGE>
    IN  CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH  STABILIZE OR  MAINTAIN THE  MARKET PRICE  OF THE  SECURITIES
OFFERED  HEREBY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT  WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH  TRANSACTIONS MAY  BE EFFECTED  IN THE  OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET  OR
OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    The  net proceeds to be received by  International Paper Company, a New York
corporation (the "Company"), from the sale  of the Notes offered hereby will  be
used  to repay certain short-term indebtedness  with interest rates ranging from
5.25% to 5.75%.  The short-term indebtedness  being repaid was  incurred by  the
Company during the prior year for general corporate purposes.
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
    The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company as of March
31,  1996 and as  adjusted to give effect  to the issuance  of the Notes offered
hereby and assuming the  proceeds of the offering  are used to repay  short-term
indebtedness.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             AS OF MARCH 31, 1996
                                                                                            ----------------------
                                                                                             ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
                                                                                            (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
<S>                                                                                         <C>        <C>
Short-Term Debt...........................................................................  $   4,113   $   3,863
Current maturities of long-term debt......................................................        183         183
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
    Total Short-Term Debt.................................................................      4,296       4,046
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
Total Long-Term Debt, excluding current maturities........................................      5,583       5,833
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
      Total Debt..........................................................................      9,879       9,879
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of Trust....................        450         450
 
Common Shareholders' Equity:
  Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share; 400 million shares authorized; 299.0 million
   shares issued..........................................................................        299         299
  Paid-in capital.........................................................................      3,399       3,399
  Retained earnings.......................................................................      5,659       5,659
  Less: Common Stock held in treasury, at cost; 0.9 million shares........................         25          25
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
      Total Common Shareholders' Equity...................................................      9,332       9,332
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
Total Capitalization......................................................................  $  19,661   $  19,661
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
    The  following table shows the Company's  ratio of earnings to fixed charges
on a historical basis for  each of the five years  in the period ended  December
31,  1995 and  for the three-month  periods ended  March 31, 1995  and March 31,
1996.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           THREE MONTHS
                                                                                              ENDED
                                              YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,                      MARCH 31,
                                -----------------------------------------------------  --------------------
                                  1991       1992       1993       1994       1995       1995       1996
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                             <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
 Charges......................       2.47       1.44       2.26       2.43       3.71       3.91       2.46
</TABLE>
 
    For purposes of computing the ratio  of earnings to fixed charges,  earnings
include  pre-tax earnings before extraordinary charges and the cumulative effect
of accounting changes, interest expense and the
 
                                      S-2
<PAGE>
estimated interest factor in rent expense (which, in the opinion of the Company,
approximates one-third  of  rent  expense), and  adjustments  for  undistributed
equity  earnings  and the  amortization of  capitalized interest.  Fixed charges
include interest  incurred (including  amounts  capitalized) and  the  estimated
interest  factor in rent expense. Dividends  on the Company's $4 Preferred Stock
($4 per  share per  annum) are  insignificant and,  as a  result, the  ratio  of
earnings  to combined fixed charges and  preferred stock dividends and the ratio
of earnings to fixed charges are the same.
 
                            DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
 
GENERAL
 
    The Notes offered hereby will be limited to $250,000,000 aggregate principal
amount, will mature  on June 1,  2001, and will  bear interest at  the rate  per
annum  stated on the cover page of  this Prospectus Supplement. Interest on each
Note will  be payable  semiannually  on June  1 and  December  1 of  each  year,
commencing December 1, 1996, to the person in whose name the Note is registered,
subject  to certain exceptions as provided in the Senior Indenture, at the close
of business on May 15 or November 15, as the case may be, immediately  preceding
such  June 1 or December  1. The Notes will be  issued pursuant to the Indenture
relating to  Senior Debt  Securities, dated  as of  April 1,  1994 (the  "Senior
Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., as Trustee.
 
REDEMPTION
 
    The Notes may not be redeemed prior to maturity by the Company.
 
DEFEASANCE
 
    Under  certain circumstances, the Company will  be deemed to have discharged
the entire indebtedness on all outstanding Notes by defeasance. See "Description
of  Debt  Securities  --  Defeasance"  in  the  accompanying  Prospectus  for  a
description  of  the  terms of  any  such  defeasance and  the  tax consequences
thereof.
 
REPURCHASE UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL
 
    The Notes will be subject to repurchase upon a Change in Control (as defined
in the Senior Indenture). See "Description  of Debt Securities -- Redemption  at
the Option of Holders Upon Change In Control" in the accompanying Prospectus for
a description of the terms of any such repurchase.
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
    The  Underwriters named  below have  severally agreed  to purchase  from the
Company the following respective principal amounts of the Notes:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      PRINCIPAL
                                           UNDERWRITER                                                  AMOUNT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
<S>                                                                                                 <C>
CS First Boston Corporation.......................................................................  $   62,500,000
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated................................................      62,500,000
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ......................................................................      62,500,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.................................................................      62,500,000
                                                                                                    --------------
      Total.......................................................................................  $  250,000,000
                                                                                                    --------------
                                                                                                    --------------
</TABLE>
 
    The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the Underwriters
are subject to certain  conditions precedent and that  the Underwriters will  be
obligated to purchase all the Notes if any are purchased.
 
    The  Company has been advised by the Underwriters that they propose to offer
the Notes to the public initially at  the offering price set forth on the  cover
page  of this Prospectus Supplement and to  certain dealers at such price less a
concession of 0.375% of the principal amount of the Notes; that the Underwriters
and such dealers may allow  a discount of 0.25% of  the principal amount of  the
Notes  on sales to certain other dealers; and that the public offering price and
concession and discount to dealers may be changed.
 
                                      S-3
<PAGE>
    The Company has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against certain
civil liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or  to contribute to  payments the Underwriters  may be required  to
make in respect thereof.
 
    The  Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market.
The Company has  been advised by  the Underwriters  that they intend  to make  a
market  in the Notes but  are not obligated to do  so and may discontinue market
making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity
of the trading market for the Notes.
 
    Certain of the Underwriters or their affiliates engage in transactions  with
and  perform services, including commercial banking services, for the Company in
the ordinary course of business.
 
                                 LEGAL OPINIONS
 
    The validity of the Notes  will be passed upon for  the Company by James  W.
Guedry, Esquire, Associate General Counsel, and for the Underwriters by Skadden,
Arps,  Slate, Meagher  & Flom,  New York, New  York. Mr.  Guedry does  not own a
material or significant amount of the outstanding shares of the Company's common
stock. He  participates in  the Company's  Stock Option  Plan and  its  Salaried
Saving  Plan, having an interest in a fund  under that plan which invests in the
Company's common stock.
 
                          NOTICE TO CANADIAN RESIDENTS
 
RESALE RESTRICTIONS
 
    The distribution of  the Notes in  Canada is  being made only  on a  private
placement  basis exempt from the requirement that the Company prepare and file a
prospectus with the  securities regulatory  authorities in  each province  where
trades  of Notes are  effected. Accordingly, any  resale of the  Notes in Canada
must be  made in  accordance with  applicable securities  laws which  will  vary
depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made
in accordance with available statutory exemptions or pusurant to a discretionary
exemption  granted by  the applicable Canadian  securities regulatory authority.
Purchasers who are Canadian residents are advised to seek legal advice prior  to
any resale of the Notes.
 
REPRESENTATIONS OF PURCHASERS
 
    Each  purchaser of Notes in Canada who receives a purchase confirmation will
be deemed to represent  to the Company  and the dealer  from whom such  purchase
confirmation  is received that  (i) such purchaser  is entitled under applicable
provincial securities  laws to  purchase such  Notes without  the benefit  of  a
prospectus  qualified under  such securities laws,  (ii) where  required by law,
that such purchaser is purchasing as principal and not as agent, and (iii)  such
purchaser has reviewed the text above under "-- Resale Restrictions".
 
RIGHTS OF ACTION AND ENFORCEMENT
 
    The Notes being offered are those of a foreign issuer and Ontario purchasers
will not receive the contractual right of action prescribed by section 32 of the
Regulation  under the SECURITIES ACT (Ontario).  As a result, Ontario purchasers
must rely on other remedies that  may be available, including common law  rights
of  action  for  damages or  rescission  or  rights of  action  under  the civil
liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws.
 
    All of the  Company's directors and  officers as well  as the experts  named
herein may be located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible
for  Ontario  purchasers to  effect service  of process  within Canada  upon the
Company or such  persons. All  or a  substantial portion  of the  assets of  the
Company  and such persons may be located outside  of Canada and, as a result, it
may not be possible to satisfy a judgment against the Company or such persons in
Canada or to enforce a judgment obtained in Canadian courts against the  Company
or such persons outside of Canada.
 
                                      S-4
<PAGE>
NOTICE TO BRITISH COLUMBIA RESIDENTS
 
    A  purchaser of Notes to whom  the SECURITIES ACT (British Columbia) applies
is advised that  such purchaser is  required to file  with the British  Columbia
Securities Commission a report within ten days of the sale of any Notes acquired
by  such purchaser pursuant  to this offering.  Such report must  be in the form
attached to British Columbia  Securities Commission Blanket  Order BOR #88/5,  a
copy  of which may  be obtained from the  Company. Only one  such report must be
filed in  respect  of  Notes acquired  on  the  same date  and  under  the  same
prospectus exemption.
 
                                      S-5
<PAGE>
                 (This page has been left blank intentionally.)
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
        ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                       DEBT SECURITIES, PREFERRED STOCK,
                           COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS
 
                                 --------------
 
    International  Paper Company  (the "Company") may  offer from  time to time,
together or separately, its (i)  debt securities (the "Debt Securities"),  which
may  be  either  senior  debt  securities  (the  "Senior  Debt  Securities")  or
subordinated debt securities (the "Subordinated Debt Securities"), consisting of
notes, debentures or other  unsecured evidences of indebtedness  in one or  more
series,  (ii) shares of  its serial preferred  stock, par value  $1.00 per share
(the "Preferred Stock"), which, for any or all series of Preferred Stock, may be
issued in the form  of depositary shares evidenced  by depositary receipts  (the
"Depositary  Shares"); (iii)  shares of  its common  stock, par  value $1.00 per
share (the "Common Stock"), including  Common Share Purchase Rights to  purchase
Common  Stock, and (iv)  warrants to purchase  Debt Securities, Preferred Stock,
Depositary Shares  or Common  Stock, or  any combination  thereof, as  shall  be
designated  by  the Company  at the  time  of the  offering (the  "Warrants") in
amounts, at prices and on  terms to be determined at  the time of the  offering.
The  Debt  Securities,  Preferred  Stock, Depositary  Shares,  Common  Stock and
Warrants are collectively called the "Securities."
 
    The Securities  may  be  offered  as separate  series  or  issuances  at  an
aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $2,400,000,000 or, if applicable,
the  equivalent  thereof  in one  or  more foreign  currencies,  currency units,
composite currencies or in amounts determined by reference to an index as  shall
be  designated  by  the  Company, in  amounts,  at  prices and  on  terms  to be
determined in light of market conditions at the time of sale and set forth in  a
Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements.
 
    Unless  otherwise  specified in  a  Prospectus Supplement,  the  Senior Debt
Securities, when issued, will be  unsecured and will rank  on a parity with  all
other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The Subordinated
Debt  Securities, when issued, will  be subordinated in right  of payment to all
Senior Indebtedness of  the Company.  Certain specific terms  of the  particular
Securities  in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered are set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement,  including, where applicable, (i)  in the case  of
Debt Securities, the title, aggregate principal amount, denominations, maturity,
any  interest rate (which may  be fixed or variable) and  time of payment of any
interest, any terms for redemption at the  option of the Company or the  holder,
any  terms for sinking fund payments, any  terms for conversion or exchange into
other Securities, currency or currencies  of denomination and payment, if  other
than  U.S. dollars, any listing on a  securities exchange and any other terms in
connection with the offering and sale of the Debt Securities in respect of which
this Prospectus is delivered, as well as the initial public offering price; (ii)
in the case of  Preferred Stock, the specific  title, the aggregate amount,  any
dividend  (including the method of calculating payment of dividends), seniority,
liquidation, redemption, voting and other  rights, any terms for any  conversion
or  exchange into  other Securities, any  listing on a  securities exchange, the
initial public offering price and any other  terms; (iii) in the case of  Common
Stock,  the number of shares of Common  Stock and the terms of offering thereof;
and (iv)  in the  case of  Warrants, the  designation and  number, the  exercise
price,  any listing of the Warrants or the underlying Securities on a securities
exchange and any other terms in connection with the offering, sale and  exercise
of the Warrants.
 
    The  Debt Securities may be issued in registered form or, subject to certain
limitations set forth herein,  bearer form with coupons,  or both. In  addition,
all or a portion of the Debt Securities of a series may be issuable in temporary
or  permanent  global  form  and may  be  issued  in the  name  of  a depository
institution as  book-entry  securities.  Subject  to  certain  exceptions,  Debt
Securities  in bearer  form may  not be  offered or  sold to  persons within the
United States or its possessions or  to United States persons. See  "Limitations
on Issuance of Bearer Securities."
 
    The  Company's Common Stock is  listed on the New  York Stock Exchange under
the trading  symbol  "IP."  Any  Common Stock  sold  pursuant  to  a  Prospectus
Supplement  will  be listed  on  such exchange,  subject  to official  notice of
issuance.
 
                                 --------------
 
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 Securities may be sold directly, through agents, underwriters or dealers
as designated from time to time, or  through a combination of such methods.  See
"Plan  of Distribution." If agents of the Company or any dealers or underwriters
are involved in the sale of the  Securities in respect of which this  Prospectus
is  being delivered, the names  of such agents, dealers  or underwriters and any
applicable commissions or discounts  will be set forth  in or may be  calculated
from the Prospectus Supplement with respect to such Securities. The net proceeds
to the Company from such sale also will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement.
<PAGE>
                                 --------------
 
                  The date of this Prospectus is May 31, 1996
<PAGE>
    NO  PERSON  HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED  TO GIVE  ANY  INFORMATION OR  TO  MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE  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  BY
ANY  AGENT, DEALER OR UNDERWRITER. THIS PROSPECTUS OR PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DOES
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 United
States Securities Exchange Act  of 1934 (the "Exchange  Act") and in  accordance
therewith  file reports and  other information with  the Securities and Exchange
Commission  (the  "Commission").  Such  reports,  proxy  statements,  and  other
information  filed by  the Company  can be  inspected and  copied at  the public
reference facilities of the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450  Fifth
Street,  N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and  at the following Regional Offices of
the Commission: Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400,
Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511; and  7 World Trade Center,  13th Floor, New  York,
New  York 10048. Copies  of such material  may also be  obtained from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.  Certain securities of the Company
are listed on, and  reports, proxy statements  and other information  concerning
the  Company can be  inspected at the  offices of, the  New York Stock Exchange,
Inc. ("New York Stock Exchange"), 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
 
    The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended  (the "Securities Act"), with respect to  the
Securities  offered hereby (the "Registration  Statement"). This Prospectus does
not contain all  information set  forth in the  Registration Statement,  certain
parts  of which are omitted in accordance  with the rules and regulations of the
Commission. Reference is made to the Registration Statement and to the  exhibits
relating  thereto for  further information with  respect to the  Company and the
Securities offered hereby.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
    The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
the Exchange  Act (File  No.  1-3157) are  incorporated  in this  Prospectus  by
reference:  (a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995;
(b) the description  of the Company's  capital stock which  is contained in  the
Company's  registration statement on Form 8-A,  dated July 20, 1976, as amended,
and the Company's  registration statements on  Form S-3, filed  January 8,  1992
(No.  33-44855) and  December 23, 1993  (No. 33-51447); (c)  Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended  March 31, 1996; (d) the Company's  registration
statement  on  Form 8-A,  dated April  17,  1987, as  amended December  14, 1989
(relating to the Common Share Purchase  Rights); and the related Current  Report
on  Form 8-K, dated April  17, 1987, and (e) Current  Reports on Form 8-K, dated
March 8, 1996 and March 12, 1996.
 
    All documents filed by the Company  with the Commission pursuant to  Section
13(a),  13(c), 14 or  15(d) of the Exchange  Act subsequent to  the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates
the termination of the offering of the Securities made by this Prospectus  shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part of
this Prospectus from the date of filing of such document.
 
    Any  statement  contained  in a  document,  all  or a  portion  of  which is
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated  by reference herein, or contained  in
this  Prospectus, shall be deemed  to be modified or  superseded for purposes of
this Prospectus  to the  extent that  a  statement contained  herein or  in  any
subsequently  filed document which  also is or  is deemed to  be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or  supersedes such statement.  Any such statement  so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
    The  Company will provide  without charge to  each person to  whom a copy of
this Prospectus is delivered, on the written  or oral request of such person,  a
copy  of any or all of the documents referred to above which have been or may be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus (without exhibits to such documents
other than exhibits specifically incorporated by reference into such documents).
Such written or oral request should be directed to International Paper  Company,
Two Manhattanville Road, Purchase, New York 10577, Attention: Investor Relations
Department ((914) 397-1632).
                                 --------------
 
    Unless  otherwise  indicated, currency  amounts in  this Prospectus  and any
Prospectus Supplement are stated in United States dollars ("$," "dollars," "U.S.
dollars" or "U.S.$").
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    The Company, a New York corporation incorporated in 1941 as the successor to
the  New York  corporation of the  same name  organized in 1898,  is a worldwide
producer of  printing and  writing  papers, paperboard  and packaging  and  wood
products; and distributes paper and office supply products in the United States,
Europe  and  the Pacific  Rim. It  also produces  pulp, laminated  products, and
specialty  products,  including  photosensitive  films  and  papers,  nonwovens,
chemicals and minerals.
 
    In  the United  States, the  Company operates  24 pulp  and paper  mills, 52
converting and  packaging  plants, 29  wood  products facilities,  15  specialty
panels  and  laminated products  plants  and six  nonwoven  products facilities.
Production facilities in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Canada include 14  pulp
and  paper  mills,  30  converting  and  packaging  plants,  two  wood  products
facilities, four  specialty  panels  and  laminated  products  plants  and  four
nonwoven products facilities.
 
    The  Company distributes  fine paper,  printing and  industrial products and
building materials, primarily manufactured by other companies, through over  300
distribution  branches located primarily in the  United States. In addition, the
Company produces  photosensitive films  and  papers and  photographic  equipment
(three  United States and  six international locations)  and specialty chemicals
(seven United States and three international locations), and engages in domestic
oil and gas and real estate activities.
 
    Through its ownership  of a  majority interest  in Carter  Holt Harvey,  the
Company,  primarily in New Zealand and Australia, operates seven mills producing
pulp and  paper, packaging  and  tissue products,  32 converting  and  packaging
facilities, 49 wood products manufacturing and distribution facilities, and nine
building  products plants.  Carter Holt  Harvey distributes  paper and packaging
products through 18 distribution branches located in New Zealand and  Australia.
In  New  Zealand, Carter  Holt Harvey  controls  approximately 800,000  acres of
forestlands.
 
    The Company, which owns a majority interest in IP Timberlands, Ltd., a Texas
limited partnership  ("IPT"),  controlled  approximately 6.0  million  acres  of
forestlands in the United States at December 31, 1995. IPT was formed to succeed
to  substantially all of International Paper's  forest products business for the
period 1985 through 2035, unless earlier terminated. In addition, Federal  Paper
Board  ("Federal"), a subsidiary of  the Company, controls approximately 700,000
acres of timberlands in the southeastern part of the United States.
 
    On March  29, 1996,  IPT completed  the sale  of a  98% general  partnership
interest  in a subsidiary  partnership that owns  approximately 300,000 acres of
forestlands located in Oregon and Washington. Included in the net assets of  the
partnership  interest sold were forestlands, roads and $750 million of long-term
debt.
 
    On March 12, 1996, the Company completed the recently-announced merger  with
Federal, a diversified forest and paper products company. Under the terms of the
merger  agreement, Federal shareholders  received, at their  election subject to
certain limitations, either $55 in cash per share or $55 worth of  International
Paper  common  stock per  share.  To complete  the  merger, Federal  shares were
acquired  for  approximately  $1.3   billion  in  cash   and  $1.4  billion   in
International  Paper common  stock. The results  of Federal are  included in the
consolidated statement of earnings since March 12, 1996, and the March 31, 1996,
consolidated balance sheet includes the balances of Federal.
 
    The Company's corporate headquarters are located at Two Manhattanville Road,
Purchase, New York, and its telephone number is (914) 397-1500.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
    The following table  sets forth  the Company's  ratio of  earnings to  fixed
charges for the periods indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                     ---------------------------------
                                     1991   1992   1993   1994   1995
                                     -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
<S>                                  <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
 Charges...........................   2.47   1.44   2.26   2.43   3.71
</TABLE>
 
    For  purposes of computing the ratio  of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
include pre-tax  earnings  before an  extraordinary  charge and  the  cumulative
effect  of an  accounting change,  interest expense  and the  estimated interest
factor in  rent expense  (which, in  the opinion  of the  Company,  approximates
one-third  of rent expense),  and adjustments for  undistributed equity earnings
and the amortization  of capitalized  interest. Fixed  charges include  interest
incurred  (including amounts capitalized)  and the estimated  interest factor in
rent expense. Dividends on  the Company's $4 Preferred  Stock ($4 per share  per
annum) are insignificant and, as a result, for the years ended December 31, 1991
through  1995, the  ratios of earnings  to combined fixed  charges and preferred
stock dividends were the same as the ratios of earnings to fixed charges.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    Except as otherwise described in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement,  the
net  proceeds to be received from the sale of the Securities offered hereby will
be used for general corporate purposes.  The Company may also apply proceeds  to
expenditures for plant and equipment, and possibly for acquisitions of the stock
or  assets of  other companies,  for the repurchase  of shares  of the Company's
Common Stock  or  to retire  other  short-term or  long-term  indebtedness.  The
Company expects that it will continue to incur indebtedness from time to time.
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
    The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of
the  Debt  Securities  to  which  any  Prospectus  Supplement  may  relate.  The
particular terms of the Debt Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement and
the extent, if any, to which such  general provisions may not apply to the  Debt
Securities so offered will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such Debt Securities.
 
    The  Senior Debt Securities  will be issued under  an Indenture (the "Senior
Indenture"), to be  entered into  between the  Company and  The Chase  Manhattan
Bank,  N.A., as trustee. The Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued under a
separate Indenture (the  "Subordinated Indenture"), to  be entered into  between
the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., as trustee. The Senior Indenture
and  the Subordinated  Indenture are sometimes  referred to  collectively as the
"Indentures." Copies of the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture have
been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. The Chase Manhattan  Bank,
N.A.,  as  trustee  under  the  Senior  Indenture  and  under  the  Subordinated
Indenture, is referred to herein as the "Trustee."
 
    The following summaries of certain provisions of the Senior Debt Securities,
the Subordinated  Debt  Securities and  the  Indentures  do not  purport  to  be
complete  and are subject to,  and qualified in their  entirety by reference to,
all the provisions of  the Indenture applicable to  a particular series of  Debt
Securities,  including  the  definitions  therein  of  certain  terms.  Wherever
particular Sections, Articles or defined terms of the Indentures are referred to
herein or  in  a Prospectus  Supplement,  it  is intended  that  such  Sections,
Articles  or defined terms shall be incorporated by reference herein or therein,
as the case may be. Section and Article references used herein are references to
the applicable
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
Indenture. Except as otherwise indicated, the terms of the Senior Indenture  and
the  Subordinated  Indenture  are  identical.  Capitalized  terms  not otherwise
defined herein  shall  have  the  meanings  given  to  them  in  the  applicable
Indenture.
 
GENERAL
 
    The  Indentures  will  not  limit the  aggregate  principal  amount  of Debt
Securities which may be issued thereunder, and each Indenture provides that Debt
Securities may be issued thereunder from time  to time in one or more series  up
to  the aggregate amount  from time to  time authorized by  the Company for each
series. Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the Senior Debt
Securities when issued will be  unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of  the
Company  and  will  rank  equally  and  ratably  with  all  other  unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness  of the  Company. The  Subordinated Debt  Securities
when  issued will be  subordinated in right  of payment to  the prior payment in
full of all Senior  Indebtedness (as defined in  the Subordinated Indenture)  of
the Company as described in the Prospectus Supplement applicable to the offering
of Subordinated Debt Securities.
 
    Reference  is made to  the Prospectus Supplement  relating to the particular
series of Debt  Securities offered thereby  for a description  of the  following
terms or additional provisions of the Debt Securities: (1) the title of the Debt
Securities;  (2)  whether  the Debt  Securities  are Senior  Debt  Securities or
Subordinated Debt Securities; (3) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of
the Debt  Securities; (4)  whether the  Debt Securities  are to  be issuable  as
Registered  Securities or  Bearer Securities  or both,  whether any  of the Debt
Securities shall  be issuable  in whole  or in  part in  temporary or  permanent
global   form  or  in  the  form  of  Book-Entry  Securities  and,  if  so,  the
circumstances under  which any  such  global security  or global  securities  or
Book-Entry  Securities may  be exchanged for  Debt Securities  registered in the
name of,  and  any transfer  of  such global  or  Book-Entry Securities  may  be
registered  to,  a  Person  other  than the  depository  for  such  temporary or
permanent global securities  or Book-Entry  Securities or its  nominee; (5)  the
price  or prices  (expressed as a  percentage of the  aggregate principal amount
thereof) at which the Debt Securities will  be issued; (6) the date or dates  on
which  the Debt Securities will mature; (7) the rate or rates per annum at which
the Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, and the date from which any such
interest will accrue; (8) the Interest Payment Dates on which any such  interest
on the Debt Securities will be payable, the Regular Record Date for any interest
payable  on any Debt Securities which  are Registered Securities on any Interest
Payment Date and  the extent  to which,  or the  manner in  which, any  interest
payable  on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid
if other than in the manner described under "Temporary Global Securities" below;
(9) any mandatory or  optional sinking fund or  analogous provisions; (10)  each
office  or agency  where, subject  to the terms  of the  applicable Indenture as
described below under  "Payment and  Paying Agents,"  the principal  of and  any
premium  and interest on the Debt Securities  will be payable and each office or
agency where, subject  to the  terms of  the applicable  Indenture as  described
below under "Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer," the Debt Securities may
be  presented for registration of  transfer or exchange; (11)  the date, if any,
after which and the price or prices  at which the Debt Securities may,  pursuant
to  any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed, in whole or in
part, and  the other  detailed terms  and  provisions of  any such  optional  or
mandatory  redemption provisions, which may include with respect to a particular
series or particular  Debt Securities within  a series, a  redemption option  of
Holders  upon certain conditions,  as defined in  the applicable Indenture; (12)
the denominations in which any  Debt Securities which are Registered  Securities
will  be  issuable,  if other  than  denominations  of $1,000  and  any integral
multiple thereof,  and  the denomination  or  denominations in  which  any  Debt
Securities  which  are Bearer  Securities will  be issuable,  if other  than the
denomination of  $5,000; (13)  the  currency or  currency  units of  payment  of
principal of and any premium and interest on the Debt Securities; (14) any index
used  to determine the  amount of payments  of principal of  and any premium and
interest on the Debt Securities  and the manner in  which such amounts shall  be
determined;  (15) the terms and conditions, if  any, pursuant to which such Debt
Securities are convertible or exchangeable into a security or securities of  the
Company; and (16) any other terms of the Debt
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
Securities  not inconsistent  with the  provisions of  the applicable Indenture.
(Section 3.1)  Any such  Prospectus Supplement  will also  describe any  special
provisions  for  the payment  of  additional amounts  with  respect to  the Debt
Securities.
 
    Debt Securities may also be issued under the Indenture upon the exercise  of
Warrants. See "Description of Warrants."
 
    Debt  Securities may  be issued  as Original  Issue Discount  Securities. An
Original Issue Discount Security is  a Debt Security, including any  Zero-Coupon
Security,  which is  issued at a  price lower  than the amount  payable upon the
Stated Maturity thereof and which provides that upon redemption or  acceleration
of  the  maturity,  an amount  less  than  the amount  payable  upon  the Stated
Maturity, determined in accordance with the  terms of such Debt Security,  shall
become  due  and  payable.  Certain special  United  States  federal  income tax
considerations applicable to Debt Securities sold at an original issue  discount
will  be described in  the Prospectus Supplement  relating thereto. In addition,
certain special  United  States  federal  income  tax  or  other  considerations
applicable  to  any  Debt Securities  which  are  denominated in  a  currency or
currency unit  other  than  United  States  dollars  may  be  described  in  the
applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
FORM, EXCHANGE, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
 
    Debt  Securities of a  series may be  issuable in definitive  form solely as
Registered Securities,  solely  as  Bearer  Securities  or  as  both  Registered
Securities  and Bearer Securities.  Unless otherwise indicated  in an applicable
Prospectus Supplement, Bearer  Securities will have  interest coupons  attached.
(Section  2.1) The Indentures also will provide that Debt Securities of a series
may be issuable  in temporary  or permanent  global form  and may  be issued  as
Book-Entry  Securities  that  will  be  deposited with,  or  on  behalf  of, The
Depository Trust Company (the "Depository")  or another depository named by  the
Company  and identified in a Prospectus  Supplement with respect to such series.
(Sections 2.1 and 2.4) See "Global and Book-Entry Debt Securities."
 
    In connection with its  original issuance, no  Bearer Security (including  a
Debt  Security exchangeable for a  Bearer Security or a  Debt Security in global
form that is  either a Bearer  Security or exchangeable  for Bearer  Securities)
shall  be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States (as
defined under  "Limitations on  Issuance  of Bearer  Securities") and  a  Bearer
Security  may be delivered in connection with  its original issuance only if the
Person entitled to receive such Bearer Security furnishes written  certification
of  the  beneficial ownership  of the  Bearer Security  as required  by Treasury
Regulation Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(3). In the  case of a Bearer Security  in
permanent  global  form, such  certification must  be  given in  connection with
notation of  a  beneficial  owner's  interest therein  in  connection  with  the
original  issuance  of  such  Debt  Security.  (Section  3.3)  See  "Global  and
Book-Entry Securities" and "Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Securities."
 
    Registered  Securities  of  any  series  will  be  exchangeable  for   other
Registered  Securities  of the  same series  and of  a like  aggregate principal
amount and tenor  of different  authorized denominations. In  addition, if  Debt
Securities  of any series are issuable  as both Registered Securities and Bearer
Securities, at the option of the  Holder upon request confirmed in writing,  and
subject  to the terms  of the applicable Indenture,  Bearer Securities (with all
unmatured coupons, except as provided below, and all matured coupons in default)
of such  series will  be exchangeable  into Registered  Securities of  the  same
series  of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount
and tenor. Bearer Securities surrendered  in exchange for Registered  Securities
between a Regular Record Date or a Special Record Date and the relevant date for
payment  of interest  shall be surrendered  without the coupon  relating to such
date for payment of interest  and interest accrued as of  such date will not  be
payable in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer
Security,  but will  be payable only  to the Holder  of such coupon  when due in
accordance with the terms  of the applicable  Indenture. Bearer Securities  will
not  be issued in exchange for  Registered Securities. (Section 3.5) Each Bearer
Security, and any coupon attached thereto, other than a temporary global  Bearer
Security  will bear  the following legend:  "Any United States  person who holds
this obligation will be subject
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
to  limitations  under  the  United  States  income  tax  laws,  including   the
limitations  provided  in  Sections  165(j) and  1287(a)  of  the  United States
Internal Revenue Code." A Book-Entry Security may not be registered for transfer
or exchange (other than  as a whole by  the Depository to a  nominee or by  such
nominee  to such Depository) unless the  Depository or such nominee notifies the
Company that  it  is  unwilling or  unable  to  continue as  Depository  or  the
Depository ceases to be qualified as required by the applicable Indenture or the
Company  instructs the Trustee in accordance  with the applicable Indenture that
such Book-Entry Securities shall  be so registerable  and exchangeable or  there
shall  have occurred and be  continuing an Event of  Default with respect to the
Debt Securities evidenced  by such  Book-Entry Securities or  there shall  exist
such  other  circumstances,  if  any,  as may  be  specified  in  the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. (Section 3.5)
 
    Debt Securities  may  be  presented  for exchange  as  provided  above,  and
Registered  Securities may be  presented for registration  of transfer (with the
form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed), at the office of the  Security
Registrar  or at the office of any  transfer agent designated by the Company for
such purpose with respect to any series of Debt Securities and referred to in an
applicable Prospectus Supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any
taxes and other governmental charges  as described in the applicable  Indenture.
Such  transfer or exchange will be effected  upon the Security Registrar or such
transfer agent, as the case may be, being satisfied with the documents of  title
and  identity of the  person making the  request. The Company  has appointed the
Trustee as Security Registrar. (Section  3.5) If a Prospectus Supplement  refers
to  any  transfer  agents  (in addition  to  the  Security  Registrar) initially
designated by the  Company with respect  to any series  of Debt Securities,  the
Company  may at any time  rescind the designation of  any such transfer agent or
approve a change  in the location  through which any  such transfer agent  acts,
except  that, if Debt Securities  of a series are  issuable solely as Registered
Securities, the Company will  be required to maintain  a transfer agent in  each
Place  of  Payment for  such  series and,  if Debt  Securities  of a  series are
issuable as Bearer  Securities, the  Company will  be required  to maintain  (in
addition  to the Security Registrar) a transfer  agent in a Place of Payment for
such series  located outside  the United  States. The  Company may  at any  time
designate  additional  transfer  agents  with  respect  to  any  series  of Debt
Securities. (Section 10.2)
 
    In the event of any redemption in part, the Company shall not be required to
(i) issue, register the  transfer of or exchange  Debt Securities of any  series
during  a  period  beginning at  the  opening  of business  15  days  before any
selection of Debt Securities  of that series  to be redeemed  and ending at  the
close  of business on (A) if Debt Securities  of the series are issuable only as
Registered Securities, the day of mailing  of the relevant notice of  redemption
and  (B) if Debt Securities of the series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the
day of the first publication  of the relevant notice  of redemption or, if  Debt
Securities of the series are also issuable as Registered Securities and there is
no  publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; (ii) register
the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security, or portion thereof,  called
for  redemption, except the unredeemed portion  of any Registered Security being
redeemed in part; or (iii) exchange  any Bearer Security called for  redemption,
except to exchange such Bearer Security for a Registered Security of that series
and like tenor which is immediately surrendered for redemption. (Section 3.5)
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
 
    Unless  otherwise indicated in an  applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of principal of,  premium, if  any, and interest  on Bearer  Securities will  be
payable,  subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the offices of such
Paying Agents outside the United States  as the Company may designate from  time
to  time, at the  option of the  Holder, by check  or by transfer  to an account
maintained by the payee  with a bank located  outside the United States.  Unless
otherwise  indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of interest
on Bearer Securities  on any  Interest Payment Date  will be  made only  against
surrender  to the Paying Agent of such  coupon relating to such Interest Payment
Date. (Section 10.1) No payment with respect to any Bearer Security will be made
at any office or agency of the Company  in the United States or by check  mailed
to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with
a bank located in the United States.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
Notwithstanding  the foregoing, payments  of principal of,  and premium, if any,
and interest on Bearer Securities denominated  and payable in U.S. dollars  will
be made at the office of the Company's Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan,
The  City of New  York, if (but only  if) payment of the  full amount thereof in
U.S. dollars at all offices or agencies outside the Untied States is illegal  or
effectively  precluded  by  exchange  controls  or  other  similar restrictions.
(Section 10.2)
 
    Unless otherwise indicated in  an applicable Prospectus Supplement,  payment
of  principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Registered Securities will be
made at the  office of such  Paying Agent or  Paying Agents as  the Company  may
designate from time to time, except that at the option of the Company payment of
any  interest may be made by check mailed  to the address of the person entitled
thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. Unless  otherwise
indicated  in an applicable Prospectus Supplement,  payment of any instalment of
interest on Registered Securities will be made to the Person in whose name  such
Registered Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record
Date for such interest. (Section 3.7)
 
    Unless  otherwise  indicated  in an  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement, the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in The City of New York will be designated
as a Paying Agent for the Company  for payments with respect to Debt  Securities
which are issuable solely as Registered Securities and the Company will maintain
a  Paying Agent outside of  the United States for  payments with respect to Debt
Securities (subject to  the limitations described  above in the  case of  Bearer
Securities) which are issuable solely as Bearer Securities or as both Registered
Securities  and Bearer Securities.  Any Paying Agents  outside the United States
and any other  Paying Agent  in the United  States initially  designated by  the
Company  for  the Debt  Securities  will be  named  in an  applicable Prospectus
Supplement. The Company may  at any time designate  additional Paying Agents  or
rescind  the designation of any  Paying Agent or approve  a change in the office
through which any Paying Agent acts, except that, if Debt Securities of a series
are issuable solely as  Registered Securities, the Company  will be required  to
maintain  a Paying Agent in  each Place of Payment for  such series and, if Debt
Securities of a series  are issuable as Bearer  Securities, the Company will  be
required to maintain (i) a Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New  York for payments with  respect to any Registered  Securities of the series
(and for  payments  with respect  to  Bearer Securities  of  the series  in  the
circumstances  described above, but not otherwise), and (ii) a Paying Agent in a
Place of Payment located outside the United States where Debt Securities of such
series and any coupons appertaining thereto may be presented and surrendered for
payment; provided that if the Debt Securities  of such series are listed on  The
Stock  Exchange  of  the United  Kingdom  and  the Republic  of  Ireland  or the
Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United
States and such  stock exchange shall  so require, the  Company will maintain  a
Paying  Agent in London or Luxembourg or any other required city located outside
the United States, as the case may  be, for the Debt Securities of such  series.
(Section 10.2)
 
    Payments  of  principal  of, premium,  if  any, and  interest  on Book-Entry
Securities registered in the name of any Depository or its nominee will be  made
to the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of
the global security representing such Book-Entry Securities. The Company expects
that  the  Depository, upon  receipt  of any  payment  of principal,  premium or
interest, will  credit  immediately  participants'  accounts  with  payments  in
amounts  proportionate to their respective beneficial  interests as shown on the
records of such Depository or its nominee. Neither the Company, the Trustee, any
Paying Agent nor the Securities Registrar for such Debt Securities will have any
responsibility or  liability for  any aspects  of the  records relating  to,  or
payments  made  on  account  of,  such  beneficial  ownership  interests  in the
Book-Entry Securities or for maintaining,  supervising or reviewing any  records
relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
    All  moneys  paid  by the  Company  to a  Paying  Agent for  the  payment of
principal of, premium, if any, or  interest on any Debt Securities which  remain
unclaimed  at the  end of  two years after  such principal,  premium or interest
shall have become due and payable will  be repaid to the Company and the  Holder
of such Debt Security or any coupon will thereafter look only to the Company for
payment thereof. (Section 10.3)
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
GLOBAL AND BOOK-ENTRY DEBT SECURITIES
 
    If  so specified in an applicable  Prospectus Supplement, the portion of the
Debt Securities  of  a series  which  are  issuable as  Bearer  Securities  will
initially  be  represented by  one or  more temporary  or permanent  global Debt
Securities, without interest coupons, to  be deposited with a common  depositary
in  London for the Euro-clear System ("Euro-clear") and CEDEL S.A. ("CEDEL") for
credit to the designated accounts.  Unless otherwise indicated by an  applicable
Prospectus  Supplement, on  or after 40  days following its  issuance, each such
temporary global  Debt  Security  will be  exchangeable  for  definitive  Bearer
Securities,  definitive Registered Securities or all or a portion of a permanent
global Debt Security, or any combination thereof, as specified in an  applicable
Prospectus  Supplement, only upon  written certification in the  form and to the
effect described under  "Form, Exchange, Registration  and Transfer." No  Bearer
Security  (including  a Debt  Security in  permanent  global form)  delivered in
exchange for a portion of a temporary or permanent global Debt Security shall be
mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States in connection
with such exchange. (Sections 3.4 and 3.5)
 
    A Person having a  beneficial interest in a  permanent global Debt  Security
will,  except with  respect to  payment of  principal of,  premium, if  any, and
interest on such permanent global Debt Security, be treated as a Holder of  such
principal  amount of Outstanding  Debt Securities represented  by such permanent
global Debt Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the  Holder
of  such permanent global  Debt Security or,  in the case  of a permanent global
Debt Security in bearer form,  of the operator of  Euro-clear or CEDEL which  is
provided to the Trustee by such Person. (Section 2.3)
 
    If  Debt Securities to  be sold in  the United States  are designated by the
Company in a Prospectus Supplement  as Book-Entry Securities, a global  security
representing  the Book-Entry Securities will be deposited  in the name of Cede &
Co., as nominee for the Depository  representing the Debt Securities to be  sold
in  the  United States.  Upon  such deposit  of  the Book-Entry  Securities, the
Depository shall credit an account maintained or designated by an institution to
be named by the Company or any  purchaser of the Debt Securities represented  by
the  Book-Entry Securities with an aggregate  amount of Debt Securities equal to
the total number of  Debt Securities that have  been so purchased. The  specific
terms  of any depository arrangement with respect  to any portion of a series of
Debt Securities  to be  represented by  one or  more global  securities will  be
described  in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Beneficial interests in such
Debt Securities will only  be evidenced by, and  transfers thereof will only  be
effected through, records maintained by the Depository and the institutions that
are Depository participants.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
    The  Company  will  covenant  that  it will  not,  nor  will  it  permit any
Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined), to issue, assume or guarantee any debt  for
money  borrowed ("Debt") if such Debt is secured by a mortgage, pledge, security
interest or lien (a "mortgage" or "mortgages") upon any Forestlands or Principal
Manufacturing  Facility  (as  hereinafter  defined),  now  owned  or   hereafter
acquired,  without in any  such case effectively providing  that the Senior Debt
Securities shall be secured  equally and ratably with  (or prior to) such  Debt,
except  that the foregoing restrictions shall not  apply to (a) mortgages on any
property acquired,  constructed or  improved by  the Company  or any  Subsidiary
after April 1, 1994 which are created within 180 days after such acquisition (or
in  the  case of  property  constructed or  improved,  after the  completion and
commencement of commercial operation  of such property,  whichever is later)  to
secure  or provide  for the payment  of the  purchase price or  cost thereof, or
existing mortgages on property acquired, provided such mortgages shall not apply
to any property theretofore  owned by the Company  or any Subsidiary other  than
theretofore  unimproved real  property, (b)  mortgages on  any property acquired
from a corporation which is merged with  or into the Company or a Subsidiary  or
mortgages  outstanding at  the time  any corporation  becomes a  Subsidiary, (c)
mortgages in  favor of  the Company  or any  Subsidiary, or  (d) any  extension,
renewal  or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), in
whole or in part, of any mortgage referred to in the foregoing clauses (a),  (b)
or   (c);  and   except  that  the   following  types   of  transactions,  among
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
others, shall not be deemed to create Debt secured by a mortgage: (x) the  sale,
mortgage  or other  transfer of timber  in connection with  an arrangement under
which the Company or a Subsidiary is  obligated to cut such timber or a  portion
thereof  in order  to provide  the transferee with  a specified  amount of money
however determined and  (y) mortgages  in favor  of governmental  bodies of  the
United  States to  secure advance,  progress or  other payments  pursuant to any
contract or statute or to secure  indebtedness incurred to finance the  purchase
price  or  cost  of  constructing  or improving  the  property  subject  to such
mortgages. (Section 10.7 of Senior Indenture)
 
    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company  and any Subsidiary may,  without
securing  the Senior  Debt Securities, issue,  assume or  guarantee secured Debt
(which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions) in an aggregate
amount which, together with  all other such Debt  and the Attributable Debt  (as
hereinafter  defined)  in  respect  of  Sale  and  Lease-Back  Transactions  (as
hereinafter defined) of the Company and  its Subsidiaries existing at such  time
(other  than Sale  or Lease-Back  Transactions the  proceeds of  which have been
applied to the retirement of Funded Debt (as hereinafter defined)), does not  at
the  time  exceed  10%  of  the  net tangible  assets  of  the  Company  and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of the latest fiscal year. (Section 10.7 of  Senior
Indenture)  "Net tangible assets"  is defined as the  aggregate amount of assets
(less applicable reserves and other  properly deductible items) after  deducting
therefrom  (a)  all  current  liabilities  and  (b)  all  goodwill,  tradenames,
trademarks, patents,  unamortized  debt  discount and  expense  (to  the  extent
included  in said aggregate amount of assets) and other like intangibles, all as
set forth on the most recent consolidated  balance sheet of the Company and  its
consolidated  Subsidiaries and  computed in  accordance with  generally accepted
accounting principles.
 
    The Company will not, nor will it  permit any Subsidiary to, enter into  any
arrangement  with  any person  providing for  the  leasing to  the Company  or a
Subsidiary of any  Forestlands or any  Principal Manufacturing Facility  (except
for  temporary leases for a  term of not more  than three years), which property
has been owned and,  in the case of  any such Principal Manufacturing  Facility,
has  been placed in  commercial operation more  than 180 days  by the Company or
such Subsidiary and has been or is said to be sold or transferred by the Company
or such Subsidiary to such person (herein referred to as a "Sale and  Lease-Back
Transaction"),  unless  either  (a)  the Company  or  such  Subsidiary  would be
entitled to incur Debt secured by a mortgage on the property to be leased in  an
amount  equal to the Attributable Debt with  respect to such Sale and Lease-Back
Transaction without equally and ratably  securing the Senior Debt Securities  or
(b)  the Company shall, and  in any such case the  Company will covenant that it
will, apply an amount  equal to the  fair value (as determined  by its Board  of
Directors)  of the property so leased to  the retirement, within 180 days of the
effective date of any such Sale  and Lease-Back Transaction, of Debt  Securities
or  of Funded Debt of the  Company which ranks on a  parity with the Senior Debt
Securities. (Section 10.8 of Senior Indenture)
 
    The term "Forestlands" shall mean at any time property in the United  States
which  contains standing timber which  is, or upon completion  of a growth cycle
then in  process  is  expected  to  become, of  a  commercial  quantity  and  of
merchantable  quality, excluding from the  term "Forestlands," however, any land
which at  the time  is  held by,  or  has been  or is  after  the date  of  this
Prospectus  transferred to, a Subsidiary  primarily for development and/or sale,
and not primarily  for the production  of any lumber  or other timber  products.
(Section 1.1 of Senior Indenture)
 
    The term "Principal Manufacturing Facility" shall mean any paperboard, paper
or  pulp mill  or any paper  converting plant  of the Company  or any Subsidiary
which is located within the United States  other than any such mill or plant  or
portion  thereof  (i) which  is financed  by  obligations issued  by a  State, a
Territory, or a possession of the United States, or any political subdivision of
any of the  foregoing, or the  District of  Columbia, the interest  on which  is
excludable  from gross income of the  holders thereof pursuant to the provisions
of Section  103(a)  of the  Internal  Revenue Code  (or  any successor  to  such
provision)  as in effect  at the time  of issuance of  such obligations, or (ii)
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
Subsidiaries as an entirety. (Section 1.1 of Senior Indenture)
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    The term  "Subsidiary"  shall mean  any  corporation  of which  at  least  a
majority  of the outstanding  stock having by the  terms thereof ordinary voting
power to  elect  a  majority of  the  Board  of Directors  of  such  corporation
(irrespective  of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes
of such corporation  shall have  or might  have voting  power by  reason of  the
happening  of any contingency)  is at the  time directly or  indirectly owned or
controlled by the Company, or by any one or more Subsidiaries, or by the Company
and one or more Subsidiaries. (Section 1.1 of Senior Indenture)
 
    The term "Attributable Debt" shall mean,  at the time of determination,  the
present  value (discounted at the  interest rate, compounded semiannually, equal
to the weighted  average Yield to  Maturity of the  Senior Debt Securities  then
Outstanding,  such average being weighted by  the principal amount of the Senior
Debt Securities  of each  series or,  in  the case  of Original  Issue  Discount
Securities,  such  amount to  be  determined as  provided  in the  definition of
"Outstanding" in the  Senior Indenture) of  the obligation of  a lessee for  net
rental payments during the remaining term of any lease (including any period for
which  such lease has been extended) entered  into in connection with a sale and
leaseback transaction. (Section 1.1 of Senior Indenture)
 
    The term "Funded Debt" shall mean Debt which by its terms matures at, or  is
extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to, a date more than twelve
months  after the  date of  the creation  of such  Debt. (Section  1.1 of Senior
Indenture)
 
SUBORDINATION OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
 
    Unless otherwise  indicated  in  the Prospectus  Supplement,  the  following
provisions will apply to the Subordinated Debt Securities.
 
    The  Subordinated  Debt Securities  will,  to the  extent  set forth  in the
Subordinated Indenture, be subordinate in right of payment to the prior  payment
in  full of all Senior Indebtedness. Upon  any payment or distribution of assets
to creditors  upon any  liquidation,  dissolution, winding  up,  reorganization,
assignment   for  the  benefit  of  creditors,  marshalling  of  assets  or  any
bankruptcy, insolvency, debt restructuring or similar proceedings in  connection
with  any insolvency  or bankruptcy  proceeding of  the Company,  the Holders of
Senior Indebtedness  will  first be  entitled  to  receive payment  in  full  of
principal  of,  and  premium, if  any,  and  interest, if  any,  on  such Senior
Indebtedness before  the Holders  of the  Subordinated Debt  Securities will  be
entitled  to receive or retain  any payment in respect  of the principal of, and
premium, if  any, or  interest, if  any, on  the Subordinated  Debt  Securities.
(Section 16.2 of Subordinated Indenture)
 
    By  reason of such subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency,
creditors of  the Company  may recover  less, ratably,  than Holders  of  Senior
Indebtedness and may recover more, ratably, than the Holders of the Subordinated
Debt Securities.
 
    In  the event of the  acceleration of the maturity  of any Subordinated Debt
Securities, the Holders of  all Senior Indebtedness outstanding  at the time  of
such  acceleration will  first be  entitled to  receive payment  in full  of all
amounts due thereon before the Holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities  will
be entitled to receive any payment upon the principal of (or premium, if any) or
interest,  if  any,  on  the  Subordinated  Debt  Securities.  (Section  16.3 of
Subordinated Indenture)
 
    No payments on  account of principal,  or premium, if  any, or interest,  if
any,  in respect of the Subordinated Debt  Securities may be made if there shall
have occurred and be continuing a default in any payment with respect to  Senior
Indebtedness,  or an  event of default  with respect to  any Senior Indebtedness
resulting in  the acceleration  of  the maturity  thereof,  or if  any  judicial
proceeding  shall be pending with respect to  any such default. (Section 16.4 of
Subordinated Indenture)  For  purposes  of  the  subordination  provisions,  the
payment, issuance and delivery of cash, property or securities (other than stock
and  certain  subordinated  securities  of the  Company)  upon  conversion  of a
Subordinated Debt Security will  be deemed to constitute  payment on account  of
the principal of such Subordinated Debt Security.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
    The  Subordinated Indenture  does not  limit or  prohibit the  incurrence of
additional Senior Indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that is senior to
the Subordinated Debt Securities,  but subordinate to  other obligations of  the
Company.  The Senior  Debt Securities  constitute Senior  Indebtedness under the
Subordinated Indenture.
 
    "Senior  Indebtedness"  is  defined  to  include  all  amounts  due  on  and
obligations  in connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the
date of  execution  of the  Subordinated  Indenture or  thereafter  incurred  or
created:  (a)  indebtedness, obligations  and  other liabilities  (contingent or
otherwise) of the Company for money borrowed, or evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes  or  similar   instruments;  (b)  reimbursement   obligations  and   other
liabilities  (contingent or otherwise) of the Company with respect to letters of
credit, bankers'  acceptances issued  for the  account of  the Company  or  with
respect  to interest rate protection agreements or currency exchange or purchase
agreements; (c) obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) in respect
of leases by the Company as lessee which, in conformity with generally  accepted
accounting principles, are accounted for as capitalized lease obligations on the
balance  sheet of the Company; (d) all  direct or indirect guarantees or similar
agreements  in  respect  of,  and  obligations  or  liabilities  (contingent  or
otherwise)  to purchase or  otherwise acquire or otherwise  to assure a creditor
against loss  of  the  Company  in  respect  of,  indebtedness,  obligations  or
liabilities  of another  Person described  in clauses  (a) through  (c); (e) any
indebtedness described  in clauses  (a)  through (d)  secured by  any  mortgage,
pledge, lien or other encumbrance existing on property which is owned or held by
the  Company, regardless of whether the  indebtedness secured thereby shall have
been assumed by the Company; and (f) any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions
and  refundings  of,  or  amendments,  modifications  or  supplements  to,   any
indebtedness,  obligation  or liability  of the  kind  described in  clauses (a)
through (e); unless in  any case in the  instrument creating or evidencing  such
indebtedness,  obligation, liability,  guaranty, assumption,  deferral, renewal,
extension or  refunding,  it is  provided  that such  indebtedness,  obligation,
liability,  guaranty,  assumption,  deferral,  renewal,  extension  or refunding
involved is not senior in right  of payment to the Subordinated Debt  Securities
or  that such indebtedness is PARI PASSU with or junior to the Subordinated Debt
Securities. (Section 1.1 of Subordinated Indenture)
 
    The Prospectus  Supplement  may further  describe  the provisions,  if  any,
applicable  to  the  subordination  of the  Subordinated  Debt  Securities  of a
particular series.
 
CONVERSION RIGHTS
 
    The terms on  which Debt Securities  of any series  are convertible into  or
exchangeable  for Common Stock  or other securities  of the Company  will be set
forth in the  Prospectus Supplement  relating thereto. Such  terms will  include
provisions  as to whether conversion or exchange  is mandatory, at the option of
the Holder or at the option of the Company, and may include provisions  pursuant
to which the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company
to be received by the Holders of Debt Securities would be subject to adjustment.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
    Any  one of the following  events will constitute an  Event of Default under
the applicable Indenture  with respect  to Debt  Securities of  any series:  (a)
failure  to  pay any  interest on  any Debt  Security of  that series  when due,
continued for 30 days (in the case of the Subordinated Indenture, whether or not
such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions); (b) failure to  pay
principal  of or premium, if  any, on any Debt Security  of that series when due
(in the  case of  the Subordinated  Indenture, whether  or not  such payment  is
prohibited  by the subordination provisions); (c) failure to deposit any sinking
fund payment, when due, in respect of  any Debt Security of that series (in  the
case of the Subordinated Indenture, whether or not such deposit is prohibited by
the  subordination provisions); (d) failure to perform any other covenant of the
Company in the applicable Indenture or such Debt Security (other than a covenant
included in the applicable Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of  Debt
Securities  other than that series), continued  for 60 days after written notice
has
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
been given  as provided  in  the applicable  Indenture;  (e) certain  events  in
bankruptcy,  insolvency  or reorganization  involving the  Company; and  (f) any
other Event of  Default provided  with respect to  the Debt  Securities of  that
series. (Section 5.1)
 
    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 by notice as provided in the applicable Indenture may declare the
principal amount of the Debt Securities of  that series (or, in the case of  any
Debt  Security  that is  an Original  Issue Discount  Security or  the principal
amount of which is not then  determinable, such portion of the principal  amount
of such Debt Security, or such other amount in lieu of such principal amount, as
may  be specified  in the  terms of such  Debt Security)  to be  due and payable
immediately. At any  time after a  declaration of acceleration  with respect  to
Debt Securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for
payment  of money has been obtained by the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount  of the  Outstanding Debt Securities  of that  series
may,  under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration. (Section
5.2)
 
    The Indentures will provide that, subject to the duty of the Trustee  during
default  to act with the required standard of care, the Trustee will be under no
obligation to  exercise  any  of  its rights  or  powers  under  the  applicable
Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders
shall  have offered  to the  Trustee reasonable  indemnity. (Sections  6.1, 6.3)
Subject to such provisions for the  indemnification of the Trustee, the  Holders
of  a majority in aggregate 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. (Section 5.12)
 
    The Company will be required to furnish to the applicable Trustee annually a
statement  as  to  the  performance  of certain  of  its  obligations  under the
applicable Indenture and as to any default in such performance. (Section 10.9)
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
DEFEASANCE
 
    If  so specified with  respect to any particular  series of Debt Securities,
the Company may discharge its indebtedness and its obligations or certain of its
obligations under  the  applicable Indenture  with  respect to  such  series  by
depositing  funds or  obligations issued or  guaranteed by the  United States of
America with the applicable Trustee.
 
    DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE
 
    The Indentures will provide that, if  so specified with respect to the  Debt
Securities  of  any series,  the Company  will  be discharged  from any  and all
obligations in respect of the Debt Securities of such series (including, in  the
case  of Subordinated  Debt Securities,  the subordination  provisions described
under "Subordination  of Subordinated  Debt Securities"  herein and  except  for
certain  obligations relating to temporary Debt  Securities and exchange of Debt
Securities, registration  of transfer  or exchange  of Debt  Securities of  such
series, replacement of stolen, lost or mutilated Debt Securities of such series,
maintenance  of paying agencies, to hold monies for payment in trust and payment
of additional  amounts,  if  any,  required  in  consequence  of  United  States
withholding  taxes imposed  on payments to  non-United States  persons) upon the
deposit with the applicable Trustee, in  trust, of money and/or U.S.  Government
Obligations  which  through the  payment of  interest  and principal  in respect
thereof in  accordance  with  their  terms  will  provide  money  in  an  amount
sufficient  to pay the  principal of (and  premium, if any),  each instalment of
interest on,  and any  sinking fund  payments on,  the Debt  Securities of  such
series  on the Stated Maturity of such  payments in accordance with the terms of
the applicable Indenture and  the Debt Securities of  such series. Such a  trust
may only be established if, among other things, (a) the Company has delivered to
the  applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company
has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue  Service
a  ruling, or (ii) since  the date of the applicable  Indenture there has been a
change in applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect  that,
and  based thereon such  Opinion of Counsel  shall confirm that,  the Holders of
Debt Securities  of such  series will  not recognize  income, gain  or loss  for
federal  income  tax  purposes  as  a result  of  such  deposit,  defeasance and
discharge, and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and  in
the  same manner  and at  the same  times as  would have  been the  case if such
deposit, defeasance and discharge had not  occurred; (b) the Debt Securities  of
such series, if then listed on any domestic or foreign securities exchange, will
not  be delisted as a result of  such deposit, defeasance and discharge; and (c)
in the case of the Subordinated Debt  Securities, (x) no default in the  payment
of  principal of, or premium, if any, or any interest on any Senior Indebtedness
beyond any applicable grace period shall have occurred and be continuing, or (y)
no other default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness shall have occurred and
be continuing  and  shall have  resulted  in  the acceleration  of  such  Senior
Indebtedness. (Section 4.3) In the event of any such defeasance and discharge of
Debt  Securities of such series, Holders of Debt Securities of such series would
be able to  look only to  such trust fund  for payment of  principal of and  any
premium and any interest on their Debt Securities until Maturity.
 
    DEFEASANCE OF CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS
 
    The  Senior Indenture will provide that, if so specified with respect to the
Senior Debt Securities of any  series, the Company may  omit to comply with  the
restrictive  covenants described under "Certain  Covenants of the Company" above
and any other  covenants applicable  to such  Senior Debt  Securities which  are
subject  to covenant defeasance and  any such omission shall  not be an Event of
Default with respect  to the Debt  Securities of such  series, upon the  deposit
with  the Trustee, in trust, of money  and/ or U.S. Government Obligations which
through the payment of interest and  principal in respect thereof in  accordance
with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal
of  (and premium, if any),  each instalment of interest  on and any sinking fund
payments on the Senior Debt Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity  of
such  payments in  accordance with  the terms  of the  Senior Indenture  and the
Senior Debt Securities of such series. The obligations of the Company under  the
Senior  Indenture and the Senior Debt Securities  of such series other than with
respect to such covenant shall remain in full force and effect. Such a trust may
be established only  if, among other  things, the Company  has delivered to  the
Trustee    an   Opinion    of   Counsel   to    the   effect    that   (i)   the
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
Holders of the Senior Debt Securities of such series will not recognize  income,
gain  or loss for  federal income tax purposes  as a result  of such deposit and
defeasance of certain obligations and will  be subject to federal income tax  on
the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been
the  case if such  deposit and defeasance  has not occurred  and (ii) the Senior
Debt Securities  of such  series, if  then  listed on  any domestic  or  foreign
securities  exchange,  will not  be delisted  as  a result  of such  deposit and
defeasance. (Section 10.11 of Senior Indenture)
 
    In the event the  Company exercises its option  to omit compliance with  the
covenants  described under "Certain Covenants of the Company" above with respect
to the Senior Debt Securities  of any series as  described above and the  Senior
Debt  Securities of  such series  are declared  due and  payable because  of the
occurrence of any Event of Default, then the amount of money and U.S. Government
Obligations on deposit with the Trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on
the Senior Debt Securities of such series  at the time of their Stated  Maturity
but  may not be sufficient  to pay amounts due on  the Senior Debt Securities of
such series at  the time of  the acceleration resulting  from such Default.  The
Company  shall in any event  remain liable for such  payments as provided in the
Senior Indenture.
 
MEETINGS, MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
 
    Modifications and amendments of  the Indentures may be  made by the  Company
and  the Trustee  under the  applicable Indenture only  with the  consent of the
Holders of not less than 66  2/3% aggregate principal amount of the  Outstanding
Debt  Securities  issued under  the applicable  Indenture  and affected  by such
modification  or  amendment  unless  a  greater  percentage  of  such  aggregate
principal amount is specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement; provided,
however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of each
Holder of such Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby, (a) change the Stated
Maturity  of the principal of, or any instalment of principal of or interest on,
any such Debt Security, (b)  reduce the principal amount  of, or any premium  or
interest on, any such Debt Security, (c) change any obligation of the Company to
pay  additional amounts, (d) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue
Discount Security or any  other Debt Security payable  upon acceleration of  the
maturity  thereof, (e) change the coin or currency in which any Debt Security or
any premium or interest  thereon is payable, (f)  impair the right to  institute
suit  for the  enforcement of any  payment on or  with respect to  any such Debt
Security, (g)  adversely change  the  right to  convert or  exchange,  including
decreasing  the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, such Debt
Security (if applicable), (h) in the case of the Subordinated Indenture,  modify
the  subordination  provisions  in  a  manner  adverse  to  the  Holders  of the
Subordinated Debt Securities, (i) 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 applicable Indenture or for waiver
of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable Indenture or for  waiver
of  certain defaults,  (j) reduce the  requirements contained  in the applicable
Indenture for quorum  or voting, (k)  change any obligations  of the Company  to
maintain  an office or agency in the places and for the purposes required by the
Indentures, or (l) modify any of the above provisions. (Section 9.2)
 
    The Holders  of  at least  66  2/3% in  aggregate  principal amount  of  the
Outstanding  Debt Securities of each series may, on behalf of the Holders of all
the Debt Securities of that series, waive, insofar as that series is  concerned,
compliance  by the Company with certain restrictive provisions of the applicable
Indenture and, if applicable, such Debt Securities, unless a greater  percentage
of  such aggregate  principal amount is  specified in  the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. (Section 10.10) The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount  of the  Outstanding Debt  Securities of  each series  may,  on
behalf  of  all  Holders of  Debt  Securities  of that  series  and  any coupons
pertaining thereto,  waive  any past  default  under the  applicable  Indenture,
except  a default (a) in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or any
interest on any Debt Security of such  series, and (b) in respect of a  covenant
or  provision  of  the  applicable  Indenture  and,  if  applicable,  such  Debt
Securities which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder
of each Outstanding Debt Security of such series affected. (Section 5.13)
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
    The applicable  Indenture  will  provide that  in  determining  whether  the
Holders  of the  requisite principal amount  of the  Outstanding Debt Securities
have given any  request, demand,  authorization, direction,  notice, consent  or
waiver  thereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders of Debt Securities for
quorum purposes, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security
that shall be  deemed to be  Outstanding shall  be the amount  of the  principal
thereof  that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon
acceleration of the Maturity  thereof, and (ii) the  principal amount of a  Debt
Security  denominated in a foreign currency or  currency units shall be the U.S.
dollar equivalent, determined  on the  date of  original issuance  of such  Debt
Security,  of the principal amount  of such Debt Security or,  in the case of an
Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined on  the
date  of original issuance  of such Debt  Security, of the  amount determined as
provided in (i) above. (Section 1.1)
 
    The applicable Indenture will contain  provisions for convening meetings  of
the Holders of Debt Securities of a series if Debt Securities of that series are
issuable  as Bearer Securities.  (Section 13.1) A  meeting may be  called at any
time by the Trustee, and also, upon request, by the Company or the Holders of at
least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series,
in any such case upon notice given in accordance with "Notices" below.  (Section
13.2)  Except  for  any  consent which  must  be  given by  the  Holder  of each
Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby,  as described above, any  resolution
presented  at a meeting or adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present may be
adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the  Outstanding Debt  Securities of  that series;  provided, however,  that,
except  for any consent  which must be  given by the  Holder of each Outstanding
Debt Security affected thereby, as described above, any resolution with  respect
to  any consent or  waiver which may  be given by  the Holders of  not less than
66 2/3% in principal amount of the  Outstanding Debt Securities of a series  may
be  adopted at a  meeting or an adjourned  meeting at which  a quorum is present
only by the affirmative vote of 66  2/3% in principal amount of the  Outstanding
Debt  Securities of  that series;  and provided,  further, that,  except for any
consent which must  be given  by the Holder  of each  Outstanding Debt  Security
affected  thereby,  as  described  above, any  resolution  with  respect  to any
request, demand,  authorization, direction,  notice,  consent, waiver  or  other
action  which  may  be  made, given  or  taken  by the  Holders  of  a specified
percentage,  which  is  less  than  a  majority,  in  principal  amount  of  the
Outstanding Debt Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned
meeting  duly reconvened at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of
the Holders  of  such  specified  percentage in  the  principal  amount  of  the
Outstanding  Debt Securities of  that series. Any  resolution passed or decision
taken at any meeting of  Holders of Debt Securities of  any series duly held  in
accordance  with the applicable Indenture will be binding on all Holders of Debt
Securities of that  series and the  related coupons. The  quorum at any  meeting
called  to adopt a  resolution, and at  any reconvened meeting,  will be persons
holding or representing a majority in  principal amount of the Outstanding  Debt
Securities  of a series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at
such meeting with  respect to  a consent  or waiver which  may be  given by  the
Holders  of not less  than 66 2/3%  in principal amount  of the Outstanding Debt
Securities of a series, the persons holding or representing 66 2/3% in principal
amount of  the Outstanding  Debt Securities  of such  series will  constitute  a
quorum. (Section 13.4)
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS
 
    The  Company, without the consent  of the Holders of  any of the Outstanding
Debt Securities under the applicable Indenture, may consolidate or merge with or
into, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of its assets substantially  as
an  entirety  to,  any  Person  which is  a  corporation,  partnership  or trust
organized and validly existing under the  laws of any domestic jurisdiction,  or
may  permit any such Person to consolidate or  merge with or into the Company or
sell, lease, transfer  or otherwise dispose  of its assets  substantially as  an
entirety  to  the  Company,  provided  that  any  successor  Person  assumes the
Company's obligations on the Debt Securities and under the applicable Indenture,
that after giving effect to  the transaction no Event  of Default, and no  event
which,  after notice or lapse  of time, would become  an Event of Default, shall
have occurred and  be continuing,  and that  certain other  conditions are  met.
(Section 8.1)
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS UPON CHANGE IN CONTROL
 
    In  the  event of  any Change  in  Control (as  hereinafter defined)  of the
Company, prior to maturity of the Debt Securities, that has not been approved by
the  Continuing  Directors  (as  hereinafter  defined)  of  the  Company,   Debt
Securities  may be submitted for  redemption, on and after  the Exchange Date in
the case of Debt Securities  of any series issuable  as Bearer Securities or  at
any time in the case of all other Debt Securities, at the option of the Holders,
unless,  prior to the expiration  of ten days following  such Change in Control,
the Company, if  permitted to do  so by the  terms of the  Debt Securities of  a
series,  shall  have  called all  of  the  Debt Securities  of  such  series for
redemption. Bearer Securities may  be so redeemed only  in whole and  Registered
Securities  in whole or in part in  increments of $1,000. Any Debt Securities to
be so  submitted must  be  submitted during  a  period (the  "Exercise  Period")
commencing  on the date  of the Company's  notice described below  to Holders of
such Change in Control and expiring on  the 20th business day after such  notice
is given.
 
    Debt  Securities submitted for  redemption will be  redeemed on a Redemption
Date that will be  the 15th day  after expiration of the  Exercise Period, at  a
redemption  price of  100% of  the principal amount  of the  Debt Security, plus
accrued interest to the Redemption Date.  Exercise of this redemption option  by
the Holder of a Debt Security will be irrevocable.
 
    On  or  before the  tenth  day after  a Change  in  Control, the  Company is
obligated, unless the Continuing Directors have approved such Change in  Control
prior  to such  date, to  give notice  to Holders  as set  forth under "Notices"
below, and written notice to the  Trustee, regarding the Change in Control,  the
date  of expiration of the Exercise  Period, the applicable Redemption Date, the
redemption price and the procedure which the Holder must follow to exercise this
option. To  exercise this  option, the  Holder  must deliver  on or  before  the
expiration  of the Exercise Period to one of the Paying Agents referred to below
written notice of the Holder's exercise  of such option, together with the  Debt
Securities  with respect to  which the option is  being exercised, duly endorsed
(in the  case  of Registered  Securities)  for transfer.  Each  Bearer  Security
delivered  for redemption must be delivered  with all coupons maturing after the
Redemption Date. If the  Redemption Date falls between  any Regular Record  Date
and  the next succeeding Payment Date, Registered Securities must be accompanied
by payment  of an  amount equal  to the  interest thereon  which the  registered
Holder is to receive on such Interest Payment Date.
 
    As used herein, a "Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to have
occurred  at such time or times as (a) the Company determines that any person or
related group of persons is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 20%
or more of the  outstanding Common Stock or  (b) individuals who constitute  the
Continuing  Directors cease for any reason to  constitute at least a majority of
the Company's  directors. "Continuing  Director"  means any  director who  is  a
director  on the date hereof  and any director who is  nominated or elected by a
majority of Continuing Directors who are then directors.
 
    The Company could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including
certain recapitalizations or leveraged transactions  of the Company, that  would
not  constitute a Change in Control or  would constitute a Change of Control but
would not trigger the Change of Control purchase feature of the Debt  Securities
if  approved by the  Continuing Directors and  would increase the  amount of the
Company's indebtedness outstanding at such  time. However, the Senior  Indenture
contains  covenants  of the  Company limiting  its ability  to mortgage  or sell
Principal Manufacturing Facilities or Forestlands.  If a Change in Control  were
to occur, there can be no assurance that the Company would have sufficient funds
to  pay the Change in Control purchase price for all Debt Securities tendered by
the Holders  thereof.  In  addition,  the Company's  ability  to  purchase  Debt
Securities  with cash may be limited by the terms of its then-existing borrowing
agreements. A default  by the Company  on its  obligation to pay  the Change  in
Control  purchase price or a breach of its  covenant would result in an Event of
Default and could result in acceleration  of the maturity of other  indebtedness
of the Company at the time outstanding pursuant to cross-default provisions. The
Company  will comply with the provisions of Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other
tender offer rules under the Exchange Act
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
which may  then be  applicable  and will  file a  Schedule  13E-4 or  any  other
schedule required thereunder and will otherwise comply with all federal or state
securities  laws, as  required, in  connection with  any of  the Debt Securities
providing for redemption at the option of Holders.
 
NOTICES
 
    Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Indenture, notices to Holders
of Bearer Securities  will be given  by publication  at least twice  in a  daily
newspaper  in The City of  New York and in  such other city or  cities as may be
specified in such Debt Securities.  Notices to Holders of Registered  Securities
will  be given  by mail to  the address  of such Holders  as they  appear in the
Security Register. (Sections 1.1, 1.6)
 
TITLE
 
    Title  to  any  temporary  global  Debt  Security,  any  Bearer   Securities
(including   Bearer  Securities  in  permanent  global  form)  and  any  coupons
appertaining thereto will  pass by delivery.  The Company, the  Trustee and  any
agent  of the Company or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security
and the bearer of any coupon and the registered owner of any Registered Security
as the absolute owner thereof (whether or not such Debt Security or coupon shall
be overdue and notwithstanding  any notice to the  contrary) for the purpose  of
making payment and for all other purposes. (Section 3.8)
 
REPLACEMENT OF DEBT SECURITIES AND COUPONS
 
    Any  mutilated  Debt Security  or a  Debt Security  with a  mutilated coupon
appertaining thereto  will be  replaced by  the Company  at the  expense of  the
Holder  upon surrender of such Debt Security  to the Trustee. Debt Securities or
coupons that became destroyed, stolen or lost will be replaced by the Company at
the expense of the Holder upon delivery of the Trustee of the Debt Security  and
coupons  or evidence of  the destruction, loss or  theft thereof satisfactory to
the Company and the Trustee; in the case of any coupon which becomes  destroyed,
stolen  or lost, such coupon will be replaced by issuance of a new Debt Security
in exchange for the Debt Security to  which such coupon appertains. In the  case
of   a  destroyed,  lost  or  stolen  Debt  Security  or  coupon,  an  indemnity
satisfactory to the Trustee and  the Company may be  required at the expense  of
the  Holder of such Debt  Security or coupon before  a replacement Debt Security
will be issued. (Section 3.6)
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
    The Indentures, the Debt Securities and the coupons will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of  the State of New York without  regard
to principles of conflicts of laws. (Section 1.13)
 
REGARDING THE TRUSTEE
 
    The  Indentures  contain  limitations on  the  right  of the  Trustee,  as a
creditor of the  Company, to obtain  payment of  claims in certain  cases or  to
realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or
otherwise. In addition, the Trustee may be deemed to have a conflicting interest
and  may be required to resign as Trustee if  at the time of a default under one
of the Indentures it  is a creditor  of the Company.  The Chase Manhattan  Bank,
N.A.  also acts as trustee under various  indentures and the Company and certain
subsidiaries from  time to  time  maintain deposit  accounts and  conduct  their
banking  transactions with The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. in the ordinary course
of their business.
 
MEDIUM-TERM NOTES
 
    The Company  may  offer from  time  to  time up  to  $400,000,000  aggregate
principal  amount  of  its  medium-term  notes  (the  "Medium-Term  Notes"). The
particular terms and provisions  of the Medium-Term Notes  will be described  in
the  Prospectus Supplement relating  to such Medium-Term  Notes. The Medium-Term
Notes will be issued as a series  of Senior Debt Securities under an  Indenture,
dated  as of May 22, 1992, as  supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture,
dated as  of June  26,  1992 (the  "Medium-Term  Note Indenture"),  between  the
Company  and The Bank of  New York, as trustee. The  terms and provisions of the
Medium-Term Note Indenture are substantially
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
similar to those to be contained  in the Senior Note Indenture. The  Medium-Term
Note  Indenture is incorporated  by reference as an  exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
    The authorized  capital stock  of the  Company consists  of (i)  400,000,000
shares  of common stock,  $1.00 par value  per share (the  "Common Stock"), (ii)
400,000 shares of  cumulative $4  preferred stock,  without par  value (the  "$4
Preferred  Stock"), and (iii) 8,750,000 shares  of serial preferred stock, $1.00
par value per share (the "Preferred Stock").
 
    At March 31, 1996, there were  outstanding (a) 298,347,521 shares of  Common
Stock  (as well as the  same number of Common  Share Purchase Rights to purchase
Common Stock pursuant to  the Rights Agreement), (b)  employee stock options  to
purchase  an aggregate of  approximately 10,600,000 shares  of Common Stock, (c)
32,034 shares of $4 Preferred Stock and (d) no shares of any series of Preferred
Stock. In addition, approximately 8,333,333 shares of Common Stock were reserved
for  issuance  upon  conversion   of  the  Company's  convertible   subordinated
debentures.
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
 
    The following summary contains a description of certain general terms of the
Company's Preferred Stock to which any Prospectus Supplement may relate. Certain
terms of any series of Preferred Stock offered by any Prospectus Supplement will
be  described in the Prospectus Supplement  relating thereto. If so indicated in
the Prospectus Supplement, the terms of any series may differ from the terms set
forth below. The description  of certain provisions  of the Company's  Preferred
Stock  does not purport  to be complete and  is subject to  and qualified in its
entirety by reference to the provisions of the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (the "Restated Certificate of Incorporation"), and the Certificate
of Designation (the  "Certificate of Designation")  relating to each  particular
series  of Preferred Stock which will be  filed or incorporated by reference, as
the case may  be, as  an exhibit  to the  Registration Statement  of which  this
Prospectus  is a part at or prior to  the time of the issuance of such Preferred
Stock.
 
GENERAL
 
    Under the  Company's Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation, the  Board  of
Directors  of the Company is authorized,  without further stockholder action, to
provide for  the issuance  of up  to 8,750,000  shares of  Preferred Stock.  The
Preferred  Stock may be issued in one  or more series, with such designations of
titles; dividend rates; any redemption provisions; special or relative rights in
the event  of  liquidation,  dissolution,  distribution or  winding  up  of  the
Company;  any  sinking fund  provisions; any  conversion provisions;  any voting
rights  thereof;  and  any   other  preferences,  privileges,  powers,   rights,
qualifications,  limitations and restrictions, as shall be set forth as and when
established by the Board of Directors of  the Company. The shares of any  series
of  Preferred  Stock will  be, when  issued, fully  paid and  non-assessable and
holders thereof will have no preemptive rights in connection therewith.
 
    So  long  as  any  shares  of  $4  Preferred  Stock  are  outstanding,   the
preferences,  privileges and voting  powers, if any, of  the shares of Preferred
Stock of any series,  and the restrictions or  qualifications thereof, shall  be
subject  to the preferences, privileges and voting powers, if any, of the shares
of $4 Preferred Stock and the restrictions and qualifications thereof.
 
RANK
 
    Any series of Preferred Stock will,  with respect to rights on  liquidation,
winding  up and dissolution, rank (i) senior  to all classes of Common Stock and
to all equity securities issued by the Company, the terms of which  specifically
provide that such equity securities will rank junior to such series of Preferred
Stock  (the "Junior Liquidation  Securities"); (ii) on a  parity with all equity
securities issued by the Company, the  terms of which specifically provide  that
such equity securities will rank on a
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
parity  with such series  of Preferred Stock  ("Parity Liquidation Securities");
and (iii) junior to all  equity securities issued by  the Company, the terms  of
which  specifically provide that such equity securities will rank senior to such
series of  Preferred  Stock,  including  the $4  Preferred  Stock  (the  "Senior
Liquidation  Securities"). In addition, any series of Preferred Stock will, with
respect to dividend rights, rank (i)  senior to all equity securities issued  by
the Company, the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities
will  rank junior to such series of  Preferred Stock and, to the extent provided
in the applicable Certificate of Designation, to Common Stock, (ii) on a  parity
with   all  equity  securities  issued  by  the  Company,  the  terms  of  which
specifically provide that such equity securities will rank on a parity with such
series of  Preferred  Stock  and,  to the  extent  provided  in  the  applicable
Certificate  of Designation, to Common  Stock ("Parity Dividend Securities") and
(iii) junior to all equity securities issued by the Company, the terms of  which
specifically provide that such equity securities will rank senior to such series
of Preferred Stock, including the $4 Preferred Stock. As used in any Certificate
of Designation for these purposes, the term "equity securities" will not include
debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities.
 
DIVIDENDS
 
    Holders of each series of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when,
as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Company out of funds legally
available  therefor, cash dividends at  such rates and on  such dates as are set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating  to such series of Preferred  Stock.
Dividends will be payable to holders of record of Preferred Stock as they appear
on  the books of the  Company (or, if applicable,  the records of the Depositary
referred to below under "Description of Depositary Shares") on such record dates
as shall  be  fixed by  the  Board of  Directors.  Dividends on  any  series  of
Preferred Stock may be cumulative or non-cumulative.
 
    No full dividends may be declared or paid on funds set apart for the payment
of  dividends on any series of Preferred  Stock unless dividends shall have been
paid or set apart for  such payment on the  Parity Dividend Securities. If  full
dividends  are not so paid, such series of Preferred Stock shall share dividends
pro rata with the Parity Dividend Securities.
 
CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE
 
    The Prospectus Supplement for any series  of Preferred Stock will state  the
terms,  if any, on  which shares of  that series are  convertible into shares of
another series of Preferred  Stock or Common Stock  or exchangeable for  another
series  of Preferred Stock, Common Stock or  Debt Securities of the Company. The
Common Stock of  the Company  is described  below under  "Description of  Common
Stock."
 
REDEMPTION
 
    A  series of Preferred Stock  may be redeemable at any  time, in whole or in
part, at the option of the Company or  the holder thereof and may be subject  to
mandatory  redemption pursuant to a sinking fund  or otherwise upon terms and at
the redemption prices set  forth in the Prospectus  Supplement relating to  such
series.
 
    In the event of partial redemptions of Preferred Stock, whether by mandatory
or  optional redemption, the shares to be  redeemed will be determined by lot or
pro rata, as may be determined by the  Board of Directors of the Company, or  by
any other method determined to be equitable by the Board of Directors.
 
    On  and after a redemption date, unless  the Company defaults in the payment
of the redemption price, dividends will  cease to accrue on shares of  Preferred
Stock  called  for redemption  and all  rights  of holders  of such  shares will
terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price.
 
LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE
 
    Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up  of
the  Company, holders of each series of Preferred Stock that ranks senior to the
Junior Liquidation Securities will be entitled  to receive out of assets of  the
Company    available    for   distribution    to   shareholders,    before   any
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
distribution is  made on  any Junior  Liquidation Securities,  including  Common
Stock,  distributions upon liquidation in the amount set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such series of  Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal  to
any  accrued  and  unpaid  dividends.  If,  upon  any  voluntary  or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the amounts payable  with
respect  to the Preferred Stock  of any series and  any other Parity Liquidation
Securities are not  paid in full,  the holders  of the Preferred  Stock of  such
series  and the  Parity Liquidation  Securities will  share ratably  in any such
distribution of assets  of the  Company in  proportion to  the full  liquidation
preferences  to which each is entitled. After  payment of the full amount of the
liquidation preference to which they are entitled, the holders of such series of
Preferred Stock  will  not be  entitled  to  any further  participation  in  any
distribution of assets of the Company.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
    Except  as indicated  below or  in the  Prospectus Supplement  relating to a
particular series  of  Preferred  Stock  or  except  as  expressly  required  by
applicable  law, the holders  of shares of  Preferred Stock will  have no voting
rights.
 
PREFERRED STOCK OUTSTANDING
 
    As of March 31, 1996, the  Company had issued and outstanding 32,034  shares
without par value of $4 Preferred Stock, which is senior to the Common Stock and
the  Preferred Stock as to the payment  of dividends and distributions of assets
on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. The $4 Preferred Stock
bears a dividend of $4.00 per share per annum from the surplus or net profits of
the Company, but only when and as declared by the Board of Directors.  Dividends
on  the $4 Preferred Stock are  cumulative. Such dividends are payable quarterly
in each year on such  dates as from time  to time may be  fixed by the Board  of
Directors. Accumulation of dividends do not bear interest.
 
    If dividends in full on all outstanding shares of the $4 Preferred Stock for
all  past quarterly dividend  periods and for the  then current quarterly period
have not been paid or  declared and set apart  for payment, no dividends  (other
than  dividends payable in stock ranking junior  to the $4 Preferred Stock) will
be declared or paid or  set apart for payment on,  nor will any distribution  be
made to, any class of stock ranking junior to the $4 Preferred Stock.
 
    Holders of the $4 Preferred Stock have no general voting rights but have the
right to vote in certain specified circumstances.
 
    If  at the time  of any annual  meeting of shareholders,  dividends have not
been paid on the shares of the  $4 Preferred Stock in an aggregate amount  equal
to  four full  quarterly dividends  (whether consecutive  or not),  then at such
annual meeting, the holders of the $4 Preferred Stock will have the sole  right,
to  the exclusion of all other classes of stock, to vote for and elect one-third
(or the nearest whole  number thereto) of  the total number  of directors to  be
elected  at  the meeting  and thereafter  at  all meetings  for the  election of
directors until  all arrearages  of dividends  accumulated on  the $4  Preferred
Stock  for all preceding dividend  periods shall have been  paid or declared and
set apart for payment.  Whenever all arrearages of  dividends have been paid  or
declared  and  set  apart for  payment,  all powers  of  the holders  of  the $4
Preferred Stock to  vote for  directors will terminate,  and the  tenure of  all
Directors elected by them will automatically end.
 
    So  long  as any  shares  of the  $4  Preferred Stock  are  outstanding, the
Company, without  first  obtaining  a  majority  vote  of  the  holders  of  the
outstanding  shares  of  the  $4  Preferred  Stock,  may  not  (i)  increase the
authorized number of $4 Preferred Stock,  (ii) authorize, create or issue  stock
of  any class  ranking, as  to the  payment of  dividends or  distributions upon
dissolution, liquidation or winding up, on a parity with the $4 Preferred Stock,
or (iii) sell, lease  or otherwise dispose  of all or  substantially all of  the
assets of the Company, otherwise than by merger or consolidation.
 
    In  addition, so long as  any shares of $4  Preferred Stock are outstanding,
the Company may not,  without first obtaining  the vote of  holders of at  least
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of $4 Preferred Stock, authorize, create or
issue stock of any class ranking, as to the payment of dividends or distribution
upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up, senior to the $4 Preferred Stock.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
    The  Company's Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation provides  that for so
long as any  shares of  Preferred Stock are  outstanding, the  Company will  not
issue  any  shares  of  the  $4  Preferred  Stock  without  first  obtaining the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares
of Preferred Stock.
 
    Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company, the  holders
of  the $4 Preferred Stock will be entitled  to receive out of the net assets of
the  Company  (whether  represented  by   capital  or  surplus),  (i)  if   such
dissolution, liquidation or winding up is voluntary, cash in an amount per share
of $105, and (ii) if such dissolution, liquidation or winding up is involuntary,
cash in the amount of $100 per share. In addition, such holders will be entitled
to receive, in each case, an amount equal to all dividends accrued and unpaid on
such  share up to and including the  date fixed for distribution, whether or not
earned or declared and, in either case, before any distribution of the assets to
be distributed  is  made to  the  holders of  stock  ranking junior  to  the  $4
Preferred Stock.
 
                        DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
    The  description  set  forth  below of  certain  provisions  of  the Deposit
Agreement (as  defined  below)  and  of the  Depositary  Shares  and  Depositary
Receipts  (as defined below) does  not purport to be  complete and is subject to
and qualified in its entirety by reference to the forms of Deposit Agreement and
Deposit Receipt relating  to the Preferred  Stock, included as  exhibits to  the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
GENERAL
 
    The  Company  may,  at  its  option, elect  to  offer  fractional  shares of
Preferred Stock, rather than full shares  of Preferred Stock. In the event  such
option is exercised, the Company will issue receipts for Depositary Shares, each
of which will represent a fraction (to be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement
relating  to a particular series of Preferred  Stock) of a share of a particular
series of Preferred Stock as described below.
 
    The shares of any series of Preferred Stock represented by Depositary Shares
will be deposited under  a Deposit Agreement  (the "Deposit Agreement")  between
the  Company and  a bank  or trust  company selected  by the  Company having its
principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and  surplus
of  at least $50,000,000 (the "Depositary"). Subject to the terms of the Deposit
Agreement, each owner of a Depositary  Share will be entitled, in proportion  to
the  applicable  fraction of  a  share of  Preferred  Stock represented  by such
Depositary Share,  to all  the rights  and preferences  of the  Preferred  Stock
represented  thereby  (including  dividend, voting,  redemption,  conversion and
liquidation rights).
 
    The Depositary  Shares  will  be evidenced  by  depositary  receipts  issued
pursuant  to  the  Deposit  Agreement  (the  "Depositary  Receipts"). Depositary
Receipts will be distributed to  those persons purchasing the fractional  shares
of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the offering.
 
    Pending  the preparation  of definitive Depositary  Receipts, the Depositary
may, upon the written order of the Company or any holder of deposited  Preferred
Stock, execute and deliver temporary Depositary Receipts which are substantially
identical  to, and entitle the holders thereof  to all the rights pertaining to,
the  definitive  Depositary  Receipts.  Depositary  Receipts  will  be  prepared
thereafter without unreasonable delay, and temporary Depositary Receipts will be
exchangeable for definitive Depositary Receipts at the Company's expense.
 
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
 
    The   Depositary  will   distribute  all   cash  dividends   or  other  cash
distributions received in respect of the deposited Preferred Stock to the record
holders of Depositary Shares relating to  such Preferred Stock in proportion  to
the numbers of such Depositary Shares owned by such holders.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
    In  the event  of a  distribution other  than in  cash, the  Depositary will
distribute property received by  it to the record  holders of Depositary  Shares
entitled  thereto. If the Depositary determines that  it is not feasible to make
such distribution, it may, with the approval of the Company, sell such  property
and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.
 
REDEMPTION OF STOCK
 
    If  a series of  Preferred Stock represented  by Depositary Shares  is to be
redeemed, the Depositary Shares will be  redeemed from the proceeds received  by
the  Depositary resulting  from the  redemption, in  whole or  in part,  of such
series of Preferred Stock held by the Depositary. The Depositary Shares will  be
redeemed  by  the  Depositary at  a  price  per Depositary  Share  equal  to the
applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable in respect of  the
shares  of Preferred Stock  so redeemed. Whenever the  Company redeems shares of
Preferred Stock held  by the Depositary,  the Depositary will  redeem as of  the
same date the number of Depositary Shares representing shares of Preferred Stock
so  redeemed. If fewer  than all the  Depositary Shares are  to be redeemed, the
Depositary Shares to be redeemed  will be selected by  the Depositary by lot  or
pro  rata  or  by  any  other  equitable method  as  may  be  determined  by the
Depositary.
 
WITHDRAWAL OF STOCK
 
    Any holder  of  Depositary Shares  may,  upon surrender  of  the  Depositary
Receipts  at the  corporate trust office  of the Depositary  (unless the related
Depositary Shares  have  previously been  called  for redemption),  receive  the
number of whole shares of the related series of Preferred Stock and any money or
other  property represented by  such Depositary Receipts.  Holders of Depositary
Shares making  such withdrawals  will be  entitled to  receive whole  shares  of
Preferred  Stock on the basis set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement for
such series of Preferred  Stock, but holders of  such whole shares of  Preferred
Stock  will not thereafter be entitled to deposit such Preferred Stock under the
Deposit Agreement or to receive Depositary Receipts therefor. If the  Depositary
Shares  surrendered by the holder in  connection with such withdrawal exceed the
number of  Depositary  Shares that  represent  the  number of  whole  shares  of
Preferred  Stock to be withdrawn, the Depositary  will deliver to such holder at
the same  time  a  new  Depositary Receipt  evidencing  such  excess  number  of
Depositary Shares.
 
VOTING DEPOSITED PREFERRED STOCK
 
    Upon  receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of any series of
deposited Preferred Stock  are entitled to  vote, the Depositary  will mail  the
information  contained in such  notice of meeting  to the record  holders of the
Depositary Shares relating to such series of Preferred Stock. Each record holder
of such Depositary Shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the
record date for  the relevant  series of Preferred  Stock) will  be entitled  to
instruct  the Depositary as to  the exercise of the  voting rights pertaining to
the amount  of  the Preferred  Stock  represented by  such  holder's  Depositary
Shares. The Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount
of  such  series of  Preferred Stock  represented by  such Depositary  Shares in
accordance with  such instructions,  and  the Company  will  agree to  take  all
reasonable  actions that may be  deemed necessary by the  Depositary in order to
enable the Depositary to do so.  The Depositary will abstain from voting  shares
of  the Preferred Stock to the extent  it does not receive specific instructions
from the holder of Depositary Shares representing such Preferred Stock.
 
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
 
    The form  of Depositary  Receipt evidencing  the Depositary  Shares and  any
provision  of the  Deposit Agreement  may at  any time  be amended  by agreement
between the Company and the Depositary. However, any amendment which  materially
and  adversely  alters  the  rights  of the  holders  of  the  Depositary Shares
representing Preferred Stock  of any series  will not be  effective unless  such
amendment  has  been approved  by  the holders  of at  least  the amount  of the
Depositary Shares then outstanding representing the minimum amount of  Preferred
Stock  of such series  necessary to approve any  amendment that would materially
and  adversely   affect   the  rights   of   the  holders   of   the   Preferred
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
Stock  of such series. Every holder of  an outstanding Depositary Receipt at the
time any such  amendment becomes effective,  or any transferee  of such  holder,
shall  be deemed, by continuing to hold such Depositary Receipt, or by reason of
the acquisition thereof, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be  bound
by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. The Deposit Agreement automatically
terminates  if (i) all outstanding Depositary Shares have been redeemed; or (ii)
each share of Preferred Stock has  been converted into other preferred stock  or
Common  Stock or has been exchanged for debt securities; or (iii) there has been
a final distribution in  respect of the Preferred  Stock in connection with  any
liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of the Company and such distribution has
been distributed to the holders of Depositary Shares.
 
CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY
 
    The Company will pay all transfer  and other taxes and governmental  charges
arising  solely from the  existence of the  depositary arrangements. The Company
will pay all charges of the Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of
the relevant series  of Preferred  Stock and  any redemption  of such  Preferred
Stock.  Holders of Depositary  Receipts will pay other  transfer and other taxes
and governmental charges  and such other  charges or expenses  as are  expressly
provided in the Deposit Agreement to be for their accounts.
 
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY
 
    The Depositary may resign at any time by delivering to the Company notice of
its  election to do so,  and the Company may at  any time remove the Depositary,
any such  resignation  or removal  to  take effect  upon  the appointment  of  a
successor  Depositary  and its  acceptance of  such appointment.  Such successor
Depositary must be  appointed within  60 days after  delivery of  the notice  of
resignation  or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal
office in the  United States and  having a  combined capital and  surplus of  at
least $50,000,000.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
    The  Depositary will forward all reports and communications from the Company
which are  delivered to  the Depositary  and which  the Company  is required  to
furnish to the holders of the deposited Preferred Stock.
 
    Neither  the Depositary nor the Company will be liable if it is prevented or
delayed by  law  or any  circumstances  beyond  its control  in  performing  its
obligations  under the Deposit Agreement. The obligations of the Company and the
Depositary under the Deposit  Agreement will be limited  to performance in  good
faith  of their duties thereunder and they will not be obligated to prosecute or
defend any  legal proceeding  in respect  of any  Depositary Shares,  Depositary
Receipts   or  shares  of  Preferred  Stock  unless  satisfactory  indemnity  is
furnished. They may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or  upon
information provided by holders of Depositary Receipts or other persons believed
to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
 
GENERAL
 
    Subject  to  the  rights of  the  Holders  of any  shares  of  the Company's
Preferred Stock or  $4 Preferred  Stock which may  at the  time be  outstanding,
holders  of  Common Stock  are  entitled to  receive  such dividends  as  may be
declared from  time to  time by  the Board  of Directors  out of  funds  legally
available therefor.
 
    The  holders  of Common  Stock are  entitled to  one vote  per share  on all
matters submitted to a  vote of shareholders and  do not have cumulative  voting
rights. Holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive, upon any liquidation of
the  Company, all  remaining assets  available for  distribution to shareholders
after satisfaction of the Company's  liabilities and the preferential rights  of
any  preferred stock  that may then  be issued and  outstanding. The outstanding
shares of Common Stock are, and the
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
shares offered hereby  will be,  fully paid  and nonassessable.  The holders  of
Common  Stock have  no preemptive, conversion  or redemption  rights. The Common
Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The registrar and transfer agent
for the Common Stock is Chemical Bank.
 
CERTAIN PROVISIONS
 
    The Company's  Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  contains  provisions
which:  (1) divide the Board of Directors  into three classes of as nearly equal
size as possible, with Directors in each class being elected for terms of  three
years;  (2) require  the affirmative  vote of 80%  of the  outstanding shares of
voting  stock  to  remove  any  Director  except  for  cause;  (3)  require  the
affirmative  vote of (a) 80% of the outstanding shares of voting stock and (b) a
majority of the voting stock not owned by an Interested Stockholder (an owner of
10% or more of voting power) to  approve any Business Combination (as such  term
is  defined  in the  Company's Restated  Certificate  of Incorporation)  with an
Interested Stockholder  unless  (x) the  Business  Combination shall  have  been
approved by the Board of Directors at a time when Disinterested Directors (those
directors  unaffiliated with  an Interested Stockholder  who were  either on the
Board of  Directors prior  to  the time  the  Interested Stockholder  became  an
Interested   Stockholder  or   succeeded  a  Disinterested   Director  and  were
recommended for a  nomination or  election by  a majority  of the  Disinterested
Directors)  constitute a majority of the entire Board of Directors or (y) in the
case of a Business Combination involving the payment of consideration to holders
of  capital  stock,   certain  conditions   concerning  the   adequacy  of   the
consideration  are  met;  (4)  require  the  affirmative  vote  of  80%  of  the
outstanding shares of voting  stock to amend or  repeal those provisions of  the
Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation described in clauses (1) and (2)
above; and (5) require the affirmative vote of (x) 80% of the outstanding shares
of  voting  stock  and (y)  a  majority of  the  voting  stock not  owned  by an
Interested  Stockholder,  to  approve  any  proposal  made  by  such  Interested
Stockholder  to  amend  or repeal  those  provisions of  the  Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation described in clause (3) above, unless such proposal
is recommended by the Board of Directors at a time when Disinterested  Directors
constitute a majority of the entire Board of Directors.
 
    The overall effect of these provisions may be to deter or discourage hostile
takeover  attempts by  making it more  difficult for  a person who  has gained a
substantial equity interest in the Company effectively to exercise control.
 
COMMON SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
 
    In April 1987, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the  distribution
of  one Common Share  Purchase Right (a  "Right") for each  outstanding share of
Common Stock. Pursuant  to the  terms of  the Rights  Agreement (as  hereinafter
defined),  each share of Common Stock issued subsequent to the effective date of
such Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined),  has
been  and will be accompanied  by one Right. Each  Right entitles the registered
holder to purchase from  the Company one  share of Common  Stock at an  exercise
price  of $77.50 (on a split-adjusted  basis), subject to adjustment as provided
below (the "Purchase Price").
 
    As distributed, the Rights trade together with the Common Stock. They may be
exercised or traded separately only after the earlier to occur of: (i) the tenth
business day  after  the commencement  of,  or  first public  disclosure  of  an
intention  to commence, a  tender or exchange  offer by a  person or group other
than the Company if, upon  consummation of the offer,  such person or group  has
acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, or
(ii)  the tenth day after the first public announcement that an Acquiring Person
(as such term is  defined in the Rights  Agreement) has acquired the  beneficial
ownership  of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock outstanding (the earlier
of such dates being called the "Distribution Date").
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
    The Rights will  expire on  April 29,  1997 (the  "Final Expiration  Date"),
unless  earlier redeemed  by the  Company as  provided below.  Until a  Right is
exercised, the holder thereof will have no additional rights as a shareholder of
the Company, including,  without limitation,  the right  to vote  or to  receive
dividends on shares of Common Stock subject to the Rights.
 
    In  the event that, following the Distribution Date, the Company (i) engages
in a merger or other business combination transaction with a Principal Party (as
such term is  defined in the  Rights Agreement)  in which the  shares of  Common
Stock are changed into, or exchanged for, stock or other securities of any other
person  or cash or other property, or (ii) sells or transfers 50% or more of its
assets or earnings power to a Principal Party, each holder of a Right (except as
provided below)  shall  thereafter have  the  right to  receive,  upon  exercise
thereof  at the Purchase  Price, Common Stock  of such Principal  Party having a
value of twice such Purchase  Price. In the event  that (i) an Acquiring  Person
shall  acquire beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock
outstanding, other  than pursuant  to an  offer for  all outstanding  shares  of
Common  Stock which  the Continuing  Directors (as such  term is  defined in the
Rights Agreement), determine to be in the best interests of the Company and  its
shareholders,  (ii) the Company merges with  an Acquiring Person and the Company
is the surviving corporation and all  shares of Common Stock remain  outstanding
and unchanged or (iii) an Acquiring Person engages in one or more "self-dealing"
transactions  with  the Company,  each holder  of  a Right  will be  entitled to
purchase, at  the Purchase  Price, (A)  shares of  Common Stock  of the  Company
having  a value of twice  the Purchase Price or  (B) in certain circumstances as
determined by  the  Continuing Directors,  any  combination of  cash,  property,
shares  of Common Stock  or other securities  equal to twice  the Purchase Price
(any of  the  events  described  in  this  paragraph  being  called  "Triggering
Events"). Any rights that are or were at any time on or after the earlier of the
Distribution  Date or the Stock Acquisition Date (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement), beneficially owned  by an Acquiring  Person will become  null
and  void upon the occurrence  of a Triggering Event and  any holder of any such
Right will be unable to exercise such Right after the occurrence of a Triggering
Event.
 
    At any time prior to  the earlier of (i) the  tenth day following the  Stock
Acquisition  Date or (ii) the  Final Expiration Date, the  Board of Directors of
the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of  $.05
per Right.
 
    The  Purchase Price  payable, and  the number of  shares of  Common Stock or
other securities or property issuable, upon  exercise of the Rights are  subject
to  adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a  subdivision, combination or  reclassification of, the  Common
Stock,  (ii) upon  the grant  to holders  of Common  Stock of  certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for  shares of Common Stock  or convertible securities  at
less  than  the current  market  price of  the Common  Stock  or (iii)  upon the
distribution  to  holders  of  Common   Stock  of  evidences  of   indebtedness,
securities,  cash  or  assets  (excluding  regular  periodic  dividends)  or  of
subscription rights  or warrants  (other  than those  referred to  above).  With
certain  exceptions, no adjustment in the  Purchase Price will be required until
cumulative adjustments require  an adjustment  of at  least 1%  in the  Purchase
Price.
 
    The   Rights  have  certain  antitakeover  effects.  The  Rights  may  cause
substantial dilution to a person or  group that attempts to acquire the  Company
on  terms not  approved by  the Board  of Directors  of the  Company. The Rights
should not interfere with any merger  or other business combination approved  by
the  Board of  Directors of the  Company since the  Rights may be  redeemed at a
price of $.05 per Right  prior to the time that  a person or group has  acquired
beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding Common Stock.
 
    The Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") dated as of April 14, 1987, as
amended  December 14, 1989, between the  Company and Chemical Bank (successor to
Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company),  as Rights Agent,  specifies the terms  of
the Rights. The foregoing description of the Rights
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
is  qualified in its entirety by reference to such Rights Agreement, which is an
exhibit to the  Company's registration statement  on Form 8-A,  dated April  17,
1987, as amended, incorporated by reference herein.
 
                            DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
 
    The  Company  may  issue  Warrants,  including  Warrants  to  purchase  Debt
Securities  ("Debt  Warrants"),  Preferred  Stock,  including  Preferred   Stock
represented  by  Depositary Shares  ("Preferred  Stock Warrants"),  Common Stock
("Common Stock Warrants"), or  any combination thereof.  Warrants may be  issued
independently or together with any Securities and may be attached to or separate
from  such Securities.  The Warrants are  to be issued  under warrant agreements
(each a "Warrant Agreement") to be entered  into between the Company and a  bank
or  trust company, as warrant  agent (the "Warrant Agent"),  all as shall be set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement  relating to Warrants being offered  pursuant
thereto.
 
DEBT WARRANTS
 
    The  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement  will  describe  the  terms  of Debt
Warrants offered thereby, the Warrant  Agreement relating to such Debt  Warrants
and  the certificates representing such  Debt Warrants, including the following:
(1) the title  of such  Debt Warrants;  (2) the  aggregate number  of such  Debt
Warrants;  (3) the price or  prices at which such  Debt Warrants will be issued;
(4) the  currency  or currencies,  including  composite currencies  or  currency
units,  in  which  the price  of  such Debt  Warrants  may be  payable;  (5) the
designation, aggregate  principal  amount  and  terms  of  the  Debt  Securities
purchasable  upon  exercise  of  such  Debt  Warrants,  and  the  procedures and
conditions relating to the exercise of  such Debt Warrants; (6) the  designation
and  terms of  any related  Debt Securities  with which  such Debt  Warrants are
issued, and  the  number  of such  Debt  Warrants  issued with  each  such  Debt
Security;  (7)  the currency  or currencies,  including composite  currencies or
currency units, in which the principal of or any premium or interest on the Debt
Securities purchasable upon exercise of such Debt Warrants will be payable;  (8)
the  date, if any,  on and after which  such Debt Warrants  and the related Debt
Securities will be  separately transferable;  (9) the principal  amount of  Debt
Securities  purchasable upon  exercise of  each Debt  Warrant, and  the price at
which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency
units, in which such principal amount  of Debt Securities may be purchased  upon
such  exercise; (10) the date on which  the right to exercise such Debt Warrants
will commence, and the date on which such right will expire; (11) the maximum or
minimum number of such Debt Warrants which may be exercised at any time; (12)  a
discussion of any material federal income tax considerations; and (13) any other
terms  of such Debt  Warrants and terms, procedures  and limitations relating to
the exercise of such Debt Warrants.
 
    Certificates  representing  Debt  Warrants  will  be  exchangeable  for  new
certificates  representing Debt  Warrants of  different denominations,  and Debt
Warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent  or
any  other office indicated in the  Prospectus Supplement. Prior to the exercise
of their Debt Warrants, holders of Debt Warrants will not have any of the rights
as holders of the Debt Securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be
entitled to payment  of principal  of or  any premium  or interest  on the  Debt
Securities purchasable upon such exercise.
 
PREFERRED STOCK WARRANTS
 
    The  applicable Prospectus Supplement  will describe the  terms of Preferred
Stock Warrants offered thereby, the Warrant Agreement relating to such Preferred
Stock Warrants and the certificates representing such Preferred Stock  Warrants,
including the following: (1) the title of such Preferred Stock Warrants; (2) the
aggregate  number of such Preferred  Stock Warrants; (3) the  price or prices at
which such  Preferred  Stock  Warrants  will be  issued;  (4)  the  currency  or
currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in which the price
of  such Preferred Stock Warrants may be payable; (5) the designation, number of
shares and terms (including, among others, dividend, liquidation, redemption and
voting rights) of the Preferred Stock (including Preferred Stock represented  by
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
Depositary  Shares) purchasable upon exercise  of such Preferred Stock Warrants,
and the procedures  and conditions relating  to the exercise  of such  Preferred
Stock  Warrants; (6) the designation and terms  of any related Securities of the
Company with which such  Warrants are issued, and  the number of such  Preferred
Stock  Warrants issued  with each such  Security; (7)  the date, if  any, on and
after which such  Preferred Stock Warrants  and the related  Securities will  be
separately  transferable; (8) the  maximum or minimum  number of Preferred Stock
Warrants which may be exercised at any time; (9) if applicable, a discussion  of
any material federal income tax considerations; and (10) any other terms of such
Preferred  Stock Warrants, including terms,  procedures and limitations relating
to the exchange and exercise of such Preferred Stock Warrants.
 
    Certificates representing Preferred Stock Warrants will be exchangeable  for
new   certificates   representing   Preferred   Stock   Warrants   of  different
denominations, and Preferred Stock  Warrants may be  exercised at the  corporate
trust  office of  the Warrant  Agent or any  office indicated  in the Prospectus
Supplement. Prior to the exercise of their Preferred Stock Warrants, holders  of
such  Preferred Stock Warrants will not have any of the rights as holders of the
Preferred Stock purchaseable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to  any
dividend  payments, liquidation premiums or voting rights of the Preferred Stock
(including Preferred Stock  represented by Depositary  Shares) purchasable  upon
such exercise.
 
COMMON STOCK WARRANTS
 
    The  applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe  the terms of any Common
Stock Warrants, the Warrant Agreement relating to such Common Stock Warrants and
the certificates representing  such Common  Stock Warrants in  respect of  which
this  Prospectus is  being delivered  which may include:  (1) the  title of such
Common Stock Warrants; (2) the aggregate  number of such Common Stock  Warrants;
(3)  the price or prices at which such Common Stock Warrants will be issued; (4)
the currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in
which the price of such Common Stock Warrants may be payable; (5) if applicable,
the designation and terms of any  related Security with which such Common  Stock
Warrants  are issued, and the  number of such Common  Stock Warrants issued with
each such related Security; (6) if applicable, the date on and after which  such
Common  Stock Warrants and the related Security will be separately transferable;
(7) the date  on which the  right to  exercise such Common  Stock Warrants  will
commerce,  and the  date on  which such  right will  expire, (8)  the maximum or
minimum number of such Common Stock Warrants which may be exercised at any time;
(9)  if  applicable,   a  discussion   of  any  material   federal  income   tax
considerations;  and  (10)  any  other  terms  of  such  Common  Stock Warrants,
including terms,  procedures  and  limitations  relating  to  the  exchange  and
exercise of such Common Stock Warrants.
 
    Certificates representing Common Stock Warrants will be exchangeable for new
certificates  representing Common Stock Warrants of different denominations, and
Common Stock Warrants  may be  exercised at the  corporate trust  office of  the
Warrant  Agent or any other office indicated in the Prospectus Supplement. Prior
to the exercise of their Common Stock Warrants, holders of Common Stock Warrants
will not have any of the rights as holders of Common Stock purchasable upon such
exercise and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting rights
of the Common Stock purchasable upon such exercise.
 
EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
 
    Each Warrant will  entitle the holder  to purchase for  cash such  principal
amount of Debt Securities or number of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock
at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable
as  set forth  in, the  Prospectus Supplement  relating to  the Warrants offered
thereby. Warrants may be exercised  at any time up to  the close of business  on
the  expiration  date set  forth in  the Prospectus  Supplement relating  to the
Warrants offered thereby. After  the close of business  on the expiration  date,
unexercised Warrants will become void.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
    Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to  the Warrants  offered thereby. Upon  receipt of payment  and the certificate
representing the Warrant properly completed  and duly executed at the  corporate
trust  office  of  the  Warrant  Agent or  any  other  office  indicated  in the
Prospectus Supplement, the  Company will,  as soon as  practicable, forward  the
Securities  purchasable upon  such exercise.  If less  than all  of the Warrants
represented by such certificate are exercised, a new certificate will be  issued
for the remaining Warrants.
 
                  LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF BEARER SECURITIES
 
    In  compliance with United  States federal tax  laws and regulations, Bearer
Securities  (including  Debt  Securities   that  are  exchangeable  for   Bearer
Securities  and Debt Securities in permanent  global form that are either Bearer
Securities or  exchangeable for  Bearer Securities)  may not  be offered,  sold,
resold  or delivered  in connection with  their original issuance  in the United
States or to United States persons  (each as defined below) except as  otherwise
permitted  by Treasury  Regulation Section  1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D) including offers
and sales  to  offices  located  outside the  United  States  of  United  States
financial    institutions   (as   defined   in   Treasury   Regulation   Section
1.165-12(c)(1)(v)) which agree  in writing  to comply with  the requirements  of
Section  165(j)(3)(A),(B)  or  (C)  of  the  Code,  as  defined  below,  and the
regulations thereunder, and any  underwriters, agents and dealers  participating
in  the offering  of Debt Securities  must agree  in writing that  they will not
offer, sell or resell any Bearer Securities to persons within the United  States
or  to  United States  persons (except  as described  above) nor  deliver Bearer
Securities within the United States. In addition, any such underwriters,  agents
and  dealers must represent in  writing that they have  in effect, in connection
with the offer and sale of  the Debt Securities, procedures reasonably  designed
to ensure that their employees or agents who are directly engaged in selling the
Debt  Securities are aware that Bearer Securities cannot be offered or sold to a
person who is within the  United States or is a  United States person except  as
otherwise   permitted  by   Treasury  Regulation   Section  1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D).
Furthermore, the  owner  of the  obligation  (or the  financial  institution  or
clearing organization through which the owner holds the obligation) must certify
to  the Company that the owner is  not a United States Person. Bearer Securities
and any coupons  attached hereto  will bear  the following  legend: "Any  United
States person who holds this obligation will be subject to limitations under the
United  States income tax  laws, including the  limitations provided in Sections
165(j) and 1287(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code."
 
    Purchasers of Bearer Securities may be affected by certain limitations under
United States  tax  laws. The  applicable  Prospectus Supplement  or  Prospectus
Supplements  will describe such  limitations for any  Bearer Securities relating
thereto.
 
    As used herein, "United States person"  means (i) an individual who is,  for
United  States federal income tax purposes, a  citizen or resident of the United
States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized  in
or  under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof,
or (iii) an  estate or trust  the income of  which is subject  to United  States
federal  income taxation regardless of its source, and "United States" means the
United States of America  (including the States and  the District of  Columbia),
its territories and its possessions.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
    The  Company may sell  Securities to or through  underwriters or dealers and
also may sell  Securities directly to  other purchasers or  through agents.  Any
such  underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the Securities will
be named in an applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
    Underwriters may offer and sell the  Securities at a fixed price or  prices,
which  may be changed, or  from time to time at  market prices prevailing at the
time of  sale,  at  prices  related  to such  prevailing  market  prices  or  at
negotiated   prices.  The  Company  also  may,  from  time  to  time,  authorize
underwriters acting as  the Company's agents  to offer and  sell the  Securities
upon the terms and conditions as
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
shall  be set forth in any Prospectus Supplement. In connection with the sale of
Securities, underwriters may be  deemed to have  received compensation from  the
Company  in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions from purchasers of
Securities for whom they may act  as agent. Underwriters may sell Securities  to
or  through dealers, and  such dealers may  receive compensation in  the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions  from the underwriters and/or  commissions
(which  may be changed from time to time)  from the purchasers for whom they may
act as agent.
 
    Any underwriting compensation paid by the Company to underwriters or  agents
in connection with the offering of Securities, and any discounts, concessions or
commissions  allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth
in  an  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement.  Underwriters,  dealers  and  agents
participating  in  the  distribution  of  the Securities  may  be  deemed  to be
underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any  profit
realized  by them on resale  of the Securities may  be deemed to be underwriting
discounts and commissions, under the  Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers  and
agents  may be entitled,  under agreements with  the Company, to indemnification
against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities
under the  Securities Act,  and  to reimbursement  by  the Company  for  certain
expenses.
 
    If  so indicated  in an applicable  Prospectus Supplement,  the Company will
authorize dealers acting as  the Company's agents to  solicit offers by  certain
institutions  to purchase Debt Securities or Preferred Stock from the Company at
the public offering price  set forth in such  Prospectus Supplement pursuant  to
Delayed  Delivery Contracts ("Contracts") providing  for payment and delivery on
the date or dates  stated in such Prospectus  Supplement. Each Contract will  be
for  an amount specified  in the applicable  Prospectus Supplement. Institutions
with whom Contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings
banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and
charitable institutions and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject
to the approval of the Company. Contracts will not be subject to any  conditions
except  (i) the  purchase by  an institution  of the  Securities covered  by its
Contracts shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of  any
jurisdiction in the United States to which such institution is subject, and (ii)
if the Securities are being sold to underwriters, the Company shall have sold to
such  underwriters the amount specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Agents and underwriters will have no  responsibility in respect of the  delivery
or  performance  of  Contracts.  A commission  as  indicated  in  the applicable
Prospectus Supplement  will  be  paid  to  underwriters  and  agents  soliciting
purchases of Securities pursuant to Contracts accepted by the Company.
 
    Each  underwriter, dealer and agent participating in the distribution of any
Debt Securities which are issuable  in bearer form will  agree that it will  not
offer,  sell or deliver, directly or  indirectly, Debt Securities in bearer form
in the United States or to  United States persons except as otherwise  permitted
by Treasury Regulation Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D). See "Limitations on Issuance
of Bearer Securities."
 
    The  Securities may not be  offered or sold directly  or indirectly in Great
Britain other than  to persons  whose ordinary  business it  is to  buy or  sell
shares  or debentures (except in circumstances  which do not constitute an offer
to the  public within  the  meaning of  the Companies  Act  of 1985),  and  this
Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement or any other offering material relating
to  the Securities may not be distributed in or from Great Britain other than to
persons whose business involves the acquisition and disposal, or the holding, of
securities whether as principal or as agent.
 
    Each series of Securities  will be a new  issue with no established  trading
market,  other  than the  Common Stock  which is  listed on  the New  York Stock
Exchange. Any Common  Stock sold  pursuant to  a Prospectus  Supplement will  be
listed  on the New York Stock Exchange,  subject to official notice of issuance.
Any underwriters to whom Securities are sold by the Company for public  offering
and sale may make a market in such Securities, but such underwriters will not be
obligated  to do so  and may discontinue  any market making  at any time without
notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market  for
any Securities.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
    Certain  of the underwriters or agents and their associates may be customers
of, engage in  transactions with and  perform services for,  the Company in  the
ordinary course of business.
 
                             VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
 
    The  validity of the Securities will be passed upon for the Company by James
W. Guedry, Esq.,  Associate General Counsel  and Secretary of  the Company,  and
certain  matters will be passed upon for any underwriters or agents, by Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Mr. Guedry  does not own a material or  significant
amount  of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock. He participates
in the Company's Stock Option Plan and  in its Salaried Savings Plan, having  an
interest in a fund under that plan which invests in the Company's Common Stock.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The  financial statements  and schedules  incorporated by  reference in this
prospectus and elsewhere in  the registration statement, to  the extent and  for
the  periods indicated in their reports, have  been audited by Arthur Andersen &
Co., independent public accountants, and are incorporated by reference herein in
reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving said reports.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
 
    NO  DEALER,  SALESPERSON OR  OTHER PERSON  HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED TO  GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR  TO MAKE  ANY  REPRESENTATION NOT  CONTAINED IN  THIS  PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT  OR  THE  PROSPECTUS  AND,  IF GIVEN  OR  MADE,  SUCH  INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE  COMPANY
OR  ANY  UNDERWRITER.  THIS  PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT  AND  THE  PROSPECTUS  DO NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER  TO SELL OR  A SOLICITATION OF  AN OFFER TO  BUY ANY OF  THE
SECURITIES  OFFERED  HEREBY IN  ANY JURISDICTION  TO  ANY PERSON  TO WHOM  IT IS
UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN  SUCH JURISDICTION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF  THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER
ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS CORRECT
AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN
THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE SUCH DATE.
                                 --------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PAGE
                                                    -----
<S>                                              <C>
                   PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Use of Proceeds................................         S-2
Capitalization.................................         S-2
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.............         S-2
Description of the Notes.......................         S-3
Underwriting...................................         S-3
Legal Opinions.................................         S-4
Notice to Canadian Residents...................         S-4
 
                         PROSPECTUS
Available Information..........................           2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
 Reference.....................................           2
The Company....................................           3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.............           4
Use of Proceeds................................           4
Description of Debt Securities.................           4
Description of Capital Stock...................          19
Description of Preferred Stock.................          19
Description of Depositary Shares...............          22
Description of Common Stock....................          24
Description of Warrants........................          27
Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Securities...          29
Plan of Distribution...........................          29
Validity of Securities.........................          31
Experts........................................          31
</TABLE>
 
                           International [logo] Paper
 
                                  $250,000,000
 
                               7% Notes Due 2001
 
                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
 
                                CS First Boston
 
                              Merrill Lynch & Co.
 
                          J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
 
                              Morgan Stanley & Co.
                                  Incorporated
 
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