Georgia-Pacific Corporation 8.875% Senior Notes Due 2010 (Form of Note)

Summary

This agreement is a form of senior note issued by Georgia-Pacific Corporation, promising to pay the principal amount plus 8.875% annual interest to the registered holder, with payments due semi-annually until maturity on February 1, 2010. The notes are unsecured and governed by an indenture with The Bank of New York as trustee. The company may redeem the notes under certain conditions and must offer to repurchase them if a change of control occurs. The agreement outlines payment methods, redemption options, and other key terms for noteholders.

EX-4.3 5 g80522exv4w3.txt EX-4.3 FORM OF NOTE FOR SENIOR NOTES DUE 2010 Exhibit 4.3 [Face of Note] ================================================================================ CUSIP/CINS ____________ 8.875% Senior Notes due 2010 No. ___ $____________ GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum of ---------------------------------------------------------- Dollars on February 1, 2010. Interest Payment Dates: February 1 and August 1 Record Dates: January 15 and July 15 Dated: _______________, 200_ GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION By: --------------------------------------- Name: Title: This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture: THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee By: -------------------------------------------- Authorized Signatory ================================================================================ [Back of Note] 8.875% Senior Notes due 2010 [Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] [Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture] Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated. (1) INTEREST. Georgia-Pacific Corporation, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 8.875% per annum from January 30, 2003 until maturity and shall pay the Special Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay interest and Special Interest, if any, semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an "Interest Payment Date"). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that the first Interest Payment Date shall be August 1, 2003. The Company will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Special Interest, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. (2) METHOD OF PAYMENT. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) and Special Interest, if any, to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the January 15 or July 15 next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium and Special Interest, if any, and interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and Special Interest, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Special Interest, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which will have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company or the Paying Agent. Such payment will be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. (3) PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. Initially, The Bank of New York, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity. (4) INDENTURE. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of January 30, 2003 (the "Indenture") among the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S. Code ss.ss. 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company. (5) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION. (a) Except as set forth in subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this Paragraph 5, the Company will not have the option to redeem the Notes. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time prior to February 1, 2006, the Company may at its option on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the Indenture with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings at a redemption price equal to 108.875% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the redemption date; provided that at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes originally issued under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and such redemption occurs within 120 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph 5, at any time, the Company may at its option redeem all or part of the Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior notice at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed and (2) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, plus all scheduled payments of interest on such Notes to and including February 1, 2010 (but not including accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), in each case discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, together in each case with accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the applicable redemption date. (6) MANDATORY REDEMPTION. The Company will not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. (7) REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF HOLDER. (a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described in Section 3.07 of the Indenture, the Company will be required to make an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the "Change of Control Payment"). Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture. (b) If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales, within 30 days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $50.0 million, the Company will commence an offer to all Holders of Notes, and at the Company's option, to all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes (including, without limitation, the 2013 Notes) (an "Asset Sale Offer") pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest thereon, if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such offer in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary) may use such deficiency for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the Company prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes purchased by completing the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" attached to this Note. (8) NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption. (9) DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date. (10) PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes. (11) AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class. Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantee or the Notes may be amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect, omission or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to Holders of the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or to provide for the Issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture. (12) DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest or Special Interest on the Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon redemption (including in connection with an offer to purchase) or otherwise, (iii) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with Section 4.15 or 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class to observe or perform any covenant, representation, warranty or other agreement in the Indenture; (v) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date of the Indenture, if that default (a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a "Payment Default"); or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $100.0 million or more and has not been discharged in full or such acceleration rescinded or annulled within 20 days of such Payment Default or acceleration; (vi) certain final judgments for the payment of money that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days; (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; and (viii) except as permitted by the Indenture, the Subsidiary Guarantee shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or the Guarantor or any Person acting on its behalf shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under the Guarantor's Subsidiary Guarantee. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium and Special Interest on, or the principal of, the Notes. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Company is required upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default. (13) TRUSTEE DEALINGS WITH COMPANY. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee. (14) NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder, of the Company or the Guarantor, as such, will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantor under the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantee or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes. (15) AUTHENTICATION. This Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. (16) ABBREVIATIONS. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian) and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act). (17) ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES AND RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES. In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 30, 2003, among the Company, the Guarantor and the other parties named on the signature pages thereof or, in the case of Additional Notes, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes will have the rights set forth in one or more registration rights agreements, if any, among the Company, the Guarantor and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Company and the Guarantor to the purchasers of any Additional Notes (collectively, the "Registration Rights Agreement"). (18) CUSIP NUMBERS. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon. The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to: Georgia-Pacific Corporation 133 Peachtree Street, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30348 Attention: Corporate Secretary EXHIBIT A ASSIGNMENT FORM To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: --------------------------------- (Insert assignee's legal name) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code) and irrevocably appoint -------------------------------------------------------- to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him. Date: ------------------------- Your Signature: --------------------------------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) Signature Guarantee*: ---------------------------------- * Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee). OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.15 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below: Section 4.10 Section 4.15 If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.15 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased: $ --------------- Date: ------------------------- Your Signature: --------------------------------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) Tax Identification No.: ------------------------------------- Signature Guarantee*: ---------------------------------- * Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).