Exhibit 4.1
7.500% NOTES DUE 2021
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
between
INTERNATIONAL PAPER
COMPANY
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
MELLON
(FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE BANK OF NEW
YORK)
Dated as of August 10,
2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE
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ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
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Section 1.01.
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Definition of
Terms
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1
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ARTICLE 2
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
NOTES
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Section 2.01.
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Designation and
Principal Amount
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3
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Section 2.02.
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Maturity
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3
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Section 2.03.
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Depository
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3
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Section 2.04.
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Form;
Denomination
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3
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Section 2.05.
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Legend
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3
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Section 2.06.
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Special
Transfer Provisions
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4
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Section 2.07.
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Interest
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5
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Section 2.08.
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Consolidation,
Merger and Sale of Assets
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8
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Section 2.09.
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Place of
Payment
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8
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Section 2.10.
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Defeasance;
Discharge
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8
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ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES
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Section 3.01.
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Optional
Redemption by Company
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8
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Section 3.02.
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[RESERVED]
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10
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Section 3.03.
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Change of
Control Triggering Event
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10
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Section 3.04.
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No Sinking
Fund
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12
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ARTICLE 4
MODIFICATION
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Section 4.01.
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Modification of
Indenture and Supplemental Indenture
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12
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ARTICLE 5
FORMS OF NOTES
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Section 5.01.
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Forms of
Notes
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12
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ARTICLE 6
ORIGINAL ISSUE OF NOTES
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Section 6.01.
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Original Issue
of Notes; Further Issuances
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12
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ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS
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Section 7.01.
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Ratification of
Indenture
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13
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Section 7.02.
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Trustee Not
Responsible for Recitals
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13
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Section 7.03.
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Governing
Law
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13
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Section 7.04.
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Separability
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13
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-i-
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Section 7.05.
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Counterparts
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-ii-
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of
August 10, 2009 (the “ Supplemental Indenture
”), between International Paper Company, a New York
corporation (the “ Company ”), and The Bank of
New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as
trustee (the “ Trustee ”), under the Indenture,
dated as of April 12, 1999, between the Company and the
Trustee (the “ Indenture ”).
WHEREAS, the Company executed and
delivered the Indenture to the Trustee to provide, among other
things, for the future issuance of the Company’s unsecured
Securities to be issued from time to time in one or more series as
might be determined by the Company under the Indenture, in an
unlimited aggregate principal amount which may be authenticated and
delivered as provided in the Indenture;
WHEREAS, Section 9.1 of the
Indenture provides for various matters with respect to any series
of Securities issued under the Indenture to be established in an
indenture supplemental to the Indenture;
WHEREAS, Section 9.1(7) of the
Indenture provides for the Company and the Trustee to enter into an
indenture supplemental to the Indenture to establish the form or
terms of Securities of any series as provided by Sections 2.1 and
3.1 of the Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of
the Company has duly adopted resolutions authorizing the Company to
execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of
the Indenture, the Company desires to provide for the establishment
of a new series of its Securities to be known as its 7.500% Notes
due 2021 (the “ Notes ”), the form and substance
of such Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to
be set forth as provided in the Indenture and this Supplemental
Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company has requested
that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture
and all requirements necessary to make (i) this Supplemental
Indenture a valid instrument in accordance with its terms, and
(ii) the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated
and delivered by the Trustee, the valid obligations of the Company,
have been performed, and the execution and delivery of this
Supplemental Indenture have been duly authorized in all
respects;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of
the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof,
and for the purpose of setting forth, as provided in the Indenture,
the form and substance of the Notes and the terms, provisions and
conditions thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the
Trustee as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Definition of
Terms . Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term defined in the Indenture
has the same meaning when used in this Supplemental Indenture
unless the definition of such term is amended and supplemented
pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this
Supplemental Indenture has the same meaning throughout;
(c) the singular includes the plural
and vice versa;
(d) a reference to a Section or
Article is to a Section or Article in this Supplemental
Indenture;
(e) headings are for convenience of
reference only and do not affect interpretation;
(f) the following terms have the
meanings given to them in this Section 1.01(f):
“ Business Day ”
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.01(c).
“ Change of Control
” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(e).
“ Change of Control
Offer ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(a).
“ Change of Control
Payment ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(a).
“ Change of Control Payment
Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(b).
“ Change of Control
Triggering Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(e).
“ Comparable Treasury
Issue ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.01(c).
“ Comparable Treasury
Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.01(c).
“ Exchange Act ”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“ Global Note ”
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.04(a).
“ Independent Investment
Banker ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.01(c).
“ Interest Payment Date
” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.07(a).
“ Investment Grade
” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(e).
“ Issue Date ”
means August 10, 2009, the date of initial issuance of the
Notes.
“ Moody’s ”
means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of
Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.
“ Notes ” shall
have the meaning set forth in the recitals above.
“ Optional Redemption
Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.01(a).
“ Person ” means
any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, business trust, association, joint-stock company, joint
venture, trust, incorporated or unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof.
“ Rating Agency ”
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(e).
“ Reference Treasury
Dealer ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.01(c).
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“ Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.01(c).
“ Remaining Life
” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.01(c).
“ S&P ” means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.
“ Substitute Rating
Agency ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.07(c)(ix).
“ Supplemental
Indenture ” shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals above.
“ Treasury Rate ”
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.01(c).
“ Voting Stock ”
shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(e).
ARTICLE 2
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Designation and
Principal Amount . There is hereby authorized a series of
Securities designated the “ 7.500% Notes due 2021
” initially issued in the aggregate principal amount of
$1,000,000,000, which amount shall be as set forth in a Company
Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes pursuant to
Section 3.3 of the Indenture.
Section 2.02. Maturity . The
Notes will mature on August 15, 2021.
Section 2.03. Depository .
The Depository Trust Company shall be the initial Depository for
the Notes, until a successor shall have been appointed and become
such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and
thereafter, “Depository” shall mean or include such
successor.
Section 2.04. Form;
Denomination
(a) The Notes shall be issued
initially in the form of one or more permanent Global Notes in
registered form, without coupons, substantially in the form herein
below recited (each, a “ Global Note ” and
collectively, the “ Global Notes ”), deposited
with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depository, duly executed by
the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as herein
provided.
The aggregate principal amount of
each Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by
adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for
the Depository or its nominee, as provided in Section 2.3 of
the Indenture.
(b) The Notes shall be issuable only
in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Notes shall be
numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in
accordance with such plans as the officers of the Company executing
the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee.
Section 2.05. Legend . Each
Global Note shall bear the following legend on the face
thereof:
UNLESS THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS PRESENTED
BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A
NEW YORK
-3-
CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW
YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY GLOBAL NOTE ISSUED IS
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS
IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY
PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS
IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER,
PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY
PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF,
CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL
BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO
NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S
NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE
LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET
FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE
HEREOF.
Section 2.06. Special Transfer
Provisions .
(a) A Global Note may be
transferred, in whole but not in part, only to the Depository, to a
nominee of the Depository, or to a successor Depository selected or
approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor
Depository.
(b) If at any time the Depository
for the Notes notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable
to continue as Depository or if at any time the Depository for the
Notes shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the
Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, and a
successor Depository for the Notes is not appointed by the Company
within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes
aware of such condition, as the case may be, the Company will
execute, and, subject to Article 3 of the Indenture, the Trustee,
upon written notice from the Company, will authenticate and make
available for delivery the Notes in definitive registered form
without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Note
in exchange for the Global Note. In addition, the Company may
(subject to the procedures of the Depository) at any time determine
that the Notes shall no longer be represented by a Global Note. In
such event the Company will execute, and subject to
Section 3.5 of the Indenture, the Trustee, upon receipt of an
Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the
Company, will authenticate and deliver, the Notes in definitive
registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and
in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of
the Global Note in exchange for the Global Note. Upon the exchange
of the Global Note for the Notes in definitive registered form
without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Note shall
be cancelled by the Trustee. Such Notes in definitive registered
form issued in exchange for the Global Note shall be registered in
such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depository,
pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants
or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver
such Notes to the Depository for delivery to the Persons in whose
names such Notes are so registered. Notes represented by Global
Notes will be exchangeable for Notes in definitive registered form
if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.
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Section 2.07. Interest
.
(a) The Notes will bear interest at
the rate of 7.500% per annum, subject to adjustment as set
forth in Section 2.07(c), from the most recent Interest
Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for
or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date until the
principal thereof becomes due and payable, payable semi-annually in
arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year (each,
an “ Interest Payment Date ”), commencing on
February 15, 2010, to the Person in whose name such Note or
any Predecessor Security is registered, at the close of business on
the Regular Record Date for such interest installment, which shall
be the close of business on the February 1 or August 1
(whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately
preceding such Interest Payment Date, and at the foregoing
respective rates on overdue principal.
(b) The amount of interest payable
for any period less than a full interest period will be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual
days elapsed in a partial month in such period. In the event that
any date on which interest is payable on the Notes is not a
Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date
will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day
(and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date such
payment was originally payable.
(c) The interest rate payable on the
Notes shall be subject to adjustment from time to time if either
Moody’s or S&P (or, in either case, any Substitute Rating
Agency thereof) downgrades (or subsequently upgrades) the debt
rating assigned to the Notes in the manner described
below:
(i) If the rating from Moody’s
(or any Substitute Rating Agency thereof) of the Notes is decreased
to a rating set forth in the immediately following table, the
interest rate payable on the Notes will increase from the interest
rate payable on the Notes on the Issue Date by the percentage
points set forth opposite that rating:
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Percentage Points
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Ba1
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0.25
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Ba2
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0.50
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Ba3
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0.75
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B1 or below
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1.00
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(ii) If the rating from S&P (or
any Substitute Rating Agency thereof) of the Notes is decreased to
a rating set forth in the immediately following table, the interest
rate payable on the Notes will increase from the interest rate
payable on the Notes on the Issue Date by the percentage points set
forth opposite that rating:
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Percentage Points
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BB+
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0.25
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BB
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0.50
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BB-
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0.75
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B+ or below
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1.00
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a
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Including the equivalent ratings
of any Substitute Rating Agency.
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(iii) If at any time the interest
rate on the Notes has been adjusted upward and either Moody’s
or S&P (or, in either case, a Substitute Rating Agency
thereof), as the case may be, subsequently increases its rating of
the Notes to any of the threshold ratings set forth above, the
interest rate on the Notes will be decreased such that the interest
rate for the Notes equals the interest rate payable on the Notes on
the Issue Date plus the percentage points set forth opposite the
ratings from the tables above in effect immediately following the
rating increase. If Moody’s (or any Substitute Rating Agency
thereof) subsequently increases its rating of the Notes to Baa3 (or
its equivalent, in the case of a Substitute Rating Agency) or
higher and S&P (or any Substitute Rating Agency thereof)
increases its rating to BBB- (or its equivalent, in the case of a
Substitute Rating Agency) or higher, the interest rate on the Notes
will be decreased to the interest rate payable on the Notes on the
Issue Date. In addition, the interest rates on the Notes will
permanently cease to be subject to any adjustment pursuant to this
Section 2.07(c) (notwithstanding any subsequent decrease in
the ratings by either or both such rating agencies) if the Notes
become rated A3 (stable or better) and A- (stable or better)
(or the equivalent of either such rating, in the case of a
Substitute Rating Agency) or higher by Moody’s and S&P
(or, in either case, any Substitute Rating Agency thereof),
respectively (or one of these ratings if the Notes are only rated
by one such rating agency).
(iv) Each adjustment required by any
decrease or increase in a rating set forth above, whether
occasioned by the action of Moody’s or S&P (or, in either
case, any Substitute Rating Agency thereof), shall be made
independent of any and all other adjustments. In no event shall
(1) the interest rate on the Notes be reduced to below the
interest rate payable on the Notes on the Issue Date or
(2) the total increase in the interest rate on the Notes
exceed 2.00 percentage points above the interest rate payable on
the Notes on the Issue Date.
(v) No adjustments in the interest
rate of the Notes shall be made solely as a result of a rating
agency ceasing to provide a rating of the Notes. If at any time
less than two rating agencies provide a rating of the Notes for a
reason beyond the Company’s control, the Company will use its
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a rating of the Notes
from a Substitute Rating Agency, to the extent one exists, and if a
Substitute Rating Agency exists, for purposes of determining any
increase or decrease in the interest rate on the Notes pursuant to
the tables above, (a) such Substitute Rating Agency will be
substituted for the last rating agency to provide a rating of the
Notes but which has since ceased to provide such rating,
(b) the relative ratings scale used by such Substitute Rating
Agency to assign ratings to senior unsecured debt will be
determined in good faith by an independent investment banking
institution of national standing appointed by the Company and, for
purposes of determining the applicable ratings included in the
applicable table above with respect to such Substitute Rating
Agency, such ratings will be deemed to be the
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a
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Including the equivalent ratings
of any Substitute Rating Agency.
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-6-
equivalent ratings used by
Moody’s or S&P, as applicable, in such table and
(c) the interest rate on the Notes will increase or decrease,
as the case may be, such that the interest rate equals the interest
rate payable on the Notes on the Issue Date plus the appropriate
percentage points, if any, set forth opposite the rating from such
Substitute Rating Agency in the applicable table above (taking into
account the provisions of clause (b) above) (plus any
applicable percentage points resulting from a decreased rating by
the other rating agency). For so long as only one rating agency
provides a rating of the Notes, any subsequent increase or decrease
in the interest rate of the Notes necessitated by a reduction or
increase in the rating by the agency providing the rating shall be
twice the percentage points set forth in the applicable table
above. For so long as none of Moody’s, S&P or a
Substitute Rating Agency provides a rating of the Notes, the
interest rate on the Notes will increase to, or remain at, as the
case may be, 2.00 percentage points above the interest rate payable
on the Notes on the Issue Date.
(vi) Any interest rate increase or
decrease described above will take effect from the Interest Payment
Date immediately preceding a rating change which requires an
adjustment in the interest rate.
(vii) Promptly after any change in
the interest rate borne by the Notes as provided above, the Company
shall give the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect
that the interest rate borne by the Notes has changed in accordance
with this Section 2.07(c) and setting forth the amount of the
related increase or decrease and the new interest rate borne by the
Notes.
(viii) If the interest rate payable
on the Notes is increased pursuant to this Section 2.07(c),
the term “interest,” as used in the Indenture with
respect to the Notes, as supplemented by this Supplemental
Indenture, will be deemed to include any such additional interest
unless the context otherwise requires. If the Company defeases or
discharges the Indenture in accordance with Section 4.1 of the
Indenture, or the Notes or certain obligations related thereto in
accordance with Sections 4.3 and 10.11 of the Indenture and
Section 2.10 hereof, there will be no further adjustment in
the interest rate on the Notes after such defeasance or
discharge.
(ix) The following term has the
meaning given to it in this Section 2.07(c)(ix):
“ Substitute Rating
Agency ” means a “nationally recognized statistical
rating organization” within the meaning of Rule
15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Company
(as certified by a resolution of the board of directors of the
Company and delivered to the Trustee) as a replacement agency for
Moody’s, S&P or another Substitute Rating Agency, or all
of them, as the case may be.
-7-
Section 2.08. Consolidation,
Merger and Sale of Assets . For purposes of the Notes,
Section 8.1 of the Indenture is amended to add “limited
liability company,” immediately after
“corporation,” and immediately before
“partnership or trust” in clause
(1) thereof.
Section 2.09. Place of
Payment . The Place of Payment where Notes may be presented or
surrendered for p